1. The Baroque Period AD

2. The Baroque Period Important developments were underway:
The 13 American colonies were formed
Galileo was discovering new ways to explain the universe
Fancy decorations and ornaments were fashionable in music, art, and architecture
Men AND women wore wigs and lace

3. Baroque Music
Johann Sebastian Bach was the most famous composer of the period
Music became very complex
Composers used “decorations” and “ornaments” in music
Bach composed very complex polyphonic pieces of music
Elaborate melodies layered on top of one another
Used trills and fast-moving notes to “decorate” the music and let the performer show off

4. Baroque Music
Chords, or stacks of notes played at the same time, were used to accompany melodies
Composers began to write dynamics and tempo markings into music
Making up music on the spot, or improvisation, became popular even in church
Composers began using Major and minor tonalities

5. The Patronage System

6. The Patronage System
Throughout history, composers were employed by the church and/or the wealthy ruling class
Also called “patrons”
This was known as the Patronage System
Usually one wealthy person paid a composer for each work and decided what kinds of pieces he should write
This limited the creative freedom of the composers

7. Vocal Music of the Baroque Period

8. Opera
The Baroque Period saw the birth of a new form of vocal music called opera
Opera combines music, acting, scenery, costumes, and props
Actors and actresses sing the script, or libretto
Range from serious to comical
The very first opera was Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi

9. Instrumental Music
Instrumental music became just as important as vocal music during the Baroque Period
Rise in music for flute, oboe, bassoon, trombone, harpsichord, and organ
Recorders became less popular and viols were replaced by violins, violas, and cellos

10. Concerto Grosso Music for instruments
Contained several contrasting sections, or movements
Usually fast-slow-fast
Written for a group of solo instruments and a small orchestra
Important composers were Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Pachelbel, George Frederic Handel, and Johann Sebastian Bach

11. Music for Organ The primary church instrument was the organ
Could play by itself or accompanied the choir
Helped keep the singers in tune
Organists regularly improvised music because organs had multiple keyboards

13. Antonio Vivaldi

14. Antonio Vivaldi Born in Venice, Italy
Father was a barber and part-time violinist employed by the basilica of St. Mark
Was a violin virtuoso at an early age
Became a priest in 1703
Wrote 50 operas
Rumored to have red hair
Died poor and relatively unknown

15. Antonio Vivaldi Was also a music teacher at a girls’ orphanage
Women were forbidden to perform in public, so his orchestra of girls performed behind a grill
Composed The Four Seasons
Music written to depict the four seasons of the year

18. Johann Pachelbel

19. Johann Pachelbel Wrote many vocal and instrumental pieces
Born in Nuremberg, Germany and was a friend of the Bach family
Composed Pachelbel’s Canon, the most famous piece of music of the Baroque Period

20. SAMPLE OF PACHELBEL’S CANON

22. Johann Sebastian Bach

23. Johann Sebastian Bach Came from a long line of musicians from Germany
Became an organ virtuoso by the age of 15 and composed for the instrument
Was a Lutheran and employed by the Lutheran church
Loved to use symbolism in his music
Was a superb teacher

24. Johann Sebastian Bach Wrote music for instruments and vocalists
Baroque Period ended with Bach’s death
Had over 20 children!

27. Compare/Contrast
Medieval
Renaissance
Baroque