History of Music Baroque and Classical

Music Era’s Up to 1450 Medieval 1450 – 1600 Renaissance 1600 – 1750 Baroque 1750 – 1820 Classical 1820 – 1910 Romantic 1910 – present Modern

Baroque Music period The word itself is from the Italian word barocco, meaning bizarre. The Baroque Music period was from 1650 until approximately 1750 and is considered to have finished with the death of Bach and Handel. It used Polyphony, was very ornamented and used contrasting elements. There were 2 geographical influences: - Nth Germany/Holland used counterpoint, especially fugues Europe/Rome used sonatas and concertos. The Italian violinist Corelli influenced many pieces cadences and melodies. Many instruments were developed during the Baroque Era. Some of these instruments are still highly prized today such as Stradivarius violins. People saw Baroque as coarse and old fashion. Although the word Baroque was used for art for some time it was not adopted for music until about 1919. Polyphony (counterpoint) means a combination of 2 or more interwoven melodic lines of music. The 2 georgraphical influences melded together with Rome travelling Nth and Germany/Holland travelling south. Corelli seem to influence so many different composers throughout this era – Just like some modern riffs seem to. Organ was very important as were violins and harpsichords the precursors of Pianofortes.

Brief Timeline of Baroque Music Corelli Pachelbel Purcell 1650 Beginning of Modern Harmony Overture introduced to Opera   b.1653 1652 Minuet Popularized by Lully at French Court Albinoni d.1713 d.1706 d.1695 1666 Stradivarius Labels his violins Vivaldi b.1671 1668 Couperin writes harpsichord works in form of Programme Music Handel Bach Rameau Telemann b.1678 d.1751 1671 Academie de la Musique founded b.1685 JS b.1683 b.1681 d.1741 1689 First English Opera Produced d.1759 d.1764 d.1767 1700 String Orchestras Established Horn first used in orchestra d.1750 1707 Silbermann builds his first organ 1709 Cristofori of Florence produces first piano 1720 Clarinet first used in orchestra 1732 Covent Gardens Opera House opened 1742 John Wesley publishes first Methodist hymn tunes 1765 As you can see there are many composers in this time. Many instruments such as the organ and pianoforte came into being in the Baroque period, but the harpsichord was the most popular. This time line is only a brief outline, many important and famous pieces were written in this time such as: Handel’s Water Music, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Bach’s G Minor Fantasia and Fugue. Just too many to be able to speak of in this short time. 1658 First bank notes issued in Sweden. 1666 Great Fire of London 1694 Bank of England founded 1707 England & Scotland are united. 1755 Mowcow University

Classical music period The Classical Music period was from 1750 until approximately 1820. Classical melodies were simpler than Baroque. They were built from even phrases with clarity, and balanced structures. People felt that the Baroque music was far too complicated and hard to remember as it had many melodies intertwining. It used the same chord progressions as Baroque, but didn’t change them as often so as to give simpler clearer harmonies. The symphony, concerto, and the sonata evolved through the Baroque into the classical period. The classical form is still used today. Phrases were the same length – usually 2 or 4 measures in pairs. With an answering phrase completing the first. Classical and western music still use the same chords, harmonic progressions and cadences as Baroque.

Brief Timeline of Classical Music Bach Haydn b.1735 Mozart b.1732 1756   d.1782 b.1756 d.1809 1763 Mozart starts tour as child prodigy (7yrs) Beethoven d.1791 1773 Waltz becomes popular in Vienna b.1770 1776 A General History of Music written by Charles Burney d.1827 Ancient Music Concerts sponsored by George III 1783 Broadwood patents piano pedal 1785 Mozart - Piano Concertos, K467 K482 1787 Mozart - Don Giovanni & Eine Kleine Nachtmusik 1788 Mozart - Symphonies No 40 & 41 1789 Mozart - Clarinet Concerto 1792 Rouget de Lisle La Marseillaise 1799 Beethoven Symphy No. 1 1827 The Classical period of music is only 70 years long. Obviously there is a lot less that happened and many less composers within the time frame. Haydn was responsible for the Sonata and is considered the “father of string quartet and of symphony”. He was a close friend of Mozart and taught Beethoven. From this timeline you can see how clever and prolific Mozart was. 1780 the industrial revolution started with the English cotton Industry. 1793 Louis XVI was executed and the French national anthem was written 1792.

Reference List Kennedy, M & Bourne Kennedy J 2007, Oxford Concise Dictionary of Music, University Press, New York. The Great Composers and Their Music, 1991, The Great Composer Series, Week 21, Marshall Cavendish Ltd, London. Baroque –Music.com, Downloaded 21 September 2009, http://baroque- music.com/frames/frames.shtml Michael Sartorius, Baroque Music Pages, downloaded 23 September 2009, http://www.baroquemusic.org/bardefn.html http://cnx.org/content/m15294/latest/