Figured bass

Definition

Figured bass is a musical notation system used primarily in the Baroque period that indicates intervals above a bass note, allowing keyboard players and other instrumentalists to improvise harmonies. This shorthand notation provides essential information for realizing chords while also giving performers the freedom to interpret the harmonic structure creatively. It serves as a bridge between the written score and the expressive potential of performers, significantly influencing both instrumental and vocal music during this time.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Figured bass emerged as a key feature in Baroque music, allowing for greater flexibility and expressiveness in performance.
2. Composers like J.S. Bach and Handel relied on figured bass to convey harmonic intentions while leaving room for performer interpretation.
3. The numbers and symbols in figured bass indicate specific intervals above the bass note, which can include both diatonic and chromatic relationships.
4. Figured bass was often used in conjunction with the continuo group, where a keyboard instrument would play the bass line while realizing chords based on the figures.
5. Understanding figured bass was essential for musicians of the Baroque period, as it influenced both the composition and performance practices of instrumental and vocal music.

Review Questions

• How does figured bass influence the performance practices of Baroque instrumental music?
  • Figured bass plays a crucial role in Baroque instrumental music by providing musicians with a shorthand for understanding harmonic structures. This system allows performers to interpret and realize chords above a given bass note, promoting creative improvisation. As musicians engage with figured bass, they are empowered to shape their performances dynamically, making each rendition unique while remaining true to the composer’s harmonic intentions.
• Discuss the relationship between figured bass and the role of key Baroque composers in shaping its usage.
  • Key Baroque composers such as J.S. Bach and Handel significantly shaped the use of figured bass in their compositions. They utilized this notation to guide performers while simultaneously encouraging interpretative freedom. Through their works, these composers established standards for realizing figured bass, influencing how musicians approached harmony, embellishments, and overall performance techniques during the Baroque era.
• Evaluate the impact of figured bass on vocal music composition and performance during the Baroque period.
  • Figured bass had a profound impact on vocal music composition and performance during the Baroque period by enabling composers to convey complex harmonic ideas succinctly. This system allowed singers and accompanists to work together fluidly, as vocal lines could be supported by harmonies realized from the figured bass notation. Additionally, it facilitated a greater level of expressiveness in performances, as singers could adapt their interpretations based on the harmonic context provided by the continuo players realizing the figures.

Related terms

Continuo: A musical accompaniment consisting of a bass line and harmonies that are realized by keyboard or chordal instruments, often used alongside figured bass in Baroque music.

Chord Progression:

A sequence of chords played in succession that forms the harmonic basis of a piece, which figured bass helps to outline through its notation.

Improvisation:

The act of creating music spontaneously, often facilitated by figured bass as it allows performers to embellish and elaborate upon written material.