1. S3 Listening Unit 2
Baroque Music

2. The word Baroque was first used to describe the highly Decorative and Grand style of Architecture and art of the 17th Century
                                                                                                                                                                         
Musicians adopted the word using it to describe the musical styles of the years

3. The system of Modes, which the tonality was based on in the Medieval and Renaissance periods was disused and by the end of the 17th Century music was based on Major and Minor tonalities
Many new musical structures were introduced and developed by Baroque composers including......
Aria
Opera
Suite
Oratorio
Concerto Grosso
Recitative
Fugue

4. The were Many important composers in the baroque period
The were Many important composers in the baroque period.... The 2 most influential were
George Frederic Handel
Born Halle Saxony
Died London England
Johann Sebastian Bach
Born Thuringia Germany
Died Leipzig Germany

5. Baroque Instrumental Music
The Baroque Orchestra Contained
A string Section
1 or 2 Flutes (or recorders), Oboes and Bassoons
1 or 2 Horns and occasionally trumpets (NO VALVES !!!)
Timpani
Organ or Harpsichord (Continuo)
The Violin family (Violin, Viola, Cello and Double bass) replaced the viols of the rennaisance period in the first half of the baroque period

6. The organ or harpsichord played a continuo or figured bass
The performer follows a Bass line with a series of figures (Figured bass) which tells the player which chords to improvise around

7. The key styles of instrumental composition in the baroque period were.............
Concerto Grosso
Fugue
Suite
Ground Bass

8. Was one of the most important forms developed in the Baroque period
Concerto Grosso
Was one of the most important forms developed in the Baroque period
In concerto Grosso, a small group of soloists called the Concertino contrast against the orchestra Ripieno
The most well known concerto Grosso are the Brandenburg concertos by J.S Bach

9. Fugues were mostly written for Harpsichord or organ
Composers moved away from the homophonic texture; where all parts move together to polyphonic/contrapuntal writing, where 2 or more parts move at different times from each other
The fugue is the most important type of Polyphonic writing in the Baroque period, and is based on imitation
The fugue uses 3 or 4 parts which merge together and overlap using imitation
Fugues were mostly written for Harpsichord or organ

10. The suite is a set of dances originating from the Renaissance period
Suites contain several contrasting dances
Allemande
Sarabande
Passepied
Courante
Bouree
Gigue/Jig
In compound time (6/8, 9/ )
Very fast tempo
Minuet
In ¾ simple time
Ternary form
????
Lively 2/4 or 4/4
Begins with anacrusis
Other than the Minuet, the dances are usually in Binary form

11. Feature Opera Oratorio
The 2 main types of Baroque vocal compositions are
Opera and Oratorio, These are similar but have some differences....
Feature
Opera
Oratorio
4 Part Choir
Yes
Orchestra
Solo Voices
Sacred Story No
Secular story
Costumes
Scenery
Acting
Opera would be performed in a concert Hall or Opera house
Oratorio would be performed in a church

12. The solo song in opera and Oratorio is called an Aria,
The Key features of and Aria are
Accompanied by orchestra
Usually in Ternary form
Known as Da Capo Arias
Syllabic: where each syllable of each word is given 1 musical note to be sung
Melismatic: where each syllable can be given more than one note per syllable
Word Painting: Where the musical line reflects the words being sung

13. The choir in an Opera or Oratorio is called a Chorus
In an Oratorio there is a chorus known as a Chorale...
A Chorale is another name for a Hymn tune
Chorales are also found outwith an Oratorio..... J.S Bach wrote many of these
The key features of a Chorale are..
Sung in 4 part Harmony (SATB)
Use of definate cadences
Use of Passing notes
Use of Suspensions

14. The key features of a Chorale are.. Sung in 4 part Harmony (SATB)
Use of definate cadences
Use of Passing notes
Use of Suspensions