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    Baroque Music

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    Andrew Bearden
    The Baroque era spanned from 1600-1750. Absolute monarchs ruled and society was strictly hierarchical. Music of the era was characterized by emotion, drama, and illusion. Important composers included Monteverdi, who helped establish opera; Purcell, the most talented English composer; Corelli, who popularized the violin; Lully, who influenced French dance; Vivaldi, known for his concertos; Bach, a master of forms; and Handel, a celebrated opera composer and oratorio writer like Messiah. Instrumental music grew in importance alongside vocal works.

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    Baroque Music

    Uploaded by

    Andrew Bearden
    728 views47 pages
    The Baroque era spanned from 1600-1750. Absolute monarchs ruled and society was strictly hierarchical. Music of the era was characterized by emotion, drama, and illusion. Important composers included Monteverdi, who helped establish opera; Purcell, the most talented English composer; Corelli, who popularized the violin; Lully, who influenced French dance; Vivaldi, known for his concertos; Bach, a master of forms; and Handel, a celebrated opera composer and oratorio writer like Messiah. Instrumental music grew in importance alongside vocal works.

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    lecture on baroque music

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    The Baroque era spanned from 1600-1750. Absolute monarchs ruled and society was strictly hierarchical. Music of the era was characterized by emotion, drama, and illusion. Important composers included Monteverdi, who helped establish opera; Purcell, the most talented English composer; Corelli, who popularized the violin; Lully, who influenced French dance; Vivaldi, known for his concertos; Bach, a master of forms; and Handel, a celebrated opera composer and oratorio writer like Messiah. Instrumental music grew in importance alongside vocal works.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    728 views47 pages

    Baroque Music

    Uploaded by

    Andrew Bearden
    The Baroque era spanned from 1600-1750. Absolute monarchs ruled and society was strictly hierarchical. Music of the era was characterized by emotion, drama, and illusion. Important composers included Monteverdi, who helped establish opera; Purcell, the most talented English composer; Corelli, who popularized the violin; Lully, who influenced French dance; Vivaldi, known for his concertos; Bach, a master of forms; and Handel, a celebrated opera composer and oratorio writer like Messiah. Instrumental music grew in importance alongside vocal works.

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    THE BAROQUE ERA

    1600-1750

    LIFE IN THE BAROQUE ERA


    Absolute monarchs
    Social hierarchy
    Elaborate codes of dress and manners
    International peace/economic expansion
    Rulers supported the arts

    PHILOSOPHICAL/
    SCIENTIFIC THINKING
    Measurement/Mathematical Analysis
    Sir Isaac Newton: gravity, calculus, light spectrum
    Comparable principles applied to human thought/society
    Order and organization valued above all else in society & arts

    ART
    Emotion could be objectively classified: specific emotions can be
    aroused (grief, joy, passion, despair)
    Painting: dramatic contrasts between light and dark
    Illusion: false depth

    BERNINI: APOLLO &


    DAPHNE (1625)

    REMBRANDT: SELF
    PORTRAIT

    POZZO:
    TROMPE-L'OEIL DOME
    AT SANT'IGNAZIO (1685)

    ARCHITECTURE
    Symmetry
    Grandeur
    Geometrically organized landscaping
    Elegant pools and gardens

    LOUIS XIV: VERSAILLES

    HALL OF MIRRORS

    GARDENS

    CHARACTERISTICS OF
    BAROQUE MUSIC
    Composers wanted to portray specific emotions
    Contrast and Illusion through dynamics and timbres
    Examples of contrast:
    1) Concerto form
    2) Echo effect (f-p)

    Only lasted 150 years (shorter than Middle Ages and Renaissance)
    Only the last 50 years of the era is represented in most orchestras
    Early Baroque: experimentation
    Late Baroque: organization and control, forms become standardized
    Forms: Opera, Cantata, Concerto, Sonata, Dance Suite, Chorale, Oratorio,
    Passion
    Technique: basso continuo

    EARLY BAROQUE (1600-1700)


    Argument over Renaissance-style polyphony vs. ignoring rules in
    favor of expressing text
    Monody: solo voice + basso continuo
    Imitates natural speech pattern
    Example: Francesca Caccini: Maria, dolce Maria

    CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI

    CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
    The first great opera composer
    Also wrote pieces in Renaissance style
    Orfeo (1607) first great opera, based on ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Euridice
    Recitative: closely imitates freedom and expressiveness of speechone singer, basso
    continuo provides punctuation
    Recitative ideal for setting dialogue and quick interchanges between people in the
    drama
    Aria is lyrical, usually full orchestra accompaniment, ABA form

    EXCERPT FROM ORFEO


    0:00-2:11 Orfeos recitative: O Rose of Heaven
    2:12-3:16 Euridices recitative: I shall not say how much
    3:17-3:48 Chorus of nymphs and shepherds: Leave the hills
    3:49-4:10 Instrumental ritornello with dancing

    ENGLAND
    Music in England was fragmented because of unstable political
    condition and Civil War (1642-1649)
    Charles I beheaded, Puritan Commonwealth took over
    Music positions abolished and opera houses closed
    Charles II returned (The Restoration), rebirth of English music life

    HENRY PURCELL

    HENRY PURCELL
    1659-1695 (only lived to be 36)
    Most talented English composer of late 17th century
    Organist at Westminster Abbey in London
    Composed large amount of vocal and instrumental music: sacred
    music for Anglican church, secular songs and cantatas, chamber music
    for instrumental combos and solo harpsichord music
    Best-known work was opera Dido and Aeneas (1689)

    DIDO AND AENEAS


    Based on part of the great epic poem by Virgil, Aeneid
    Love affair between Dido, Queen of Carthage and Aeneas, a Trojan
    warrior
    Three acts with arias, recitatives, choruses, dances and instrumental
    interludes
    Only four main singers required + small orchestra of strings and
    harpsichord
    About an hour long

    DIDO AND AENEAS


    EXCERPT
    Aria: Didos lament
    Dido abandoned by Aeneas and has decided to kill herself
    Thy hand, Belinda, darkness shades me,
    On thy bosom let me rest
    More I would, but Death invades me:
    Death is now a welcome guest.
    When I am laid in earth,
    May my wrongs create
    No trouble in thy breast.
    Remember me, but ah! Forget my fate.

    THE RISE OF
    INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
    Violin family most important (Stradvari and Guarneri)
    Genres:
    1) Sonata
    a. Solo Sonata (solo instrument w/ b.c.)
    b. Trio sonata (two instruments w/ b.c.)
    Contrasting movements: sonata da camera (chamber sonata) based on dance
    rhythms and sonata da chiesa (church sonata), more serious in nature.

    2) Concerto
    a. Concerto grosso orchestra w/ small group of soloists
    b. Solo concerto solo instrument with orchestra - virtuosic

    ARCANGELO CORELLI

    ARCANGELO CORELLI
    (1653-1713)
    Brought Italian violin music to international prominence
    Expanded technique of violin playing
    Repeated notes, fast scales and double stops
    He wanted to Show off the violin
    Only wrote sonatas and concertos
    Famous exclusively for instrumental music

    EXAMPLE
    Trio Sonata, Op. 3, No. 7, for two violins and basso continuo
    I. Grave (slow and serious)
    II. Allegro (fast)
    III. Adagio (slow)
    IV. Allegro (fast)

    FRANCE
    Louis XIV
    Reigned 1643-1715
    Avid supporter of the arts
    He loved to dance!
    French dance influenced all
    instrumental music
    French opera contained ballet and
    elaborate scenery and constumes

    FRENCH DANCES
    Allemande

    2/4, 4/4 Moderate

    Continuous motion

    Bourre

    2/4, 4/4 Moderate to fast

    Short, distinct phrases

    Courante

    Motion running in scales

    Gavotte

    2/4, 4/4 Moderate to fast

    Bouncy

    Gigue

    6/8

    Fast

    Lively, imitative

    Minuet

    Moderate

    Elegant

    Sarabande

    Slow

    Stately, 2nd beat accented

    Moderate to fast

    JEAN-BAPTISTE LULLY

    JEAN-BAPTISTE LULLY
    Louis XIVs music director
    Ballet scenes from operas were so popular that they were played
    independently
    Died from gangrene caused by smashing foot with conducting staff
    Example: Marche pour la Ceremonie Turcs

    LATE BAROQUE (1700-1750)


    Fixed musical forms flourished in hands of masters: Vivaldi, Bach
    and Handel
    Opera continues to grow in popularity: Italian opera seria was the
    favorite style. Arias were the main reason to go now
    Solo concerto became more popular
    Flute, oboe, trumpet and keyboard instruments had concertos

    ANTONIO VIVALDI

    ANTONIO VIVALDI
    1678-1741
    Trained for the priesthood, known as Red Priest b/c of hair
    Appointed director of Ospedale della Pieta in Venice
    600 concertos
    Girls in orphanage gave frequent concerts

    VIVALDIS CONCERTO
    FORM
    Three movements:
    I. Fast
    II. Slow and expressive, like an opera aria
    III. Even faster than the first movement
    First and third movements use ritornello form: orchestra comes in
    with same or similar theme in between solo episodes, usually in
    related keys

    EXCERPT FROM
    THE FOUR SEASONS
    Published in 1725 (Vivaldi was 47)
    Most popular set of concertos
    For solo violin
    Programmatic designed to tell a story
    Poem written for each movement with lines written in the score

    1 S T MOVEMENT FROM
    LA PRIMAVERA (SPRING)
    Spring has arrived, and full of joy
    The birds greet it with their happy song.
    The streams, swept by gentle breezes,
    Flow along with a sweet murmur.
    Covering the sky with a black cloak,
    Thunder and lightning come to announce the season.
    When all is quiet again, the little birds
    Return to their lovely song.

    EXCERPT FROM GLORIA


    Christmas Cantata
    Mvmt. I: Gloria in excelsis Deo

    JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

    JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH


    1685-1750
    One of the most influential composers of all time
    His death marked the end of the Baroque Era
    Never considered himself a genius, only a hard-working craftsman
    Never wrote an opera
    Had two wives and over 20 children (11 died during childhood, 4
    became famous Early Classical musicians)

    Hired in 1723 as music director for St. Thomas Church in Leipzig


    Required to compose, rehearse and direct a new cantata for every
    Sunday and feast day of the year
    Head of music school attached to church: taught Latin,
    composition, maintained instruments, played organ and prepared
    choirs for the other three churches in town

    ST. THOMAS CHURCH,


    LEIPZIG

    BACHS MUSIC
    Toccata and Fugue in D Minor
    Little Fugue in G Minor
    Prelude in C Major from The Well Tempered Clavier
    Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, 1st Movement
    Chorale from St. Matthews Passion
    Prelude from Unaccompanied Cello Suite in G Major

    GEORGE FRIDERIC
    HANDEL

    GEORGE FRIDERIC
    HANDEL
    1685-1759
    Life overlapped Bachs, but led a much different existence
    Travelled extensively, international celebrity
    Wrote nearly 40 operas
    Born/grew up in Halle, studied opera in Italy, eventually ended up
    in London, England (buried in Westminster Abbey w/ Elizabeth I
    and Charles Dickens

    EXCERPTS
    BBC PROMS CONCERT Water Music suite
    English National Opera Recitative and aria Where ere you walk
    from Semele
    Choir of Kings College, Cambridge Hallelujah Chorus from
    Messiah

    FUNDAMENTALS OF
    BAROQUE MUSIC
    Instrumental music is as important as vocal music
    Opera was invented, with vocal forms divided between recitative and aria
    Unifying feature of all Baroque music is basso continuo
    Principal vocal genres are opera, cantata and oratorio
    Principal instrumental genres are sonata, suite and concerto
    The music is organized by hierarchy of chords and keys (tonal harmony)

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