What is Baroque music and when did it start?
Baroque music (UK: / b ə ˈ r ɒ k / or US: / b ə ˈ r oʊ k /) is a period or style of Western classical music from approximately 1600 to 1750 originated in Western Europe. This era followed the Renaissance music era, and was followed in turn by the Classical era, with the galant style marking the transition between Baroque and Classical eras.
What year did the Baroque period start and end?
Baroque characteristics appeared earlier in some countries’ music than in others. In Italy and Germany, the Baroque style began around 1600; in England, around 1630. It ended about 1750 with the deaths of Bach and Handel. Can you put the pieces together?
When was the best ERA for music?
“The 1960s to 1990s was a special time in music, reflected by a steady recognition of pieces of that era-even by today’s millennials,” said Dr Pascal Wallisch, lead author of the study.
When did Baroque music start and end?
The Baroque period refers to an era that started around 1600 and ended around 1750, and included composers like Bach, Vivaldi and Handel, who pioneered new styles like the concerto and the sonata. The Baroque period saw an explosion of new musical styles with the introduction of the concerto, the sonata and the opera. Contents hide
What are 5 characteristics of Baroque music?
What are the main characteristics of the Baroque era? The main characteristics of Baroque Era society were humanism and the increasing secularization of society. The music characteristics of the Baroque Era included fast movement, ornamentation, dramatic alterations in tempo and volume, and expressiveness.
What is the Baroque period in music known for?
Baroque music, a style of music that prevailed during the period from about 1600 to about 1750, known for its grandiose, dramatic, and energetic spirit but also for its stylistic diversity.
Did the Baroque period start and end?
The Baroque period refers to an era that started around 1600 and ended around 1750, and included composers like Bach, Vivaldi and Handel, who pioneered new styles like the concerto and the sonata.
When was baroque music introduced?
The Baroque period of music occurred from roughly 1600 to 1750. It was preceded by the Renaissance era and followed by the Classical era. The Baroque style spread throughout Europe over the course of the seventeenth century, with notable Baroque composers emerging in Germany, Italy, France, and England.
What are 2 facts about Baroque music?
Overlapping in time, they are conventionally dated from 1580 to 1650, from 1630 to 1700, and from 1680 to 1750. Baroque music forms a major portion of the "classical music" canon, and is now widely studied, performed, and listened to. The term "baroque" comes from the Portuguese word barroco, meaning "misshapen pearl".
How do you identify Baroque music?
Baroque music is characterised by: long flowing melodic lines often using ornamentation (decorative notes such as trills and turns) contrast between loud and soft, solo and ensemble. a contrapuntal texture where two or more melodic lines are combined.
What are 4 main characteristics of the Baroque?
Spectacle, movement, illusion, and biblical genre painting are all aspects of Baroque traditions during the seventeenth century.
Why is it called Baroque?
Where does the term Baroque come from? The term Baroque probably derived from the Italian word barocco, which philosophers used during the Middle Ages to describe an obstacle in schematic logic. Subsequently, the word came to denote any contorted idea or involute process of thought.
What caused the Baroque period?
The Baroque started as a response of the Catholic Church to the many criticisms that arose during the Protestant Reformation in the 16th-century. The seat of the Catholic Church in the Vatican saw in art an opportunity for reconnecting with the people.
Why did the Baroque period end?
In the same respect, the year 1750 is considered the end of the Baroque due to the death of Johann Sebastian Bach. His music is considered to be the culmination of the Baroque style. Baroque is a term that was first applied to architecture in a derogatory manner.
What influenced Baroque music?
One of the major philosophical currents in Baroque music comes from the Renaissance interest in ideas from ancient Greece and Rome. The Greeks and Romans believed that music was a powerful tool of communication and could arouse any emotion in its listeners.
When and where did Baroque music first appear?
Baroque music first appeared around 1600 in Italy.
Which terms best describe the Baroque style?
Explanation: The baroque art is best described with the word drama. ... The Baroque style is characterized by exaggerated motion and clear detail used to produce drama, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture , painting, architecture, literature, dance, and music.
What are the characteristics of the Baroque period?
Some of the qualities most frequently associated with the Baroque are grandeur, sensuous richness, drama, dynamism, movement, tension, emotional exuberance, and a tendency to blur distinctions between the various arts.
What is a common feature of Baroque instrumental music?
Baroque music uses many types of texture: homophony, imitation, and contrapuntal combinations of contrasting rhythmic and melodic ideas. Even when the texture is imitative, however, there are usually distinct contrasts among voices. In some cases, an independent bass supports two or more melodies in imitation above it.
What is the baroque music of Handel?
Baroque music, a style of music that prevailed during the period from about 1600 to about 1750, known for its grandiose, dramatic, and energetic spirit ...
What period was wind instrument?
wind instrument: The Baroque and Classical periods . Dramatic events in music around 1600 in Italy profoundly affected the music of Europe during the Baroque era. Several groups of literati... One of the most dramatic turning points in the history of music occurred at the beginning of the 17th century, with Italy leading the way.
What major is Bach's Concerto No. 1 in?
Bach, J.S.: Concerto No. 1 in D Major
What is the difference between stile antico and stile moderno?
While the stile antico, the universal polyphonic style of the 16th century, continued, it was henceforth reserved for sacred music, while the stile moderno, or nuove musiche —with its emphasis on solo voice, polarity of the melody and the bass line, and interest in expressive harmony—developed for secular usage.
Who was the composer of the Stuart masques?
Jean-Baptiste Lully, a major composer of opera, and Jean Philippe Rameau were the masters of Baroque music in France. In England the total theatrical experience of the Stuart masques was followed by the achievements in vocal music of the German-born, Italian-trained George Frideric Handel, while his countryman Johann Sebastian Bach developed ...
Who was the first composer of the new music?
Claudio Monteverdi was the first great composer of the “new music.”. He was followed in Italy by Alessandro Scarlatti and Giovanni Pergolesi. The instrumental tradition in Italy found its great Baroque composers in Arcangelo Corelli, Antonio Vivaldi, and Giuseppe Tartini.
What are the most important new forms of music?
The opera, oratorio, and cantatawere the most important new vocal forms, while the sonata, concerto, and overturewere created for instrumental music. Claudio Monteverdiwas the first great composer of the “new music.” He was followed in Italy by Alessandro Scarlattiand Giovanni Pergolesi. The instrumental tradition in Italy found its great Baroque composers in Arcangelo Corelli, Antonio Vivaldi, and Giuseppe Tartini. Jean-Baptiste Lully, a major composer of opera, and Jean Philippe Rameauwere the masters of Baroque music in France. In England the total theatrical experience of the Stuart masqueswas followed by the achievements in vocal musicof the German-born, Italian-trained George Frideric Handel, while his countryman Johann Sebastian Bachdeveloped Baroque sacred music in Germany. Other notable German Baroque composers include Heinrich Schütz, Dietrich Buxtehude, and Georg Philipp Telemann. For a detailed treatment of Baroque music, seeWestern music: The Baroque era.
What is the historical context of Baroque music?
Historical Context of Baroque Music. The Baroque period was a very eventful period of history. In Europe, the 30 years war (1618-1648) was being raged and powerful rulers such as Louis XIV in France, Charles II in England and Peter The Great in Russia reigned with considerable ruthlessness.
What were the melodies of the Baroque period?
Baroque Melodies. Baroque composers wrote melodies based on major/minor tonality. They used motifs (short melodic phrases) that were repeated and developed and many of the melodies were decorated with ornaments, such as trills. The melodies of the Baroque period also became significantly longer.
How to describe Baroque music?
Baroque music is also characterised by an increased emphasis on contrast.#N#This is heard in a number of ways: 1 loud and quiet dynamics (volume) – Baroque composers used terraced dynamics – this is where the volume of the music changes abruptly rather than through a gradual crescendo/diminuendo. You can often hear this effect between the quieter solo and louder tutti sections of a concerto grosso. 2 solo and ensemble instrumentation (e.g. in the concerto), 3 different instrumental timbres/sounds.
What period is a harpsichord from?
In fact, as a general rule of thumb, if you hear a harpsichord in a piece of music it is highly likely to be a piece from the Baroque Period! A harpsichord is a keyboard instrument that looks a bit like a piano, but smaller. The strings are plucked rather than hit with hammers (like in a piano).
What technique did Baroque composers use to write contrapuntal music?
This technique is where different melody lines are played simultaneously and weave together to form a coherent whole. In particular, the music of Bach is still studied today when learning about counterpoint.
What instruments were popular in the Baroque period?
Instruments that had been introduced in the Renaissance period remained popular in the Baroque Period including the viol (or viola da gamba), recorders, lutes and flutes.
What are the three words that describe the characteristic of Baroque music?
If you were only allowed to think of 3 words to describe the characteristic of Baroque music to someone then the words tonality, melody and contrast would go a long way towards helping you do so.
Where did Baroque music originate?
Many of the forms identified with Baroque music originated in Italy, including the cantata, concerto, sonata, oratorio, and opera. Although Italy played a vital role in the development of these genres, new concepts of what it meant to be a nation increased the imperative of a “national style.”.
What is “baroque,” and when was the Baroque period?
Derived from the Portuguese barroco, or “oddly shaped pearl,” the term “baroque” has been widely used since the nineteenth century to describe the period in Western European art music from about 1600 to 1750. Comparing some of music history’s greatest masterpieces to a misshapen pearl might seem strange to us today, but to the nineteenth century critics who applied the term, the music of Bach and Handel’s era sounded overly ornamented and exaggerated. Having long since shed its derogatory connotations, “baroque” is now simply a convenient catch-all for one of the richest and most diverse periods in music history.
Who were the major Baroque composers, and where were they from?
Many of the well known personalities from the first part of the Baroque period hail from Italy, including Monteverdi, Corelli and Vivaldi. (By the mid- eighteenth century, our focus shifts to the German composers Bach and Handel .) Many of the forms identified with Baroque music originated in Italy, including the cantata, concerto, sonata, oratorio, and opera. Although Italy played a vital role in the development of these genres, new concepts of what it meant to be a nation increased the imperative of a “national style.” Differences between nations are often audible in music from the period, not only in the way music was composed, but also in conventions of performance; particularly obvious was the contrast between Italy and France. While certain countries may seem to claim a larger piece of our experience of Baroque music today, however, every nation played a role. As musicians and composers traveled all over Europe and heard each other’s music, the new conventions they encountered made subtle impressions on them. Some of the best known composers from the period include the following:
What is the philosophy of Baroque music?
Although a single philosophy cannot describe 150 years of music from all over Europe, several concepts are important in the Baroque period.
What are the characteristics of Baroque music?
The new interest in music’s dramatic and rhetorical possibilities gave rise to a wealth of new sound ideals in the Baroque period.
What musical forms came to define the baroque era?
Many of the forms associated with the baroque era come directly out of this new dramatic impulse, particularly opera, the oratorio and the cantata. In the realm of instrumental music, the notion of contrast and the desire to create large-scale forms gave rise to the concerto, sonata and suite.
What was it like to attend a concert in the baroque era?
In modern times, going to a concert is an event. We hear an ad on the radio or see a listing in the newspaper; we purchase tickets; we go to a concert hall and sit quietly until it is time to applaud. In the baroque era, this kind of public concert was rare. Many of the most famous baroque compositions were performed in churches for a service, or as part of a private concert or celebration in the home of a wealthy patron. During the course of the baroque, however, public performances became more common, particularly in the genres of opera and oratorio, and our modern concert tradition began to coalesce in many European cities. As Roger North described a performance in one of the earliest concert series, organized in London in the 1670s:
When was the Baroque period?
About the Baroque Period of Music. The Baroque period of music occurred from roughly 1600 to 1750. It was preceded by the Renaissance era and followed by the Classical era. The Baroque style spread throughout Europe over the course of the seventeenth century, with notable Baroque composers emerging in Germany, Italy, France, and England.
What musical forms were popular during the Baroque period?
Baroque Period Musical Forms. Popular Baroque musical forms include the prelude and fugue, the cantata, the concerto, the oratorio, the sonata, and even opera. Like prior Renaissance compositions, many Baroque pieces have religious themes.
What are the characteristics of Baroque music?
Baroque music often has the following characteristics: Emphasis on dynamics: During the Baroque era, the pianoforte (an early version of the piano) replaced the harpsichord as the primary keyboard instrument.
What is Bach's greatest achievement?
Bach's brilliance lay in his mastery of counterpoint and harmonic transformation. Works like The Well-Tempered Klavier, The Art of the Fugue, and the Brandenburg Concertos remain essential parts of the classical music repertoire.
What is basso continuo?
This form of music notation includes a complete bass line, which is usually played by a cello in a Baroque ensemble. A player of a keyboard instrument like a harpsichord or piano then improvises chords using figured bass notation.
What era did Bach work in?
He worked in the later Baroque era, overlapping with George Frideric Handel and Johann Sebastian Bach. German influence: As musicians traveled throughout Europe, the Baroque style caught on, and new composers added new elements. The English composer Henry Purcell and French composers like Jean-Baptiste Lully and Jean-Phillippe Rameau made marks, ...
What period did Mozart and Haydn start?
The second half of the eighteenth century and early nineteenth century marked the Classical period, where composers like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Franz Joseph Haydn built on the foundation laid by Baroque composers. Itzhak Perlman Teaches Violin. Usher Teaches The Art of Performance.
When Was The Baroque Era?
Style of Baroque
- The term “Baroque” comes from the Portuguese word barroco, which means “oddly shaped pearl”. Whilst this might seem like a strange description for a period of music, it refers to the ornate, decorated nature of the art that came out of the era. That said, one has to be careful when making generalizations about Baroque music, as the term covers an incredibly diverse array of styles, pa…
New Musical Forms
- Many of the musical forms and structuresestablished during the Baroque era would become mainstays of classical music over the following centuries. The three main ones to be developed were Opera, the Concerto, and Sonataswhich became hugely popular.
Harmony in The Baroque Era
- In the Medieval period and for much of the Renaissance period music was based on scales or modes. The Baroque period completely abandoned that approach in favor of the establishment of “common practice harmony”, where each tone in the diatonic scale functions according to its relationship with the tonic (or root note, the first degree of the scale). This meant that pieces we…
Notation and Theory: Figured Bass and Basso Continuo
- Figured bass was a new development in notation, and functioned a little bit like the kind of chord symbols we would later see used in jazz and popular music. A keyboard player (typically a harpsichordist or organist) would be given a bassline, written using traditional notation, with little numbers placed above the stave. These digits would refer to the intervals that were to be playe…
Important Baroque Era Composers
- Italian composers were at the forefront of many of the major developments in the Baroque era, embracing musical changes before their contemporaries in other countries, although later hugely important composers emerged from Germany, France, and England. Virtually all composers earned a living through the patronage of religious or political institutions. Baroque music remain…
Instrumentation
- Many instruments used during the Baroque period are still used today. String instruments like violins and cellos were in use, as were woodwind instruments such as recorders, flutes, oboes, and bassoons. At this stage brass instruments still did not have valves. String instruments used new techniques like tremolo (a sort of wobbling effect) and pizzicato(the plucking of the strings)…
Summary
- So, that concludes our guide to the Baroque period. We’ve learned about the birth of opera, the concerto, and various other forms, as well as the establishment of the harmonic system that would dominate Western music for centuries. We’ve also been introduced to some brilliant composers, whose works are still performed extensively today. We hope that you’ve found our lo…