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Baroque Era
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Important Historical Events
1600 – Shakespeare, Hamlet 1605 – Cervantes, Don Quixote 1607 Monteverdi, Orfeo 1610 – Galileo confirms that the earth revolves around the sun – Thirty Years’ War 1642 – Monteverdi, The Coronation of Poppea 1689 – Purcell – Dido and Aeneas 1692 – Salem, Massachusetts Witch Trials 1709 – Bach, Organ Fugue in C Minor (Little Fugue) 1721 – Bach, Brandenburg Concerto 1725 – Vivaldi, La Primavera (Spring) 1741 – Handel, Messiah Important Historical Events
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Baroque – bizarre, flamboyant, and elaborately ornamented
Today used to describe a particular style of arts Fills space Aristocrats were very powerful and luxurious during 17th and 18th century “Age of Absolutism” Rulers exercised absolute power over subjects Johann Sebastian Bach – jailed for a month for asking to leave his post Elaborate castles and magnificent court entertainments Churches used emotional and theatrical qualities of art to make worship entertaining. France, Spain, Italy, and Austria – Catholic England, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, and Germany – Protestant Scientific Advancements Galileo ( ) and Newton ( ) Union of math and science Advancements in medicine, mining, navigation and industry The Baroque Style ( )
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Baroque Composing Greats – George Frideric Handel and Johann Sebastian Bach
Bach’s death in 1750 marks the end of the era Other Notable Baroque Composers – Monteverdi, Purcell, Corelli and Vivaldi some were not considered notable until the 20th century 1940s – baroque revival – long-playing records Dissonance Used Openly Baroque Music ( )
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Baroque Music (1600-1750) 3 phases Early – (1600-1640)
Most revolutionary period in music history Unpredicted passion and dramatic contrast Italian Opera developed Text ruled music Composers favored homophonic texture Words projected more clearly Middle - ( ) New style spread from Italy around the world Modes gave away to major and minor scales Ruling device by 1690 Compositions were written just for instruments Late – ( ) Most well known Composers favored polyphonic texture returns to favor Harmony – emphasis on dominant to tonic progression Instrumental and vocal music were equally important Baroque Music ( )
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Baroque Music Characteristics
Unity of Mood Expression of 1 mood Affections – moods expressed during the time Joy, grief and agitation Certain rhythms or melodic patterns represented specific moods Exception – vocal music Changes of emotion in text changes emotion in music Baroque Music Characteristics
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Baroque Music Characteristics
Rhythm Conveys mood Rhythmic patterns are repeated throughout works Drives piece- forward motion rarely interrupted Beat emphasized more than in Renaissance music Baroque Music Characteristics
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Baroque Music Characteristics
Melody Feeling of continuance Opening melody repeats Expanding, unfolding, and unwinding Melodic sequence – successive repetition of a musical idea at higher or lower pitch Melody is elaborate and ornamented Dynamic expansion not balance or symmetry Short opening phrase followed by a longer phrase Longer phrase is an unbroken flow of rapid notes Baroque Music Characteristics
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Baroque Music Characteristics
Dynamics Stay steady for a period of time When they do change it is sudden Terraced dynamics – stepping from one level to another Crescendo and Decrescendo were not favored during the period Clavichord – keyboard instrument where brass blades struck the strings Made gradual dynamic change – narrow range – ppp to mp Popular with amateurs, specifically in Germany Baroque Music Characteristics
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Baroque Music Characteristics
Texture Late Baroque – polyphonic texture Soprano and Bass most important Imitation was common Not all were polyphonic Some shifted – vocal music Composers differed in preference Bach – consistently polyphonic Handel – contrast between polyphonic and homophonic Baroque Music Characteristics
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Baroque Music Characteristics
Chords and the Basso Continuo Chords more important Melodic lines were written and chords meshed with New importance to bass line Foundation of the harmony Basso continuo – continuous bass Played by two instruments Emphasized bass part Saved time and paper Figured Bass – bass part with numbers Numbers signify basic chords Not how they are to be played giving freedom to performer Baroque Music Characteristics
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Baroque Music Characteristics
Words and Music Word painting was used Quite standardized Wanted to show virtuosity of performers Baroque Music Characteristics
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Baroque Music Baroque Orchestra
Orchestra evolved from the violin family instrumentation By modern standards it was small – players Instrumentation was flexible from piece to piece Use of woodwind, brass, and percussion were variable Baroque trumpet had no valves High complex melodic lines Trumpeter was the aristocrat of the baroque orchestra In some occasions they were treated like military officers Composers selected instrumentation carefully Some would rearrange others works instrumentation and changed the tone color Baroque Music Baroque Orchestra
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Baroque Music Baroque Forms
Most compositions include sets of pieces or movements that contrast Movement – piece that sounds fairly complete and independent but are part of a larger composition Own theme Definite end Separated by a pause Usually 3 movements Fast opening, slow middle, quick and light conclusion Baroque Music Baroque Forms
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Music in Baroque Society
Before 1800 music written for specific demands Audiences desired “new music” constantly Music was a point of differentiation in courts May employ orchestra, choir or opera singers Size of staff was determined by the wealth of the court Anywhere from musicians Musical directors supervised performances and composed new music Responsible for discipline of musicians, upkeep of instruments and music library Pay was high and all music was performed no matter quality Still a servant and needed to seek patron’s permission on certain issues Relationships varied between patron and composer Music in Baroque Society
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Music in Baroque Society
Churches also sought musicians Music director was expected to produce new music and responsible for training of the church musicians Cities would compete to attract the best musicians Church musicians earned less than court musicians Income could include firewood and grain Funerals and weddings maybe brought some monetary fees Few public concerts during the time Town musicians played for a variety of events Play in church, processions, concerts for visiting dignitaries and graduations Some also played with amateurs for fun Music in Baroque Society
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Music in Baroque Society
Composers for commercial opera houses Most houses were in Italy Venice (pop 125,000) had 6 opera companies between London also had an opera house until 1728 Handel was music director in 1719 When the opera house went bankrupt he created his own company and became the first great “freelance” musicians Music in Baroque Society
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Music in Baroque Society
How does one become a Baroque Musician? Trade often passed from generation to generation Sons of musicians – Bach Vivaldi, Purcell, Couperin, and Rameau Apprenticed with a town musician Did odd jobs in exchange for instruction Choirboys Learned music in choir schools or in Italy the orphanages (Ospedale) Famous composers were hired to teach the students – Vivaldi Some of the finest orchestras and choruses around Obtaining a job? Difficult examinations Performance and compositions Some non musical requirements as well Bach and Handel turned down the same job because of a marriage requirement Music in Baroque Society
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