Baroque Music: Characteristics, Style, and Evolution
Qualities That Define Baroque Music
Around 1600, a change of technique and aesthetics in vocal and instrumental music emerged, involving both religious and secular themes. The accompanied melody, with one voice predominating over the others, became a key feature. This contrasted with the equal, contrapuntal polyphony of the preceding era. Composers focused on expressing emotion through a single musical melody.
Basso Continuo
The basso continuo, a low voice, served as the harmonic foundation of the music. This uninterrupted line was generated by the bass and intermediate voices. Composers would often only write the two extreme voices, with the continuo figure indicating the chords needed to complete the accompaniment.
Major and Minor Keys
Baroque music established a clear distinction between major and minor keys. Ecclesiastical works often began in the tonic key (I grade of the scale), followed by IV and V. Modulations or changes in tone could occur, but a hierarchy between scale degrees was maintained.
Concertante Style
The concertante style is characterized by contrasting blocks of sound intensities, creating musical themes through dynamic variation.
Ornamentation
Elaborate ornamentation is another distinctive feature of Baroque music, with musicians adding ornaments and variations to the written score.
Instrumental Music
Instrumental music gained prominence, driven by improvements in instruments and the increasing virtuosity of performers. While the modern symphony orchestra did not yet exist, the Baroque orchestra, primarily based on string instruments, resembled a chamber orchestra.
Clear Definition of Rhythm
Clear rhythmic divisions emerged in the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. The use of the measure became common after 1650.
Baroque Era Context
The Baroque era (post-1650) was a period of significant cultural and artistic development in Europe. It served the power of absolute monarchies, uniting politics and religion. The era is characterized by contrasts of light and shadow, movement, and strong colors.
Baroque Music Characteristics
Baroque music, as we know it, features a concertante style based on contrasts between sound blocks and between soloist(s) and the rest of the orchestra. Harmony is built upon a continuous bass line, with the composer focusing on a main melody and a chord-generating bass. Important instruments included the violin and keyboard instruments. The era saw the birth of opera, stage music, and zarzuela.
Baroque Music Forms
- Instrumental: toccata, fugue, concerto grosso, concerto soloist, suite
- Vocal and Choral: passion, oratorio, cantata
Ornamentation (Repetition)
Elaborate ornamentation is another distinctive feature of Baroque music, with musicians adding ornaments and variations to the written score.
Instrumental Music (Repetition)
Instrumental music gained prominence, driven by improvements in instruments and the increasing virtuosity of performers. While the modern symphony orchestra did not yet exist, the Baroque orchestra, primarily based on string instruments, resembled a chamber orchestra.
Clear Definition of Rhythm (Repetition)
Clear rhythmic divisions emerged in the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. The use of the measure became common after 1650.
Baroque Era Context (Repetition)
The Baroque era (post-1650) was a period of significant cultural and artistic development in Europe. It served the power of absolute monarchies, uniting politics and religion. The era is characterized by contrasts of light and shadow, movement, and strong colors.