Characteristics of Baroque Music The Baroque period followed the Renaissance and stretched until 1750 till the Classical period began. This period of musical history flows with a natural progression. Most of the Renaissance's forms, structures, and conventions laid the foundation for the new Baroque style. Baroque can be applied to many art forms, including architecture, painting, and sculpture. In the realm of music, the word Baroque describes a particular style that began in the early 1600s and lasted until approximately 1750. During the Baroque period, composers wrote more emotional and expressive music than Renaissance music.
Baroque music is characterized by its contrast, dynamism, and variety. Baroque composers extensively used counterpoint. which is the art of combining two or more independent melodic lines into a single composition. The Baroque period was a time of great change in music. New instruments and playing techniques were developed, and composers experimented with form and structure.
The Baroque era saw the rise of opera and the development of new genres such as the concerto and the sonata. The splendor of Baroque age epitomizes grandeur and elegance. with Baroque music being a favorable choice for weddings and celebrations.
Popular Baroque pieces mirror the opulence of the period's architecture with sacred and secular works in full majesty. The Concerto and the Concerto Grosso were among some of the popular pieces. Movements varied but followed a fast, slow, fast pattern, often based on earlier Renaissance dance forms.
Vivaldi and Corelli are two Baroque composers who contributed the greatest to music. Vivaldi is perhaps better known for his dramatic depiction in Quattro Stagioni or Four Seasons. Corelli's Twelve Concerti Grossi, Opus 6, are amongst the best of the period.
Corelli was a master of the trio sonata that stemmed from the Renaissance cansona and featured two violins in continuo. Courtly dances featured in early music provided the basis for instrumental pieces. These came from Europe and were influenced by Germany, France, and Italy. The Baroque composers took these dances and developed them into pieces without dancers, although a deficiency was felt.
Renaissance dances composed with Baroque instrumental suites included the Allemande, the Courante, the Gigue, and the Sarabande. The Allemande was a moderate four, while the Sarabande was a slow three. The J.S. Bach English, French and German suites illustrate this point succinctly.
Instrumental development took center stage during this period. The viol, a predecessor to the modern violin, was discarded in favor of the violin. Catherine Medici funded the instrument's development with masters like Stradivari creating instruments that are still sought after.
The harpsichord became the backbone of most ensembles. It formed what is known as the continuo in conjunction with the celli. Double bass, flutes, oboes, trumpets, without valves, and timpani became established members of what eventually developed into the symphony orchestra. As the quality of the instruments improved, composers increasingly exploited the greater dynamic range. In antiphonal music, dramatic contrasts between quiet sections of music sat softly against the strong parts.
Choral music was not neglected in the Baroque period. Sacred music formed a significant part of most Baroque composers. The Mass, the Cantata, and to some extent, the Oratorio were established as cornerstones of major composers like Bach, St. Matthew's Passion and Mass in B minor, Handel, Messiah, and Vivaldi, Gloria, Rv. 589. Henry Purcell cannot be overlooked in terms of sacred Baroque music. His substantial collection of anthems and devotional songs is well known.
On the other side of Baroque vocal music, Purcell explored the concept of opera. Dido and Aeneas by Purcell are considered a completely written opera. Keyboard music became a regular part of Baroque music. Even though the harpsichord was an unreliable instrument that quickly slipped out of tune, numerous pieces were composed for it and its rival, the organ. Scarlatti wrote extensively for the keyboard and produced a dazzling array of sonatas.
Bach's most famous keyboard works are his 48 Preludes and Fugues. Many of these keyboard works demonstrate common qualities in the period. Bach's fugues are a highly complex musical form with interweaving melodic lines that create dense and beautiful textures.
In musical terms, this is called polyphonic. Another feature of these pieces is the counterpoint. Another important characteristic to listen for in Baroque music is sequence and imitation.
The word sequence refers to a certain progression of chords during a section of music that usually follows a recognizable pattern. It is employed for color and sometimes to seamlessly change the key. Vivaldi is considered the master of this form. Imitation in musical terms is imitative, where you can hear passages of melody pass from one instrument to another, sometimes as a perfect copy.