1600-1750

THE BAROQUE PERIOD

Music Styles• Concerto Grosso• 3 movements (fast, slow, fast)• Small group of soloists with a larger group of players• Concerto Grosso in D minor (Antonio Vivaldi) Link

• Fugue• Polyphonic composition based on one main theme• Imitation is main technique• Fugue in G minor (Johann Sebastian Bach) Link

• Sonata• Composition in several movements for 1-8 instrumentalists• Originated in Italy, but spread to Germany, England, and

France• Sonata for Trumpet, Strings, and Basso Continuo (Arcangelo

Corelli) Link

Music Styles• Suite• Several dance inspired movements• National origins• Germany: Allemande (Johann Sebastian Bach example)

• France: Courante & Gavotte (Johann Sebastian Bach Courante example)

• Spain: Sarabande (Johann Sebastian Bach example)

• England/Ireland: Gigue (Charles Duiparte example)

• Chorale• Hymn tune sung to a religious German text

• Included a prelude to help the congregation remember how the melody went

• Jesu, mein Freude (Jesus, my Joy) Johann Sebastian Bach Link

• Cantata• Used mostly in Lutheran churches

• Vocal and instrumental

• Based on Sunday’s sermon

• Composers wrote new cantatas for each week

• Ein ungefarbt Gemute (An undyed mind) Johann Sebastian Bach Link

Music Styles• Oratorio• LARGE scale work for soloists, choir, and orchestra• Based on biblical stories, but not intended for church services• Originated in Italy• Messiah is the best known oratorio (George Friedrich Handel)• Hallelujah Chorus G.F. Handel Link

• Opera• Drama that is sung with an orchestra background• Libretto – Text of opera• Aria – Solo• Recitative - Choir

Opera• Started in Italy around 1600• Must act and sing at the same time• Voice Categories• Coloratura soprano• Very high and fast female singer

• Lyric soprano• Light, graceful, and charming female singer

• Dramatic soprano• Powerful, passionate female singer

• Lyric tenor• Light, bright male singer

• Dramatic tenor• Powerful, heroic male singer

• Basso Buffo• Comical and fast male singer

• Basso Profundo• Very low range, powerful, and dignified male singer

Opera• Orchestra• Opens the opera with a prelude• Not in view of audience

• Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)• Wrote first opera, “Orfeo” (Orpheus) in 1607• Tu se morta – Act 2 Link• You are dead, you are dead, my dearest

• And I breathe; you have left me,

• You have left me forevermore,

• Never to return, and I remain—

• No, no, if my verses have any power

• I will go confidently to the deepest abysses

• And having melted the heart of the king of shadows

• Will bring you back ot me to see the stars again,

• Or, if pitiless fate denies me this,

• I will remain with you in the company of death.

• Farewell earth, farewell sky, and sun, farwell

Famous Composers• Claudio Monteverdi• 1567-1643• Italian• Madrigals, church music, and opera• Wrote music with a lot of emotional intensity

• Henry Purcell• 1659-1695• London• Buried under the Westminster Abbey organ• Wrote church music, secular choral music, small instrumental

works, and one opera• Famous Work: Dido and Aeneas (opera) Link

Famous Composers• Arcangelo Corelli• 1653-1713• Italian• Violinist and composer• Wrote string music• Famous Work: Trio Sonata in A minor Link

• Antonio Vivaldi• 1678-1741• Venice, Italy• “The Red Priest”• Violin teacher, composer, conductor• Wrote operas, church music, solo concertos• Famous Work: The Four Seasons (Spring) Link

Famous Composers• Johann Sebastian (J.S.) Bach• 1685-1750• Germany• Church felt his music was too complicated• Church organist• 20 children (10 survived into adulthood)• Last job was Director of Music of St. Thomas Church in Leipzig,

Germany• Conductor, composer, organ teacher, performer, judged the

construction of organs

• Composed every form except opera• Polyphonic textures• Many famous works!• His death was the reason for the end of the Baroque period

Famous Composers• George Friedrich Handel • 1685-1759• Germany (one month before Bach)• Organist, violinist, harpsichordist• Wrote operas and oratorios• Famous Work: The Messiah

Activity•Working with classmates and using your notes, fill out the Baroque Style Comparison Chart.