Chapter 8 Prelude: The Late Baroque Period

1
Chapter 8Prelude The Late Baroque Period

• Musical Life in the Early Eighteenth Century

2
Key Terms

• Church
• Court
• Opera house

3
Musical Life in the Early Eighteenth Century

• Importance of crafts in Baroque era
• Chippendale furniture, Paul Revere silver,
  Stradivarius violins
• Music also regarded as a craft
• Composers not unique artists, but artisans who
  produced music to order for their patrons
• Thus, music often anonymous in character
• Three main institutions supported music
• The church
• The court
• The opera house

4
The Church

• Expectations of church composers
• Compose or improvise new music for worship
• Play or lead performances of their music
• For special occasions, provide elaborate music
  for chorus, soloists, instruments
• Train boys who sang in choirs
• Organists play preludes, accompaniments to solemn
  moments, postludes
• Increasing desire for keyboard, chamber, and even
  orchestral works

5
The Court

• Status equivalent to court painter or chef
• Composers worked at whim of masters, but enjoyed
  secure existence pension
• Composers had to be prolific
• Musicians prestige working conditions varied
  from court to court
• More opportunities for travel
• Easier to keep up with trends, new developments
  in music

6
The Opera House

• Originally attached to courts
• Starting in 1637, public opera houses were the
  first musical institution supported by paid
  admission
• Solo singers were the stars
• Composers wrote (and often rewrote) music to show
  off solo singers talents
• Composers often conducted their operas from the
  harpsichord