1. Chapter 17 Part 2

2.  1600-1750  Divided into two sub-periods:  Early Baroque  Late Baroque

4.  The main purpose of Baroque music was to move the listener by using different emotions.  How did composers do this?  Terrace dynamics: layered dynamic levels within a piece.  Some voices loud, some voices soft at the same time.  Dramatic tempo changes  Each section, or movement, of a piece maintained a single mood throughout.

5.  Opera made its first appearance around 1600.  Composers wanted to recognize solo voices rather than keeping all of the voices equally busy.  This let to simplified instrumental accompaniment to support the voice.  Continuo: an accompaniment consisting of a harpsichord sounding the chords and a low stringed instrument reinforcing the bass line.  Recitative and aria was created at this time.

6.  Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi  Written in 1607  Tells of Orpheus’ descent into the underworld to retrieve his dead bride Eurydice.  Mr. Runyan will explain the rest of the story.  The opera utilizes recitatives, arias, madrigals, and orchestral music.  Listen #7

7.  Later Baroque composers continued to develop the use of counterpoint and intricate melodic combinations.  Fugue: a polyphonic composition consisting of a series of successive melody imitations.  Like a fancy round (row your boat on steroids).  There is a subject (main theme) followed by and answer (imitation of the subject in a different voice).  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyvS rpQ2eWY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyvS rpQ2eWY

8.  A turning point in Baroque music came in 1722 when Jean-Philippe Rameau published Treatise on Harmony, which established rules of harmonization.  Baroque composers now began to think in terms of chords and harmony, not just melodies.  Listen #9

9.  The Baroque period was the age of great string music. Many new forms of instrumental music were invented.  Concerto: A musical form where solo parts alternate with a group of instruments.  The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF HPRi0ZeXE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF HPRi0ZeXE  Concerto for Two Trumpets in C by Vivaldi  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC dwzgjPVHI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC dwzgjPVHI