Overview
This lecture covers key characteristics, genres, forms, composers, and terms of Baroque music, focusing on foundational concepts and major figures relevant to music appreciation.
Characteristics of the Baroque Period
- Baroque art and music feature dramatic contrasts, intense emotion, ornamentation, and grandeur.
- Calm, symmetrical organization does NOT describe Baroque style.
- The Palace of Versailles and Bernini's baldachin are Baroque, but Leonardo's Mona Lisa is not.
Important Instruments and Techniques
- The basso continuo typically includes harpsichord, cello, bass, and theorbo, but never flute.
- Figured bass is a shorthand notation using numbers to specify chords above a written bass line.
- Terraced dynamics refers to sharp, abrupt changes in volume typical of Baroque music.
Origins and Key Developments
- Baroque music first appeared around 1600 in Italy.
- Louis XIV exemplified Baroque grandeur through monumental projects like Versailles.
Genres and Forms
- Opera is a dramatic work with singing, originated in late 16th-century Italy, and features elaborate sets.
- A libretto is the text of an opera.
- Recitative is musically heightened speech for advancing the plot; simple recitative is accompanied only by continuo.
- Aria is an emotional, elaborate solo vocal piece with orchestral accompaniment.
- Ostinato is a repeating musical figure or pattern.
- Basso ostinato underpins arias like Strozzi's "Voglio morire."
- A chamber cantata focuses on solo singing with alternating recitative and aria, without elaborate scenery.
- Concerto grosso pits a small solo group (concertino) against the full orchestra (tutti).
- Melodic sequence repeats a musical motive at different pitch levels.
- Ritornello form is used in solo concertos.
- Idiomatic writing exploits the unique strengths of an instrument.
Major Composers and Works
- Henry Purcell was a leading English composer but was not widely admired in Europe for concertos.
- Orfeo is the first major opera in Western music history.
- Dido and Aeneas by Purcell contains the famous lament "When I am laid in earth."
- Antonio Vivaldi was a prolific Baroque concerto composer; myths about secret violin practice are false.
- Vivaldi's "Spring" concerto is for solo violin and is programmatic, but its first movement is not binary form with featured oboe/bassoon.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Basso Continuo — ensemble providing harmonic foundation in Baroque music.
- Figured Bass — numerical shorthand for indicating chords above a bass note.
- Terraced Dynamics — abrupt changes in loudness.
- Opera — staged drama set to music, with sung roles.
- Libretto — the text or script of an opera.
- Recitative — speech-like singing to advance plot.
- Aria — expressive solo vocal piece.
- Ostinato — repeating musical pattern.
- Concerto Grosso — composition contrasting a solo group with orchestra.
- Concertino — small group of soloists in concerto grosso.
- Tutti — full orchestra in a concerto.
- Melodic Sequence — repeating a motif at other pitches.
- Idiomatic Writing — composing to highlight an instrument’s unique qualities.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review characteristics and terms of Baroque music.
- Study major Baroque composers and their significant works.
- Listen to examples of basso continuo, recitative, aria, and concerto grosso forms.