Baroque Music: Origins, Characteristics, and Key Composers
Baroque Music: Origins and Early Opera
In Florence, noble families like the Bardi and Corsi created a musical environment that led to the development of opera. Jacob Peri premiered his first opera, Euridice, in 1600.
Key Elements of Baroque Opera
- Opening: Instrumental introduction
- Aria: Singers showcase their vocal skills
- Recitative: Advances the plot or expresses emotions
- Chorus: Represents crowds or collective thought
- Dances: Dance sequences during the performance
- Interlude: Symphonic piece with vocal parts
The Baroque Concerto
The concerto is a characteristic instrumental form of the Baroque period. It typically consists of three or four contrasting movements, opposing a solo instrument or a small group against the full orchestra. This contrast creates a sense of homogeneity, a solution to Renaissance ideals.
Types of Baroque Concertos
- Concerto Grosso: Small group of instruments (concertino) versus the full orchestra (ripieno/tutti)
- Solo Concerto: Solo instrument versus the orchestra (ripieno)
Structure of Concertos
The typical structure is fast-slow-fast.
Bass Ostinato
Bass ostinato, or ground bass, was a common practice. A melody in the bass is repeated numerous times while other melodies are played above it.
Characteristics of Baroque Music
- Mechanical rhythm
- Long, fluid melodic lines
- Terraced dynamics
- Melody accompanied by a simplified accompaniment
- Coexistence of new textures with contrapuntal textures
- Use of dissonances and semitones
- Development of the orchestra with fixed instrumental families
- Proliferation of instrumental forms: concertos, suites, etc.
- Vocal forms with vital and sensuous character (dynamism, drama, and spectacle)
Instrumental Music in the Baroque Era
Instruments gained importance, and instrumental music became as significant as vocal music. The orchestra was designed as a structured set of instruments organized by families. The Baroque orchestra had a variable composition. The importance of timbre in the final effect of a work was valued. Composers began to write for specific instruments, and performers specialized in one instrument. Instruments underwent significant improvements, with the violin considered the solo instrument of choice.
Vocal Forms
Oratorio
An oratorio is a sung dramatic work of religious subject matter intended for concert performance. It is based on stories from the Bible.
Passion
A passion is a type of oratorio, widespread in Germany, describing the suffering and death of Jesus as told by the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). While passions existed since the Middle Ages, the Baroque era introduced arias, musical instruments, and recitatives to accompany the singing.
Cantata
A cantata is a work created to be sung with arias, choruses, and instrumental accompaniment. It is similar to an oratorio (religious theme) but of shorter duration.
Key Baroque Composers
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- George Frideric Handel
- Antonio Vivaldi
- Arcangelo Corelli
Keyboard Forms
Prelude and Toccata
Pieces for keyboard instruments.
Sonata
A piece to be sounded, for two or three instruments. There are two types:
- Chamber Sonata: Based on dance rhythms
- Sonata da Chiesa (Church Sonata): Three movements: allegro-lento-allegro
Fugue
A complex polyphonic composition in which a main theme or subject is imitated by another voice, called the entry, in imitative contrapuntal style.