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Period: 1580 to
early baroque
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Homophony
the style of early baroque was defined by the shift from polyphony to homophony. a group of Florentine writers, artists, and musicians known as the Camerata, wanted to resurrect the musical art of ancient greec, although they didn't have much information, they assumed that it enhanced the emotional power of text. They then decided that their "new style" would consist of a melody that moved freely above simple chords. -
Opera
The Camerata realized that their homophonic approach to music and short poems, could be applied to entire dramas, which led up to the baroque innovation of "music through drama" also known as opera. -
figured bass/ Major minor tonality
A new style of notation followed the new style of music, where the composer would write intervals above or below the bass note what would identify the chord, which performers would fill in with harmonies. This is known today as figured bass and led to the development of major and minor tonality, in which each chord could could assume its function in relation to the key center. -
baroque instruments
instruments during the baroque began improving. we saw workshops crafting violin strings out of animal intestines for softer yet penetrating sound. woodwinds were used in compositions to create pastoral scenes. trumpets and horns were in their natural form before valves and added to the orchestral pallete. -
The Fugue
Fugues are compositions made of a melody that exists throughout the entire work. Generally based on imitation of the theme from one voice to another. fugues normally use contrapuntal devices to diversify the ways in which the melody is heard. -
Chiara Margarita Cozzolani
Chiara became a member of the St. Radegunda covenant, where late she would serve as director of one of the choirs and would compose motets and the large scale Magnificat-Canticle of Mary which closes with the Doxology, a prayer to god, which is still relevant today in Christian services. -
Monteverdi writes Orfeo
Monteverdi was known for originally writing drama through music. The beginning of his career began with Orfeo(1607) and by the end of his career with The Coronation Of Poppea(1642), opera houses began publicly opening and setting the Italian standard of an accompanying orchestra. -
Barbara Strozzi
Strozzi is a significant composer from the baroque whose education was based in the academy (generally men only), Strozzi was praised by her peers. And her works consist of 8 books that included arias, cantatas, madrigals, and motets. -
Period: to
middle baroque
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Henry Purcell
Born in London, England, Henry Purcell's career began at the court of Charles II. In the courts, Purcell served as a singer, organist, and composer. He wrote in many genres as well as Italian Opera, and French music. -
Baroque Concerto
musicians in the baroque developed the concerto, which typically featured a soloist accompanied by a larger ensemble. Contrast was a basic element of the baroque and was a big aspect of concertos. a concerto typically had 3 movements and the first and last movements typically follow a ritornello form. -
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Vivaldi was born in Venice, wherein his twenties he was ordained in the church. he was the music master at the conservatorio dell' Ospedale Della Pieta. Vivaldi wrote many concertos(especially for violin), chamber music, and Operas -
Period: to
late baroque
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Johann Sebastian Bach(1685-1750)
one of the most notable figures in the baroque era. Bach was born in Eisenach, Germany, and raised Lutheran. His religious devotion played a major part in his compositions when he worked for the st. Thomas church. Here he composed music for weekly services, and holidays, but his true mastery laid within his contrapuntal compositions. -
George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)
born in Halle, Germany, Handel attended the university of Halle. Handel's career composing began in 1706 when he moved to Italy and began composing his first sacred works and Italian operas and in 1720 with the founding of the royal academy of music he continued making Italian operas until they were out of style and began composing Oratorios -
keyboard instruments
in the baroque, keyboard instruments received a new level of sophistication. with the development of the harpsichord resembling the modern-day piano with the exception that the strings were plucked by quills, rather than struck by hammers, and did not have the dynamic sensitivity that pianos have today. Organs were created with multiple sets of pipes with contrasting tones so that separate lines of counterpoint could be heard. -
the baroque suite
the baroque suite was a combination of dances performed by instruments that normally pair dances that contrast each other. There was a variety of dance types like minuet, gavotte, allemande, courante, etc. These suites would sometimes open with an overture which typically includes passages from the suite.
