The Baroque Period

A Change of Values  Renaissance music valued skillful construction of multiple lines of music into a beautiful tapestry of sound.  In the late Renaissance, artists became more interested in the over- the-top fashion of the courts and the expression of emotion and drama.

The Age of Absolute Monarchs  Kings like Louis XIV of France lived in large, lavish centralized courts (like Versailles) with hundreds of ministers and aristocrats. By forcing the nobles to live in court with them, kings forced the feudal lords to always do what he wanted and took direct control over all the government.  With all the wealth they accumulated through this direct rule, the kings commissioned large palaces and gardens, paintings, parties, and musical shows to show off their wealth.

Instrumental Music  Dance Suite: Features 4-5 dance songs from different European countries.  Concerto: Switches off between the full orchestra (strings) and a soloist (any instrument).  Keyboard Piece: Organs, harpsichords and clavichords played various solo pieces. (fugue, prelude, tocatta, etc.)

Renaissance to Baroque Art The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci, 1498

The Abduction of the Sabine Women, Pietro Berretini, 1629

The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1652

 A group of artists and intellectuals gathered in Florence, Italy during the late Renaissance, including Galileo’s father, the composer/musician Vincenzo Galilei.  They believed that Renaissance music had become corrupt because it was nothing like ancient Greek music which focused on expressing words.  They believed society would be improved by music that was simpler and followed the words instead of fitting words to the music. The Florentine Camerata

Return to Greek Music/Drama  During the Renaissance, songs’ polyphonic lines often ignored and obscured meaning of words, destroying the expression of the poetry.  The Camerata believed that the Greeks performed their dramas with a single melody in a style between speech and song with the words controlling the music.  Wanted to return music to a dramatic art, where the music expresses the words, to revive the mystical power of music expressed by ancient Greek philosophers.

The Creation of a New Style and Form  Developed a new musical style called recitative with a single, speech-like melody over simple chords accompaniment.  Created a new musical form by combining drama and music (recitative style) to create opera.  A first, created for celebrations (like marriages) for wealthy patrons. Later, wealthy cities like Venice, Rome, and London opened opera houses for the public.

The Spectacle of Baroque Opera  Baroque opera became very elaborate, expensive entertainments with high-priced (diva) virtuoso singers, expensive costumes and sets, and even machinery for special effects.

Antonio Vivaldi ( )  Nick-named “The Red Priest”  Virtuoso violinist and composer of operas and concertos.  Wrote many concertos for a girls orphanage in Venice, Italy where he lived and worked.

Spring – Concerto in E Major Allegro Springtime is upon us. The birds celebrate her return with festive song, and murmuring streams are softly caressed by the breezes. Thunderstorms, those heralds of Spring, roar, casting their dark mantle over heaven, Then they die away to silence, and the birds take up their charming songs once more. 

George Frederic Handel ( )  Born in Germany, travelled to Italy to learn how to compose, lived in London, England most his life.  Virtuoso on keyboard; wrote many operas and oratorios, dance suites, and concertos for King George I and the English public.  Mozart and others later called him the greatest composer ever.

 Hornpipe from Water Music  Lascia ch'io pianga from the opera Rinaldo  Hallelujah from the oratorio Messiah

Johann Sebastian Bach ( )  German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violinist.  Had large family of composers; worked at churches all of his life; Composed keyboard and violin solo pieces, concertos, cantatas  A “top 3” composer for his development of harmony, counterpoint and forms. His music is revered for its intellectual depth, technical command, and artistic beauty.

 Toccata and Fugue in D Minor  Cantata: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring