“Ornate style of Architecture” “Ornamentation” Baroque “Irregular shaped Jewellery” or

Baroque Instrumental Music Common Baroque Instruments  Harpsichord – used as a solo instrument and to accompany the orchestra  Cello – a partner to the Harpsichord or Organ. This pairing is called a Basso Continuo  Organ  Violin family replaces the Viols  Orchestra begins to take shape, mainly strong string section

The Orchestral Suite 1. Ouverture 2.Courante 3.Gavotte 4.Forlane 5.Menuet 6.Bouree 7.Passepied 8.Other Dances can include Sarabande, Gigue Bach – Orchestra Suite No. 1

The Ground Bass A repeating melodic pattern (ostinato) Commonly played on the cello or organ Famous piece - Pachelbel’s Canon New layers are added gradually Thickening the texture Variations – take an original tune and add notes in between Purcell – “ Here the Deities approve” from “Welcome to the Pleasures”

Concerto Grosso A group of soloists play with an orchestra They share the duties of playing solo melodies The Concerto Grosso later becomes just the Concerto – one soloist and orchestra Listen to the piece below and see if you can name the solo instruments playing the short melodies Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F

Ritornello (Little return) Form The letters we use for this are ABCADEA Commonly used in Baroque Concertos This is very similar to Rondo (Recur or return) Form ABACADA A good example of Rondo is the famous piece by Vivaldi – “Autumn” from the “Four Seasons”

Fugue This musical device can be used in instrumental or vocal music A famous piece is Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue” Toccata (to touch) – introductory show off bit made up of arpeggios, ascending and descending scales, swiftly repeated chords Fugue (Flight) – One tune (Subject) is performed and then answered using the same tune a fifth higher or a fourth lower (sequence) by the second voice. This can then be imitated by 2 or more voices. (Look at the next diagram)

Fantasia (Fancy) Improvisatory pieces for the keyboard Contrapuntal (polyphonic) Sections contrasting in moods and style Folk tunes or melodies from an Opera are linked together in Sequence Bach – Chromatic Fantasy D- Minor BWV 903

Baroque Sonata (Sounded, played) Harpsichord Solo (Harpsichord Sonata) Solo instrument accompanied by Harpsichord and Cello (Basso Continuo) e.g. Violin Sonata, Flute Sonata Usually has 3 or 4 contrasting movements (large sections) Bach – Sonata BWV 1027 in G Major, 4 th movement Allegro moderato

Baroque Vocal Music Opera – Secular - Solo, duets, trios, quartet, chorus, instrumental, *recitative, stage, acting, scenery, orchestra, Any topic, (English, German, etc) Oratorio – Religious setting- Sung in the concert hall or church, bible stories, all the above but no acting or scenery. Sung in native tongue (English, German, etc) “Comfort Ye” - Handel’s Messiah – “Hallelujah”

More Baroque Key Characteristics Dotted rhythms Terraced Dynamics - Sudden changes - Very Loud to Very Quiet (no gradual change) Figured Bass – Keyboard player would read numbers to produce chords (Like musical short hand!!!) Major (Happy Sound) and Minor (Sad Sound) tonality (Harmony) Recitative – declamatory style of singing (half singing, half reciting text) used to carry the plot forward. Recitativo secco (accompanied by Basso Continuo) Recitativo accompagnato or Stromentato (accompanied by the orchestra) Handel’s Messiah There were shepherds abiding in the field (Secco) And lo (Stromentato) And the Angel Said (Secco) And Suddenly there was the Angel (Stromentato)

Other Baroque Composers Arcangelo Corelli Tomaso AlbinoniDomenico Scarlatti Georg Philippe Telemann