1. The Baroque Era 1585-1750 Sikirinskaya Caroline

2. What does the word Baroque mean? Baroque is a French word from Portugese origins that means an irregularly shaped pearl.

3. Characteristics of Baroque Music Use of a Basso Continuo - harpsichord and cello providing the base of the composition. Emphasized contrasts in texture, pace and volume. Strong use of improvisation in both melodies, and the embellishments of those melodies. Most importantly - if you hear a harpsichord, it’s almost always Baroque.

4. Baroque: Three Periods early: opera homophonic texture middle: instrumental music late: polyphony

5. Characteristics of Baroque Music Unity of Mood: a piece usually expresses one mood Rhythm: patterns are repeated through out the beat is emphasized Melody: repeated

6. The Baroque Orchestra small (10 to 40 players) basso continuo and violin family strings brass, woodwinds and percussion used occasionally tone color was subordinate to the melody, rhythm or harmony

7. The Elements of Opera opera: a drama in which some or all of the lines are sung to an orchestral accompaniment libretto: the text of the opera librettist: the one who writes the libretto overture or prelude: the orchestral introduction to an opera

8. Opera Singing Styles aria: a song for solo voice with orchestral accompaniment recitative: a vocal line that imitates speech, accompanied by basso continuo ensembles: compositions for two or more singers

9. Opera Origins Florentine Camerata Attempt to recreate the Greek tragedy singing followed the rhythm and pitch fluctuations of speech homophonic: soloist and simple chordal accompaniment (basso continuo) polyphony rejected because it would obscure the text

10. Baroque Composers

11. Johann Sebastian Bach 1685-1750

12. Domenico Scarlatti 1685-1757

13. Francois Couperin 1668-1733

14. Henry Purcell 1659-1695

15. Georg Philipp Telemann 1681-1767

16. Archangelo Corelli 1653-1713

17. George Frederic Handel 1685-1759

18. Antonio Vivaldi 1678-1741

20. Baroque Instruments

21. Flute

22. Oboe

23. Recorder

24. Bassoon

25. Trumpet

26. Horn

27. Viola

28. Cello

29. Harpsichords & Claviers

30. Pipe Organ

31. Baroque music differs greatly from Medieval and Renaissance music.

32. Composers used mixed groups of instruments to perform works of great complexity. Music was no longer only functional, it was made to be enjoyed as it’s own entity. Composers began to search for inspiration for their compositions in not only the church, but in nature. Baroque music is very similar to jazz in it’s use of improvisation and figured bass.

33. Critical Listening What is Vivaldi trying to portray in this piece of music?

34. Tomorrow, Bach…