Download History 3rd Trimester 6th Grade Study Guide Baroque (1600

History 3rd Trimester 6th Grade
Study Guide
Baroque
(1600-1750)
During this time musicians as well as scholars were exploring new musical sounds. Expression of
emotions in music was emphasized. Solo music with accompaniment became more popular as the violin
and other wind instruments were improved and valued for the different quality of sounds they produced.
Organ Compositions were based on the:
Toccata-prelude piece which was improvized and not based on
a set rhythm
Fugue-was based on short themes and had a more definite
melody, with lively rhythm
Chorale-based on a hymn
Musicians during the Baroque were thought of as the same social class as servants. They received their
training from and belonged to "Guilds".
There were three stages that a musician belonged to:
1. Apprentice-lived with master musicians (without pay) and received musical
training.
2. Journeyman-student traveled to various countries to study with other great
composers, musicians and master teachers.
3. Master Musician-final stage represented the end of the student's studies and the
beginning of his professional career.
Composers:
Jean Baptiste Lully (1632-1687) Italian who was noteworthy in the development of the opera
Johann Pachelbel
(1653-1706) German composer of Canon in D
Arcangelo Corelli
(1653-1713) Italian specializing in violin compositions
Henry Purcell
(1658-1695) Englishman who wrote familiar fanfares and anthems
Claudio Monteverdi
(1567-1643) Italian who created the operatic form that is used today
Antonio Vivaldi
(1675-1743) Italian who wrote the Four Seasons
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) A sacred German composer, thought to be the greatest composer
ever. Like many composers, he learned his craft by copying other great works by hand. He consequently
went blind later in his life. His death marked the end of the Baroque Period. He married twice and had 20
children, many who went on to become famous composers. Of his hundreds of compositions, familiar
works include Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring and The Brandenburg Concertos.
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) Italian harpsichord composer whose works are still familiar
Georg Fredrich Handel (1685-1759) German who wrote for the English including The Messiah, Royal
Fireworks and Water Music. He went blind the last 6 years of his life.
Some Instruments:
Violin - became much more popular in music literature
Harpsichord - keyboard mechanism that plucked strings, gained popularity during this period
Organ - keyboard instrument - air through pipes was generated by muscle power using billows
Piano (invented in 1710) because the strings were hammered instead of plucked; it had dynamic variation
with the key stroke. Thus, the original name was "Pianoforte".
Listening Examples: Toccata and Fugue, Messiah, Royal Fireworks, Water Music,
Harmonious Blacksmith