1. Unit 5: Baroque

2. The Baroque Period (1600-1750) During this period, the great monarchies set up. There are lots of improvements in Science and Maths. The population is very poor and lots of people die because of epidemies.

3. Art The Baroque period started in Italy and it was quickly spread through Europe. It’s a decorative art, sensual, with movement and contrast. The style is very expressive, with a great sense of dramatism. It’s a luxurious art because of the passion for fantasy and ornaments.

4. And music…?  full of movement, colourist and with lots of dynamic effects.  Melodic lines are full of ornaments and they are often improvised by the performers.  Lots of composers appear around Europe  Music makes the court magnificient and luxurious.  In Spain there are very few musicians, but the Borbons hire great Italian composers - Scarlatti, Farinelli…  The image of God is represented as a powerful king.  Religious music becomes so expressive and sensual as civil music.

5. Vocal and Instrumental Music Vocal music: opera, masses, oratories… Instrumental music: suite, concerts, tocata, sonata

6. Vocal music Religious: It represented religious scenes and it presented a magnificient and powerful God (as a King). There was a chorus, orchestra and solos. Masses were also composed. Profan: It was civil music. There no religious songs for small circles of aristocrats. The operes were for monarchs and the court but they were also represented in theatres. _____________________________________________________ Internet: videos 9,10,11 > Bach

7. The triomph of instrumental music The instrumental music gets for the first time great importance. New instrumental forms appear and they explore the technical possibilities of instruments. The orchestra is now a structural group organised in families. The instruments are now specified in the partiture and they are of a great perfection. The violin is the most popular instruments for solos --> violins were made in Italy (A. Stradivari) and the stradivarius are very valued as the best in the world. The keyboards are also important as solos or as accompaniament. Videos 17 and 18 > concerts

8. Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIWPjL qoIsQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKdk dNWlTp0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKdk dNWlTp0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i05aLGl_Kkk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29kjyo_mK1I