Early Music & The Baroque Period

Early Music & The Baroque Period Lesson 1 Learning Intentions I am… revising my understanding of concepts covered in National 5. learning about vocal styles in Early music and the Baroque period. learning about instrumental music in Early music and the Baroque period. Success Criteria I can…. understand and identify the concepts covered at National 5. identify the vocal and instrumental styles used in Early and Baroque music.

Task 1 – Matching Task Each group has been given flashcards, some with concepts and some with definitions. Your task is to match the correct concept with the correct definition.

Plainchant The earliest music we know, both sacred and secular consists of a single melodic line – This texture is called Monophonic. Early church music, known as plainchant, was sung without accompaniment and the melody set to words of the Roman Catholic liturgy. Plainchants are modal and have no regular metre. They follow the rhythm of the Latin words. Plainchants are still in regular use today in many churches and Abbeys.

Gregorian Chant/Plainchant - Higher Recap Gregorian chant was named after Gregory the Great, who was Pope from 590 until his death in 604. Homophonic Unaccompanied Features of Plainchant No regular meter Set to the words of the Roman Catholic Liturgy Modal Top Tip: Set your notes out as a mind map!

Modes/Modal Early music was very different to what we are used to in the 20th century. Tonality as we know it did not exist (i.e. Major, Minor, Atonal) Early music was based on a System of Modes of which there are 12. Music of this period was therefore called Modal.

Modes

Modes Music during the Medieval and Renaissance period was very different to what we are used to hearing today. Tonality as we know it today did not exist. (ie Major, Minor & Atonal) Music during the Medieval period was based on a system of 12 modes. Music of this period was therefore modal. The system of modes if thought to have originated in Greece where an attempt was made to put available sounds in order.

Modes in other Era’s We often find modes used in: Jazz music. Scottish/Celtic music. Klezmer music. Flamenco music uses the Phyrigian Mode which is also called the ‘Spanish Gypsy Mode’. Some Pop music such as Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” & Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water”, these both use the Dorian Mode. The Beatles often used the Myxolydian Mode.

Mass The Mass is a sacred choral work and is the service of the Roman Catholic Church. Features of the Mass incluse latin text and polyphonic texture, and it is usually sung in a cappella. Originally used in church worship it became a focus for many composers through the ages as a major style of composition. There are five parts to the Mass: Kyrie eleison – ‘God have mercy’ Gloria – ‘Glory to God in the Highest’ Credo – ‘I believe in God’ Sanctus and Benedictus – ‘Holy, holy’ and ‘Blessed is he’ Agnus Dei – ‘Lamb of God’

Renaissance Era – Sacred Music The Mass – Sacred choral work using sections of the Roman Catholic Liturgy. Latin Text Contains ‘Religious Buzzwords’ from the sections of the Mass: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus & Agnus Dei Features of The Mass Polyphonic Usually A Cappella* Top Tip: Use the song previews in iTunes to listen to examples.

Renaissance Era – Sacred Music The Mass eventually evolved to be a large scale work for soloists, chorus and orchestra.* This means more modern masses would have had an accompaniment. Listening Guide: Listen to some works by the following composers: Palistrina & Thomas Tallis. Palistrina – ‘Pope Marcellus Mass: Kyrie’ Tallis – ‘Mass for 4 Voices: I Gloria’ & ‘Puer Natus Est Nobis: II Sanctus’

What am I? I am a vocal piece of music. 100 points I am sacred in nature. 50 points My text is in Latin. 40 points I am polyphonic in texture. 30 points I am usually A Cappella. 20 points I use many voices. 10 points I evolved to be a large work for orchestra & chorus. 5 points I have 5 sections including the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Santus & Angus Dei. 1 point I am………… A Mass!!

What am I? I am a vocal piece of music. 40 points I am sacred in nature. 30 points I am modal. 20 points My text is from the Roman Catholic Liturgy. 10 points I am homophonic in texture. 5 points I am usually performed A Cappella. 1 point I am………… A Gregorian chant/Plainchant!!

Task 2 - Listening Task Listen to the following example from the Bach’s Mass in B minor. Write down concepts which describe what you hear Think about……… -Rhythm and Tempo -Melodic concepts -Instruments and instrumental techniques used

Baroque Period 1600 - 1750 The Age Of Bach and Handel

Baroque The word Baroque was first used to describe the highly decorative and often grand style of architecture and art of the 17th century. Musicians borrowed the word, and used it to describe the musical styles of the period spanning 150 years, from the birth of oratorio and opera to the death of J. S. Bach.

There were many important composers in the Baroque period There were many important composers in the Baroque period.... The 2 most influential were George Frederic Handel 1685-1759 Born Halle Saxony Died London England Johann Sebastian Bach 1685-1750 Born Thuringia Germany Died Leipzig Germany

Bach and Handel Both Bach and Handel composed mostly Religious/Sacred Music Both Bach and Handel wrote Keyboard Music Bach and Handel both wrote Concerti Grossi

Oratorio The first Oratorios started to appear at the start of the Baroque Period and in many ways were similar to the Opera of the day. It featured Soloists (who performed Recitatives and Arias), a Choir and an Orchestra. The main differences lay in the fact that the Oratorio was always based on a religious subject, and had no scenery. Possibly the best known example would be: “Messiah” by George Frederick Handel.

Task 3 – Individual Listening This question is based on the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. Listen to the excerpt and follow the guide score printed below. Insert the rest missing from bar 1. Insert the notes missing from bar 6. Describe the interval formed by the two notes in the box in bar 10. It is an interval of a/an Insert the rhythm missing in bar 9.

Like an opera, there are three main types of song in an Oratorio. ARIA – This is a song from an opera. It has a beautiful flowing melody and is accompanied by an orchestra. RECITATIVE – This is half sung, half spoken and uses a free, speech like rhythm. It’s purpose is to tell the audience what is happening in the story and help move the plot along. CHORUS – A group of singers (also known as a choir)

QUESTION Listen to the following examples and decide whether you are listening to a RECITATIVE, ARIA or CHORUS. This is an example of a/an

Da Capo Aria An aria in Ternary form (ABA) used in opera and oratorio in the 17th and 18th centuries. The third section is not written out but the instruction Da capo (from the beginning) is given instead. The repeat of the A section was performed with the solo ornamented. Task 3 – Pairs Task In pairs, listen to the following excerpt from Handel’s ‘The Trumpet shall sound’ and fill in the blank spaces with the concept you hear. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVVXuLfquR8

Task 3 – Pairs Task The piece opens with , and solo playing. The introduction ends with the solo instrument playing an ornament which is a A solo voice then enters and the solo instrument continues to play. This is known as a/an harpsichord strings trumpet trill. bass obbligato.

As you listen answer the following: a) Identify the type of work: Pick from Opera or Oratorio Identify the type of song: The type of voice(s) https://youtu.be/aMGO83SNj3A

Effects of contrast, especially of dynamics and timbres. Music for Orchestra It was during the Baroque period that the orchestra first began to take shape. Here are some typical features of the Baroque Orchestra. A firm basis of strings to which composers would add other instruments: one or two flutes (or recorders), oboes, bassoons, perhaps horns, occasionally trumpets and timpani. The sound of organ or harpsichord continuo – a bass line in which the player was expected to fill in the harmonies. Sometimes figures were written under the bass line indicating the chords the composer would like played. This was called figured bass. Effects of contrast, especially of dynamics and timbres.

Concerto Grosso One of the most important instrumental forms used by Baroque composers was the Concerto Grosso. The Concerto Grosso had two contrasting small groups. Ripieno – the main body of strings Concertino - a group of soloists They were supported by the Basso Continuo which was played by a harpsichord or organ which usually had a cello or bassoon playing and reinforcing the bass line.

As you watch identify the instruments which are: a) part of the concertino b) part of the ripeno

Task 4 - Listening Task You are going to listen to Bradenburg Concerto No. 4 written by J.S Bach. The excerpt is taken from the 3rd movement and you should answer the following questions; What type of concerto is this work? Give reasons for your answer. Which instruments are playing in this performance? This line is heard at the start of the extract. Which instrument is playing it? What else is heard at the opening of the extract? The performance is an authentic performance – that is, it is played in a style and on instruments of the composer’s day. Give one change of instrument that would make such a performance unauthentic.