Baroque Music

1600 1750
Baroque is borrowed from architecture, suggesting elaborate decorations of buildings
at the time. Therefore Baroque Music is often full of Ornamentation and
Decoration.

KEY FEATURES

Violin took the place of the Viol an earlier violin.

Birth of Opera, oratorio, fugue, suite, sonata and concerto
Harpsichord Was main keyboard instrument at this time. Harpsichord played chords
and cello played bass which was called Basso Continuo
Piano was invented in 1709 towards latter half of Baroque period
Establishment of Major and Minor key system, replacing modes
Textures : Monophonic - Single line melody and polyphonic Two or more parts
playing at once- Homophonic melody and accompaniment used later on
Melodies full of ornaments and often use dramatic leaps
Repetition and simple Binary and Ternary Forms provide the basis for structure
Contrasting Dynamics loud or quiet, often in blocks. (Called terrassed dynamics)
Main forms used Binary, Ternary, rondo, variations including ground bass,
chaconne, passacaglia)

Baroque Orchestra
Newly invented members of string family violin, viola, cello (and harpsichord). Strings
are basis of Baroque orchestra.
Trumpets, horns and timpani drums used sparingly
Recorders, wooden flutes woodwind not standard at this time and varied hugely

Listen out for

Music for strings only, or strings plus solo instruments

Concerto Grosso small group contrasts with large group
Harpsichords
Basso continuo continuous bass harpsichord and cello keeping bass and chords in
music

Famous composers
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
J.S Bach (1685-1750)
George Frederic Handel (1685-1759)
Henry Purcell (1659-95)