BAROQUE MUSIC

1600 – 1750

CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Periods


1.2 The main baroque characteristics


1.3 Music in the Baroque society – Composers’ life

2. INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

2.1 The Baroque orchestra


2.2 Instruments of the Baroque era


2.3 Instrumental music forms – The concerto, the fugue, the sonata
1. INTRODUCTION

The word 'baroque' is used to describe a particular musical style extended

between 1600 and 1750. During this period, composers and performers used
more elaborate melody ornamentations, made changes in musical notation, and
developed new instrumental playing techniques. Baroque music expanded the
complexity of instrumental performance, and also established opera as a new
musical genre. Many musical terms and concepts from this era are still in use
today.

1.1 Periods


We can subdivide de Baroque period in three periods:

– Opera was invented
– Homophony was the most imp

• Early period (1600/1650):
operas)

– instrumental music grow in importance
– vocal music

• Middle period (1650/1700)
the same importance

– polyphony is the most important texture
– Instrumen

• Late: (1700 / 1750) music genre

1.2 The main Baroque characteristics :

All the pieces for this period had a basso continuo and it’s the main
character that you need to identify the Baroque music.
. a) Basso continuo provided the harmonic structure of the music.
The basso continuo must include at least two instruments, an
harmonic instrument to playing chords (harpsichord, organ, lute...) and a
bass instrument such a cello, double bass or viola da gamba. 


. b) The figured bass: The bass part generally of a Baroque

composition that is marked so as to indicate the harmonies that
should go with each note. These harmonies were written with
numbers and THE PERFORMER HAD TO IMPROVISE ALL
THE NOTES IN EACH COMPOSITION (it was a very difficult
practice). 

.

Contrast and movement 


Contrast (between timbres instrumental and vocal groups, different timbres,
tempos, etc.) is another important characteristic if this music.

. A) Contrast of intensities (pp opposite to ff) 


. B) Tone colourss: Woodwind against strings or solo instrument against the

orchestra 
.

Rhythm
Patterns are repeated throughout all of the piece and the beat is
emphasized too.

Melody and Dynamics

Melody was very repetitive, with a lot of ornaments. It had dynamics

too and they were written as Terraced Dynamics: huge alternation
between loud and soft dynamics. (The organ and harpsichord could not
do crescendo)
1.3 Music in the Baroque society – Composers’ life
a) COURT MUSICIAN (composer, director or player)

• Music was written only by order: it was written by the demand of the
aristocracy.

• Music is the main source of diversion in the courts of the aristocracy.

• Music as director:

– His Pay and prestige were high

– compositions were performed

– Still a servant of the patron

3. INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

Instrumental music achieved a definitive independence from vocal

music during this period. Musicians composed music specifically for
instruments and the early instrumental genres began to appear.
3.1 The Baroque orchestra

• It was small (10 to 40 players)

• It had a basso continuo and violin family strings
• Brass, woodwinds and percussion used occasionally

• The tone color was subordinate to the melody, rhythm or harmony
3.2 Instruments of the Baroque era

The Baroque Era saw the continuation of all the instruments that were
used during the Renaissance. They started to develop into the
instruments that we know today. The violin was the most important.
 a) Keyboard Instruments Keyboard instruments were used for basso continuo parts and solo musi

- Clavichord. its sound quality was weak, but the instrument was able to produce some dynamics.

- Organ The Baroque organ was more powerful than its predecessor, the Renaissance organ. Organ
used as solo instruments or accompaniment instruments.

- Harpsichord The Harpsichord was very popular and was known by various names in different par
instrument employed in the basso continuo. It is one of the most distinctive sounds of the Baroque

b) String Instruments The principal string instruments of the 1600s were the viol family.

. The violin soon became the new leader of the stringed instruments, and its sound became the do

c) Wind Instruments During the Baroque era the principal woodwind instruments used were the bas

The transverse flute (flute against the recorder) started to become a common solo and ensemble i

Brass instruments such as horns, trumpets, and trombones were used in large ensembles, but rare

d) Percussion Instruments Timpani were the only percussion instruments in

common use at this time.

3.3 Instrumental music forms – the concerto (LARGE DIMENSION

INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION)
It evolved into the form as
performance of a soloist with/against an orchestra. The baroque
concerto was mainly for a string instrument. Normally it had three
movements (Fast-Slow-Fast)
3.4 Instrumental music forms – the Suite (SMALL DIMENSION
INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION)

The Baroque suite was scored with or without soloists, with several
movements inspired in dances. Be careful, It was not a piece for
dancing.
The main movements were:

• Allemande (Slow)
• Courante (Fast)
• Sarabande (Slow) • Gigue (Fast)

3.5 Instrumental music forms – the fugue (SMALL DIMENSION
INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION)

3.5 Instrumental music forms – the baroque sonata

It is a composition in several movements for one to eight instruments (during the

early baroque)
It was like a concert but with fewer instruments. (SMALL
DIMENSION INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION)

It is a compositional technique with several voices, built on a subject

and the answer to the subject (composed in contrast) that are
introduced at the beginning in imitation (repetition at different pitches)
and recurs frequently in the course of the composition