Baroque Music

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Baroque Music

• 1600 - 1750

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Characteristics

• Unity of mood
• Continuity of Rhythm
• Continuity of melody
• Terraced dynamics
• Polyphonic and homophonic textures
• Basso Continuo
• Text painting

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The Baroque Orchestra

• Consists primarily of violins, violas, and the
  basso continuo (harpsichord bass inst.)
• Woodwinds brass and percussion are optional
• Orchestral works were often arranged for other
  instruments and vice-versa

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Baroque Composers

• Johann Sebastian Bach
• Claudio Monteverdi
• Henry Purcell
• Antonio Vivaldi
• George Fridirich Handel

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Johann Sebastian Bach

• German,Lutheran master of the keyboard
• Came from a long line of musicians/composers
• Most prestigious post court conductor for the
  Prince of Cothen (first position in which he was
  not involved in church or organ music

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J.S. Bach cont.

• Director of St Thomas Church in Leipzig for 27
  years
• Very religious man (J.J. and S.D.G.)
• 2 wives- 20 children
• Two important keyboard collections The Well
  Tempered Clavier and the Notebook of Anna
  Magdalena

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Baroque Forms

• Instrumental works may have several contrasting
  movements independent compositions that are part
  of a larger work
• AB and ABA with emphasis on contrast
• Ground bass a repeated musical idea used as the
  basis of a composition

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Types of Compositions

• Concerto Grosso A multi-movement instrumental
  composition for a small group of soloists pitted
  against a larger group of players. The two groups
  alternate in ritornello form
• Example Brandenburg Concerto 5, I by
• J.S. Bach

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Brandenburg Concerto 5, Allegro

• Solo group flute violin and harpsichord
• 3 movements fast-slow-fast
• Allegro movement opens with the ritornello theme.
  Notice the contrast in dynamics, texture and
  timbre
• The last section has an impressive harpsichord
  solo

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Baroque Forms cont.

• Fugue a polyphonic composition based on one main
  theme, called a subject. The texture usually
  includes three, four or five voices and includes
  a counter subject and episodes - The fugue is
  often introduced by a short piece called a
  prelude
• Example J.S. Bachs Little Fugue in G Minor

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Baroque Forms cont.

• The Baroque Suite a collection of stylized
  dances written for listening rather than for
  dancing
• The French Overture and the air are the only two
  movements of the suite that are not dances
• Example J.S. Bachs Suite No. 3 in D Major

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Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns Die StimmeCantata No.
140Johann Sebastian Bach

• Cantata multi mvt. Composition for chorus, vocal
  soloists and instrumental ensemble base on a
  chorale
• Chorale hymn tune with one note per syllable,
  religious text
• Chorale prelude Short composition for organ,
  based on a chorale and used as a memory jogger

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Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns Die StimmeJ. S. Bach
(listening)

• 1st Movement listen for chorale tune-Dotted
  rhythms good for introduction
• 4th Movement tenor chorale
• 7th Movement Entire congregation should remember
  the melody by now
• Chorale prelude played before the service to
  serve as a memory jogger

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Sonata and Trio SonataJ.S. Bach

• Solo Sonata multi movement work for soloist plus
  basso continuo
• Trio sonata multi movement work for two solo
  instruments plus basso continuo (4 musicians)

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Antonio Vivaldi1678-1741

• Italian violinist-composer
• AKA The Red Priest ( red hair and was a
  priest for one year)
• Most of his career he was composer, conductor and
  teacher at an all girls school
• Composed operas and church music but is best
  known for his concerti grossi and solo concertos

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La Primavera from The Four SeasonsAntonio Vivaldi

• Composition is a solo concerto
• Program music instrumental music associated with
  a story, poem, idea or scene
• Read sonnet on page 123
• Listen for ritornello, terraced dynamics,
  tremolo, glissando and trills

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Claudio Monteverdi1567-1643

• Italian (Cremona) violist, singer composer
• the last great madrigalist and the first great
  opera composer bridging the Renaissance and the
  Baroque eras
• Mostly wrote vocal music with instrumental
  accompaniment

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OrfeoClaudio Monteverdi

• His 1st opera
• Composed for the Mantuan court with a healthy
  budget soloists, chorus, dancers and a 40 piece
  orchestra
• Incorporates recitative and aria
• Recitative Sung speech without meter
• Aria Song for solo plus accompaniment (soliloquy)

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Tu Se Mortafrom Monteverdis, Orfeo

• Sung by Orfeo after he hears of Eurydices death
• Accompanied by basso continuo organ and bass
  lute
• Homophonic, no meter or beat, no apparent
  structure
• An example of recitative ( p. 116)

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Henry Purcell1659-1695

• Known as the greatest of English composers
• Appointed organist of Westminster Abbey and later
  organist of the Chapel Royal
• Wrote church music, secular choral music,
  instrumental chamber music, songs and theater
  music.
• Greatest hit Dido and Aeneas

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Didos Lamentfrom Purcells Dido and Aeneas

• An example of recitative aria and chorus
• Written for girls boarding school
• No virtuosos singers or musicians needed
• Written in English
• Basis for aria is ground bass

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George Frideric Handel1685-1759

• Master of Italian opera and the English oratorio
• Oratorio large composition for chorus, vocal
  soloists, and orchestra. Religious text (usually
  Biblical) that is narrative. Its like opera
  without costumes and sets. It contains choruses,
  duets, arias, recitatives and orchestral
  interludes

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Handel (cont.)

• Not from a musical family but began musical
  training at age 9
• Age 18 he traveled to Hamburg where he became a
  violinist and harpsichordist in an opera house
• Age 20 produced his first opera
• Age 21Went to Italy and wrote operas

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Handel (cont.)

• Returned to Germany in 1710, landed an impressive
  position and asked for leave to go to England
• In England, he became Queen Annes favorite
  composer and popularized the oratorio

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The MessiahGeorge Frideric Handel

• Oratorio is 2 1/2 hours long, composed in 24 days
• Written in 3 parts Part I the prophecy and
  Christs birth, Part II. Redemption by sacrifice,
  mankinds defeat when trying to oppose God, and
  Part III faith in eternal life after death

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Every Valley Shall Be ExaltedAria for tenor,
strings and basso continuo

• Describes the creation of a desert highway on
  which God will lead his people back to their
  homeland
• Examples of text painting exalted, every
  mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight
  and the rough places plain
• Translation on page140 - 141

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Hallelujah Chorus

• Contrast of three textures used to reflect text
  monophonic- for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth,
  polyphonic- Hallelujahs set against for the Lord
  God omnipotent reigneth reflects joy and
  homophonic hymn like the kingdom of this world