1. THE BAROQUE PERIOD OF MUSIC
BACH, HANDEL, VIVALDI

2. CHARACTERISTICS WHERE: EUROPE
WHAT INSTRUMENTS WERE POPULAR: STRINGS INSTRUMENTS, ORGAN, HARPSICHORD
DESCRIBE THE MUSIC: OPERA, FUGUE, LOTS OF RUNS AND TRILLS, VERY ORNAMENTED
DYNAMICS: LAYERED

3. Who was Bach? What is a fugue? Why should I care?
Bach and the Fugue
Who was Bach?
What is a fugue?
Why should I care?

4. Johann Sebastian Bach was a famous composer who lived during the Baroque period. This period was between 1600 and If you do your math, that period began over 400 years ago!

5. Here is what Bach’s music looked like. Pretty confusing, huh?

6. Bach wrote music that is still played today, over 250 years after his death. His music must be pretty good for people to still want to hear it after such a long time. He wrote so much music that it fills over 20 volumes!
Listen to Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.

7. Now that we know a little bit about Bach, let’s look at what a fugue is. A fugue is a musical form that Bach used a lot. In fact, he was so good at writing fugues that no one has ever done it better.

8. A fugue is like a game of Follow the Leader
A fugue is like a game of Follow the Leader. You know how to play that game, don’t you? Your job is to follow whoever is in front of you. That’s kind of like what a fugue does.

9. A fugue is also like a round. Have you ever sung,
Row, Row, Row Your Boat? One person starts the song, then others come in, singing the same tune, but not together. That’s what a fugue is like.

10. This is what a fugue would look like if it were a picture
This is what a fugue would look like if it were a picture. Do you see how the themes follow each other, coming in on higher and lower pitches?
5th time
3rd time
2nd time
The theme enters
4th time

11. Fugues are much more complicated than simple rounds
Fugues are much more complicated than simple rounds. Each part of a fugue continues to play new material while other voices enter. The best way to demonstrate this is to have you listen to the five parts one more time before you hear them all joined together.

12. Bach starts his fugue with a simple theme on the viola.

13. Bach brings in the second violin. It plays the same theme, but higher.

14. Here is the theme played for the third time on the first violins, even higher.

15. The cellos and string basses take the theme way down low
The cellos and string basses take the theme way down low. How many times has the theme been played so far?
Cello
String Bass

16. Bach brings in the theme way up high in the flutes
Bach brings in the theme way up high in the flutes. How many times have you heard it?
Flute

17. If you guessed the theme played five times, you’re right!
Can you name the instruments you just heard?

18. The instruments were: 1. Viola 2. Second Violin 3. First Violin 4
The instruments were: 1. Viola 2. Second Violin 3. First Violin 4. Cello 5. String Bass 6. Flute

19. Of course there are more instruments in an orchestra than those we just heard. In the piece you are about to hear there is an important instrument called a harpsichord. This was one of the most important instruments of Bach’s day.

20. Here is what a symphony orchestra look like
Here is what a symphony orchestra look like. Can you find the instruments in this picture?

21. Johann Sebastian Bach 1685-1750
In the next slide you will hear the Brandenburg Concerto in G Major. It was written by Bach. Try to hear the themes as they make their entrance.
Johann Sebastian Bach

22. Listen for the themes as they make their entrance.1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Listen for the themes as they make their entrance.

23. Wow. That was quite a piece, but I got lost
Wow! That was quite a piece, but I got lost! That’s the fun of Bach’s tunes. Once you know a little bit about how he builds his music, you can sit back and enjoy the great sounds. You did a great job!
Congratulations!

24. You Are Now Ready To Take Your Test
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25. Online Bibliography
Baroque. [Online] Available July 24, 2001.
Classical Archives (c) 2001 Classical Archives, LLC. [Online] Available July 24, 2001.
JS Bach. [Online] Available July 24, 2001.
Pictures of Johann Sebastian Bach. [Online] Available July 24, 2001.