Download The Baroque Era

The Baroque Era
c.1600-1750
Portuguese for Pearl…
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Referring to the ornate architecture,
art, melodies.
This period saw many new ideas and
innovations
Characteristics
Music
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of
Baroque
Unity of Mood: a piece usually expresses
one mood or affection
Rhythm:
– patterns are repeated through out
– the beat is emphasized
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Melody: repeated, ornamented
Use of Diatonic chords of I,IV,V,II,VI
Characteristics of
Music continued
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Baroque
Terraced Dynamics:
– alternation between loud and soft dynamics
– organ and harpsichord could not crescendo
Musical textures
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Monophonic
Homophonic
Polyphonic
Ornaments
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Trill
Turn
Mordent
Acciaccatura/Appoggiatura
Grace note
Basso Continuo
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Common type of accompaniment
Bass line with improvised chords
– cello or bassoon on bass
– harpsichord or organ on harmony
Basso continuo
The Baroque Orchestra
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small (10 to 40 players)
basso continuo and violin family strings
brass, woodwinds and percussion used
occasionally, but vary from piece to piece.
tone color was subordinate to the melody,
rhythm or harmony
Music in Baroque Society
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Music written to order: demand for new
music.
Main source of diversion in the courts of
the aristocracy.
Music Director’s job
– Pay and prestige were high
– compositions were performed
– Still a servant of the patron
Music in Baroque Society
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Church musicians
– earned less than the court and lower status
– supplemented with weddings and funerals
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Town musicians
Opera houses
Important composers
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Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
George Frederick Handel (1685-1759)
Henry Purcell (c.1659-1695)
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
George Friderick Handel
George Frideric Handel
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b. Halle, Germany (one month before Bach)
in 1685
Devoted his life to music from age 18
First Opera –Rodrigo- was performed in
1710
Appointed Kapellmeister to Elector Georg
Ludwig of Hanover (Later becoming
George I of England)
Promoted with George I to Royal Composer
Handel in London
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Favorite of Queen Anne
Wrote ‘Water Music’ in 1717
English Oratorios after failure of Italian
Opera
Blind - from cataracts
Died in 1759 and Buried in Westminster
Abbey
Handel - Music
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Instrumental
– suites
– organ concerti
– concerti grossi
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Vocal Music
– 39 Italian operas
– Oratorios (mostly in English)
The Oratorio
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a large-scale composition for chorus,
vocal soloists, and orchestra
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uses choruses, arias, duets, recitatives, and
orchestral interludes
– chorus acts as commentary
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last approximately 2 hours
The Oratorio
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Set to a narrative text
No acting or scenery
Based on the Bible
Originally performed in prayer halls called
oratorios
Handel - Oratorios
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generally Old Testament
for the paying public, not church
have plots, but no scenery or acting
chorus is the focus
Listening: Messiah
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lasts 2 1/2 hours
composed in 24 days
Premiered in Dublin, Ireland in 1742 as a
benefit for people in debtor's prison
later tradition as London orphanage
benefit concert
Only one to use New Testament verses
Messiah - Three Acts
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Part 1
Prophesies telling of the coming of Christ
His Birth
Easter
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Part 2
The Passion of Christ
Set mainly to words from the Old
Testament
Pentecost
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Part 3
The Resurrection
Pentecost
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Part 3
The Resurrection
Structure of an Oratorio
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Recitative
Aria
Chorus
And the Glory of the Lord
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Idea 1
And the Glory of the Lord
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Idea 2
And the glory of the Lord
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Idea 3
And the glory of the Lord
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Idea 4