Download EC1 Music History -- Music of the Baroque (1600

EC1 Music History -- Music of the Baroque (1600-1750)
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Baroque music is a style-period of Western art music composed from approximately 1600 to 1750. It
is long period of time that saw many important developments that established the foundation of the
music we are familiar with today.
Baroque music is a major part of what we call classical music. Composers of the Baroque era include
Claudio Monteverdi, (early) Henry Purcell (middle), Antonio Vivaldi, George Frideric Handel, and
Johann Sebastian Bach, (late). During the period, musicians wrote more complicated music, made
changes in musical notation, developed many new musical instruments and playing techniques.
Baroque music expanded instrumental performance, and also established opera, cantata, oratorio,
concerto, and sonata as musical genres. Many musical ideas used today started in the Baroque era.
Important points:
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Started in Italy, especially in Florence, ca. 1600. They wanted to go further with the
Renaissance, but began something new.
They wanted to recreate Greek theatre, which had musical accompaniment. They invented a
new kind of music/drama they called “The Work” or Opera.
They also wanted music to express emotions and the drama more closely. So music became
much more emotional and expressive. And also more rhythmic.
They invented new, more expressive instruments, including the violin family and the oboe.
Instrumental music became as important as vocal music.
They built on Renaissance polyphony, but music became more complex and decorated.
Music notation became more precise. Modern notation was developed.
Establishment of Tonality – (Major and minor keys) virtually all the music you know is tonal.
What is tonality? -- Music is a kind of language. We can’t use words to say exactly what music
expresses – if we could, we wouldn’t need music. But the musical language you are used to has not
always existed. It developed during the Baroque period. It is based on using seven of the 12 pitches,
and one of the seven is the most important and central tone of the piece. This tone is called the key
of the piece. It gives a sense of forward motion and a beginning, middle and end to the music. And
there are two kinds of keys – Major, which sounds happy or bright, and Minor, which sounds sad or
dark. Just remember that the musical language you have heard your whole life started in the
Baroque period.
Essential Composers:
Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) Revolutionary and tranistional composer between the Renaissance
and the Baroque era. Composer of first important opera – l’Orfeo
Henry Purcell (1659-1695) English composer of operas and other genres. Last great English composer
until ca. 1900. Dido’s Lament from Dido and Aeneas. Brilliant setting of the words to music.
Antonio Vivaldi (1679-1741) Italian violinist and composer. The Four Seasons - Le quattro stagioni
Violin Concerti - Brilliant depiction of the four seasons in music.
Georg Frideric Händel (1685-1759) German composer who worked in Germany, Italy and
England, most famous for his Italian Operas, and his oratorio Messiah.
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Greatest composer in history, and famous organ virtuoso
in his lifetime. Composed essential keyboard, organ, orchestral and choral works. St.
Matthew Passion, Mass in B minor, Toccata and Fugue in D minor. Brandenburg Concerti.
So let’s listen to some Baroque music!
First – think about this. You’re a composer and you have to write a song about a woman who is going
to die. She is singing to her best friend and saying that when she is dead and buried, “Remember me,
but forget my fate”. So should the music be sad or happy? What kind of emotions will you need to
express? Grief, sorrow, happiness, weeping, laughing? And how will you do it? What musical devices
will you use? Should the melodies go up or down? Fast or slow? Should the harmonies be clear and
consonant (nice sounding) or dark and dissonant (harsh sounding? Tense or relaxed? Major key or
Minor key?
Discuss in groups and report.
Now we will listen to how Henry Purcell did it with Dido’s Lament (And yes, the pop singer Dido is
named after her) What did you hear in the music? Write down as many things as you can. Did he do
a good job of expressing the drama in music?_____________________________________________
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Second – think about this. What happens in Springtime? How do people feel, what is the weather
like, how are the streams and rivers, and what is going on with wildlife? Discuss and write down your
answers. __________________________________________________________________________
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How would you express Springtime in music? Major or Minor, fast or slow, etc.
Now listen to Spring from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons – what do you hear in the music?
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How well did Vivaldi use music to capture the sense of Spring? _______________________________
One more piece – this is an example of Absolute Music – it doesn’t depict anything; it’s just music.
It’s a Fugue – a new kind of polyphonic piece that developed in the Baroque era – by the greatest
composer of Fuges: J.S. Bach. The Little Fugue in G Minor. Just listen. It’s something like a complex
machine or watch. Follow the melody line as it moves around the organ. We will watch it on the
screen. Any thoughts? Does it make sense? Does it have a beginning, middle and end?
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