🎼Intro to Music Unit 3 – Baroque Period in Western Classical Music

Historical Context

• Baroque period in Western classical music spanned from approximately 1600 to 1750
• Followed the Renaissance period and preceded the Classical period
• Coincided with the Age of Enlightenment, a time of great intellectual and cultural growth in Europe
• Characterized by a shift towards grandiose, dramatic, and ornate artistic expression across various art forms (music, architecture, painting)
• Influenced by the rise of absolute monarchies and the Catholic Church's Counter-Reformation
• Saw the establishment of opera as a new genre and the development of instrumental music
• Witnessed the emergence of the concept of tonality and the widespread use of basso continuo

Key Characteristics of Baroque Music

• Emphasis on contrast, drama, and emotional intensity
• Extensive use of ornamentation, such as trills, turns, and mordents
• Employs a wide range of dynamics, from soft (piano) to loud (forte)
• Features complex polyphonic textures, with multiple independent melodic lines played simultaneously
• Utilizes the basso continuo, a continuous bass line typically played by a keyboard instrument and a low melodic instrument (cello, bassoon)
• Explores the concept of tonality, with a clear distinction between major and minor keys
• Incorporates terraced dynamics, sudden changes in volume for dramatic effect
• Frequently uses dance rhythms and forms, such as the minuet, gavotte, and sarabande

Important Composers

• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), a German composer known for his intricate polyphonic works, such as the Brandenburg Concertos and The Well-Tempered Clavier
• George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), a German-born British composer famous for his operas, oratorios (Messiah), and instrumental works (Water Music)
• Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741), an Italian composer and virtuoso violinist, renowned for his concertos, particularly The Four Seasons
• Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643), an Italian composer who pioneered the development of opera and the use of orchestration
• Henry Purcell (1659-1695), an English composer known for his opera Dido and Aeneas and his contributions to the English Baroque style
• Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757), an Italian composer famous for his keyboard sonatas

Major Musical Forms

• Opera, a dramatic work combining music, singing, and theater, which originated in Italy and spread throughout Europe
  • Consists of recitatives (speech-like singing) and arias (expressive solo songs)
• Oratorio, a large-scale sacred work for orchestra, choir, and soloists, similar to opera but without staging or costumes (Handel's Messiah)
• Concerto, a composition for a solo instrument or a small group of soloists accompanied by an orchestra
  • Concerto grosso features a small group of soloists (concertino) contrasted with the full orchestra (ripieno)
• Suite, a collection of instrumental dance movements in the same key, often for keyboard or orchestra
• Fugue, a polyphonic composition in which a main theme (subject) is introduced and then imitated by other voices
• Sonata, an instrumental work for solo instrument or small ensemble, typically in several movements

Instruments and Ensembles

• String instruments, such as violins, violas, cellos, and double basses, formed the core of Baroque orchestras
• Woodwind instruments, including flutes, oboes, bassoons, and recorders, were used for melodic and harmonic support
• Brass instruments, such as trumpets and horns, were employed for ceremonial and outdoor performances
• Keyboard instruments, particularly the harpsichord and organ, played a central role in solo, chamber, and orchestral music
  • The harpsichord was essential in providing the basso continuo
• Lutes and guitars were popular in intimate settings and for accompanying singers
• The Baroque orchestra emerged as a standard ensemble, typically consisting of strings, woodwinds, brass, and a basso continuo group (keyboard and low melodic instrument)
• Chamber music ensembles, such as the trio sonata (two solo instruments and basso continuo) and the solo sonata (one solo instrument and basso continuo), were common

Performance Practices

• Ornamentation was an essential aspect of Baroque performance, with musicians expected to improvise embellishments and add trills, mordents, and turns
• Improvisation was a highly valued skill, particularly in the realization of the basso continuo and in solo passages
• Dynamics were used to create contrast and dramatic effect, with sudden changes between loud and soft sections (terraced dynamics)
• Articulation played a significant role in expressing the character of the music, with a variety of techniques such as legato (smooth and connected) and staccato (short and detached)
• Tempi were often left to the discretion of the performer, with the use of descriptive terms like "allegro" (fast) and "adagio" (slow) to guide the interpretation
• Pitch standards varied across Europe, with different regions and cities adopting their own tuning systems
• Ensembles were typically led by the keyboard player or the first violinist (concertmaster), who would guide the group through gestures and musical cues

Influence on Later Periods

• The Baroque period laid the foundation for the development of tonality, which became a defining feature of Western classical music
• Baroque composers' exploration of form, harmony, and counterpoint influenced the works of later composers, such as Mozart and Beethoven
• The concerto form, which emerged during the Baroque era, continued to evolve and remained a popular genre in the Classical and Romantic periods
• The dramatic and expressive qualities of Baroque music, particularly in opera and oratorio, set the stage for the emotional intensity of the Romantic era
• Baroque ornamentation and improvisation practices influenced the development of jazz and other improvisatory music styles
• The Baroque period's emphasis on contrast and drama paved the way for the dynamic range and emotional depth of later musical styles

Notable Works and Listening Examples

• Johann Sebastian Bach
  • Brandenburg Concertos (1721)
  • The Well-Tempered Clavier (1722 and 1742)
  • St. Matthew Passion (1727)
  • Goldberg Variations (1741)
• George Frideric Handel
  • Water Music (1717)
  • Messiah (1741)
  • Music for the Royal Fireworks (1749)
• Antonio Vivaldi
  • The Four Seasons (1725)
  • Gloria (1715)
• Claudio Monteverdi
  • L'Orfeo (1607)
  • Vespro della Beata Vergine (1610)
• Henry Purcell
  • Dido and Aeneas (1688)
  • The Fairy Queen (1692)
• Domenico Scarlatti
  • Keyboard Sonatas (1738)