Music: An Appreciation 9th -10th Edition by Roger Kamien Part IV The Baroque Period 1600-1750

The Baroque Period Time Line Shakespeare: Hamlet-1600 Cervantes: Don Quixote-1605 Jamestown founded-1607 Galileo: Earth orbits Sun-1610 King James Bible-1611 Newton: Principia Mathematica-1687 Witchcraft trials in Salem, Mass.-1692 Defoe: Robinson Crusoe-1719 Swift: Gulliver’s Travels-1726

Baroque facts “Baroque” term Aristocracy very rich Age of absolutism Bizarre, elaborately ornamented Aristocracy very rich Age of absolutism Absolute power of rulers Science improved Inventions Improvement of medicine, mining, navigation and industry Experiment-based, not just observation Baroque artists interested in forming a total illusion like a stage setting

The Baroque Style Time of flamboyant lifestyle Baroque style “fills the space” Visual Art Implies motion Busy Architecture Elaborate

Ch. 1 - Baroque Music Two giants of Baroque composition Johann Sebastian Bach (period ends w/ Bach’s death) George Frideric Handel Other noted composers Claudio Monteverdi Henry Purcell Arcangelo Corelli Antonio Vivaldi Period divided into three phases Early: 1600-1640 favored homophonic texture Late: 1680-1750 Vocal music = Instrumental music Middle: 1640-1680 major & minor scales

Characteristics of Baroque Music Unity of Mood Expresses one mood throughout piece Rhythm Rhythmic patterns are repeated throughout Provides compelling drive & energy Melody Opening melody heard again and again Continuous expanding of melodic sequence Dynamics Volumes are constant with abrupt changes – terraced dynamics

Characteristics of Baroque Music Texture Late Baroque mostly polyphonic Extensive use of imitation Chords and the Basso Continuo Chords meshed with the melodic line Bass part served as foundation of the harmony Basso Continuo: accompaniment played by keyboard instrument following numbers which specifies the chords – similar to modern jazz & pop “fake book” notation Words and Music Text painting/word painting continues Words frequently emphasized by extension through many rapid notes

The Baroque Orchestra Based on violin family of instruments Small by modern standards 10-30 players Varying instrumentation Strings, woodwinds, brass, & percussion Baroque trumpet Difficult to play, no valves Composers specified instrumentation Works were rearranged frequently Composers obtained beautiful effects from specific tone colors

Keyboard instruments (partial list) Organ Clavichord Harpsichord Piano was invented around 1700 by Bartolomeo Cristofori

Baroque Forms Common basic forms: Instrumental music frequently made up of movements Movement: a piece that sounds complete in itself, but is part of a larger composition Performed with pause between movements Unity of mood within individual movements Movements often contrast with each other Common basic forms: Ternary A B A Binary A B A A B A B B A A B B

Ch. 2 - Music in Baroque Society Music written to order New music, not old-fashioned, was desired Courts: Music indicated affluence Court Music Director Good prestige, pay, and other benefits Still considered a skilled servant

Some aristocrats were musicians Church music was very elaborate Most people heard music only in church Churches had organ, choir and sometimes orchestra Church musicians earned less Some, though few, public opera houses Few public concerts Music careers taught by apprenticeship Orphanages taught music as a trade

Ch. 3 - The Concerto Grosso and Ritornello Form For small group of soloists and orchestra Multi-movement work Usually 3 movements Fast Slow (usually quieter) Fast (sometimes dance-like)

Ritornello Frequently used in 1st & last movements of concerto grosso Theme repeatedly presented in fragments Contrast between solo sections and tutti

Listening Brandenberg Concerto No. 5 in D major by Johann Sebastian Bach For string orchestra and group of soloists Soloists: flute, violin, and harpsichord First movement Ritornello form

Ch. 4 - The Fugue Cornerstone of Baroque music Polyphonic composition based on one main theme Vocal or instrumental Subject Main theme Each voice enters after previous voice has completed presenting the subject Countersubject Material against the subject Episode

Listening Organ Fugue in G Minor by J. S. Bach Note individual voice entry on same melody (subject)

Ch. 5 - The Elements of Opera Italy ~ 1600 Music + acting + singing + dancing Drama sung to orchestral accompaniment Text in opera is called libretto Music is written by a composer Libretto is written by a librettist Opera can be serious, comic, or both Voice categories of opera Dramatic Soprano, Lyric Soprano, Basso Buffo.. Acts : different stage setups, scenery Usually 3 Acts (I,II,III)

The Elements of Opera (cont.) Two primary types of solo songs: Recitative: A vocal line that imitates the rhythms and fluctuations of speech Secco recitative VS accompanied recitative Presents plot material Aria: Solo singing with orchestral accompaniment expresses emotion—usually a “show-off” vehicle for the singer Other types: duet, trio, quartet, quintet, etc. Three or more singers make up an ensemble

Chorus: groups of actors playing crowd parts The prompter—gives cues to singers The orchestra pit – sunken area in front of stage where the orchestra is placed Prelude or overture - instrumentals that open opera acts Modern questions concerning text in opera Translation of text and effects upon text painting Supertitles-projection of text above the stage

Ch. 6 - Opera in the Baroque Era Result of musical discussions of the Camerata in Florence (1575) – Greek tragedy model Euridice (Peri-1600) 1st known opera Orfeo (Monteverdi-1607) 1st large scale (great) opera Opera composed for court ceremonies Display of magnificence and grandeur Patrons compared to ancient heroes 1st public opera house 1637 in Venice Rise of virtuoso singer— castrato (1600-1800)

Ch. 7 - Claudio Monteverdi Italian, early Baroque composer, violist, singer and music director Worked last 30 years at St. Mark’s in Venice Composed both sacred music and secular music for the aristocracy (madrigals, church music, operas) Only 3 of his 12 operas still exist Popular works: “Orfeo” “The coronation for Poppea” Introduced the pizzicato and tremolo effects

Listening Tu se’ morta from Orfeo by Monteverdi Note: Homophonic texture Use of text painting

Ch. 8 - Henry Purcell English composer (1659-1695) Highly regarded, held court positions Buried beneath the organ in Westminster Abbey Dido and Aeneas (English text) Ground Bass Repeated musical idea in bass Variation form—melodies above change Also called basso ostinato

Listening Dido’s Lament from Dido and Aeneas by Purcell Note: Recitative followed by aria Aria makes use of ground bass

Ch. 9 - The Baroque Sonata Instrumental work Multi-movement piece for one to eight instruments Trio sonata Three melodic lines: basso continuo and two higher instruments Written as three parts, but performed by four players Sonata da chiesa—church sonata (dignified) Sonata da camera—chamber sonata (more dance-like, intended for court performance)

Ch. 10 - Arcangelo Corelli Italian violonist/composer Wrote sonatas, concertos Invented the double stops for violin Listening Trio Sonata in A Minor, Op.3 No. 10 For 2 violins and basso continuo Note: Polyphonic texture Multi movement work Contrast between movements

Ch. 11 - Antonio Vivaldi Late Baroque Italian composer Il prete rosso (the red priest) Taught music at girls orphanage in Venice Girls performed at mass hidden behind screen Wrote sacred and secular vocal and instrumental music 450 concerti grossi and solo concertos Famous as a virtuoso violinist & composer

Listening Four Seasons (1725) Set of 4 solo concertos for violin string orchestra and basso continuo La Primavera (Spring), Op. 8, No. 1, from the Four Seasons Note: Polyphonic texture & ritornello form Baroque program music Descriptive effects (trills for bird songs, string tremolos for thunder)

Ch. 12 - Johann Sebastian Bach German, late Baroque composer Organist and harpsichordist Deeply religious (Lutheran) Worked in sacred and secular positions Weimar/Cothen/Leipzig Large family (20 children) Known during lifetime as keyboardist Wrote in every form except opera Recognized for technical mastery Master of counterpoint All music majors study Bach’s compositions He is the model for learning to write music

J.S.Bach’s works Art of Fugue 48 preludes and fugues for piano Brandenburg Concertos Mass in B minor A lot of church music St. John and St. Mathew Passions Cantatas chorales Organ works Italian concertos French Dances Many more…

Listening Prelude and Fugue in C Minor, from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I by Bach Note: Ornamental passage in the style of improvisation Concludes with bright C major harmony Pedal point

Ch. 13 - The Baroque Suite Instrumental, multi-movement work Written for listening, but based upon dance All movements in same key but different character Often began with a non-dance overture French overture—2 sections 1st slow, dignified 2nd faster, often beginning as a fugue

Baroque Suite’s movements French overture Air Allemande (German origin) Courante (French origin) Sarabande (Spanish origin) Gigue (Scotch and Irish origin) Other movements can be present: Bouree Gavotte Minuet Chaconne

Listening Note: Extensive polyphony Suite No. 3 in D Major (~1730) by J. S. Bach, 2nd, 4th, & 5th mvts. Note: Extensive polyphony Contrast of dance forms and tempo in various movements

Ch. 14 - The Chorale Lutheran church service was social event of the week Lasted 4 hours with 1 hour sermon Music was major part of worship service Congregation participated in singing chorales Chorale: hymn tune w/ German religious text Steady rhythm/easy to remember Themes taken from folk songs and hymns of the 16th and 17th Century.

Ch. 14 - The Church Cantata Cantata: Multi-movement church work for chorus, soloists, organ and small orchestra Vernacular religious text Resembled opera in its use of choruses, recitatives, arias, and duets No acting or dancing

Listening Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Awake, A Voice Is Calling Us) by J. S. Bach (1731), Movements 1, 4, & 7 Note: Vernacular (German) text Chorale tune basis Polyphonic until chorale in movement 7 Movement 7—provides for congregation to join in

Ch. 15 - The Oratorio Like opera: Unlike opera: Large-scale work for chorus, soloists, and orchestra (no organ) Contains arias, recitatives, ensembles Unlike opera: No acting, scenery, or costumes Based upon biblical stories/ Narrative text Chorus section is very important Not intended for religious services Commonly performed today in both churches and concert halls

Ch. 16 - George Frederic Handel Born in Germany—same year as Bach Not from musical family Father wanted him to be a lawyer Troublesome life Studied music in Germany, then to Italy to study opera, finally England to work Became England’s most important composer

Ch. 16 - George Frederic Handel (cont.) Master of Italian Opera and English Oratorio Wrote many operas in London Had own opera company Worked as composer, performer, & impresario Suites and concerti grossi Buried in Westminster Abbey

Listening The Messiah (1741) by G. F. Handel Lasts for 2,5 hours (!) Meditative rather than dramatic Hallelujah Chorus Most popular part of the oratorio