An introduction to music history To know the different periods in the progression of western classical music and to understand how musical characteristics developed through this time.

Initial questions When did music begin? Why do we talk about ‘western’ and ’non western’ musics? Is there a clear definition between popular music and classical music?

Timeline – Western Art Music Dates Musical Period Historical Events 500-1400 The Medieval Period 1400-1600 The Renaissance Period The Tudor period – Henry VIII etc 1600-1750 The Baroque Period Louis XIV in France, several Europpean conflicts including the Franco-Dutch wars 1750-1830 The Classical Period The Georgian Era 1830-1900 The Romantic Period The Victorian Era 1900 - Now The Twentieth Century The Edwardian Era Post WW1 / Pre WW2 / Post WW2

To understand the contextual characteristics of Baroque music. The Baroque period 1600-1750 To understand the contextual characteristics of Baroque music.

Starter quiz Answer the following questions in your books.

1 What are the dates of the Baroque period?

2 What does the term Baroque mean?

3 Name the three main keyboard instruments of the Baroque period.

4 Name the four main composers of the Baroque period.

5 What happened to the texture of music during the Baroque period?

6 Describe the type of dynamics used in Baroque music.

7 What is ornamentation?

Baroque Music – IN a nutshell… Terraced dynamics (no gradation) Repetition of short motifs Fairly narrow harmony – mainly I and V. But suspensions, pedal notes, ornamentation and added chords ensure variation. Contrapuntal texture (polyphony) – at the beginning of the period, a light, homophonic texture; polyphony then took over. Ornamentation Basso Continuo One ‘affectation’ Modes replaced by major-minor keys Forms: binary, ternary, ritornello, rondo/rondeau, variations, ground bass (chaconne, passacaglia), fugue Genres: opera, oratorio, chorale, suite, overture, cantata, concerto, concerto grosso, prelude, toccata Viols replaced by violin family

Listen to the following pieces and decide which ones are Baroque and which are not. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Opera vs Oratorio Opera Oratorio Non religious Religious Staged in theatres / opera houses with a set and costumes Was performed in churches with no set or costumes Dramatic Much more simple Highly charged, emotional scenes. Performed with an orchestra and choir – usually had solos, duets and trios.

Handel's Messiah It is an Oratorio The libretto is in 3 main parts…the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ: Part 1: includes of prophecies foretelling the coming of the Messiah. Part 2: The passion music of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus – mainly the words from the Old Testament. Part 3: Telling of Jesus’ resurrection.

Structure of the Oratorio in Messiah It follows the Opera through: Recitatives -The concentration is on the words of a narration with minimal use of music Arias - Essentially it is a solo song which reflects on a mood or emotion The music is more elaborate Choruses -The Aria leads straight into the first chorus The Chorus rounds up the story up until that point in the drama In Messiah the story is still being unfolded. It consolidates the positively of the mood in the preceding 2 movements and the looking forward to the coming of the Lord Mood: ‘And the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.’ ‘And the Glory of the Lord’ - 4th movement and the first chorus in 4 parts with an orchestral accompaniment

Key Ideas in the Messiah It is built on a series of musical ideas, relating to a separate line of text Each idea is written as a single line, then developed in different ways There are four ideas ‘And the glory of the Lord’ ‘Shall be revealed’ ‘And all flesh shall see it together’ ‘For the mouth of the Lord has spoken it’

Task In your books, mind map any thoughts that you have about Handel’s Messiah in relation to features of Baroque music.

Thoughts??? The Messiah tells the story of Jesus’ life Handel composed it in 24 days in 1741. It is composed for a full choir and orchestra. All parts are sung by men. Melismatic – A single syllable of text suing over a succession of notes. Word Painting – Where the music reflects the words.

Modern choral singing Professional choirs usually perform in concert halls. Amateur choirs will often perform in school halls or churches. Choirs are much smaller nowadays than the large Victorian choirs. Many 20th century choral works are written for chamber choir and orchestra. Chamber choir pieces may have been a reaction against 19th century composers who often composed for large choirs.

Carmina Burana Composed 1935 – 1936 Based on 24 medieval poems on secular topics such as money, drink, gambling and lust. These poems are sung in Latin. Written in Nazi Germany and it was immediately popular, even though it was controversial. The most famous piece is O Fortuna which starts and ends the work. It is composed for a huge orchestra, a main choir (SABT), a chamber choir, and a boys choir. The piece has a lot of time changes. The rhythms follow the words. The piece requires 8 timpani.

Choral Composers Baroque Composers Modern Composers George Frederic Handel Claudio Monteverdi Henry Purcell Carl Orff Arnold Schoenberg Olivier Messian Benjamin Britten Ralph Vaughan-Williams

music analysis Listen to the following piece, annotate the score and answer the following questions.

Questions 1. What key is the piece composed in? 2. Which instrument is this piece composed for? 3. State the bar where an arpegiation is shown. 4. What is the name of the ornament in the treble part of bar 8? 5. What is the enharmonic equivalent of F double sharp (Bar 11)? 6. Give one reason why there are no dynamics in this piece. 7. What word would you use to describe the melody? 8. Who might have composed this piece?

Homework Listen to one piece of Baroque music for next week. Be prepared for a discussion on what you have listened to.