Transcript Music of the Baroque Period

Music of the Baroque
Period
An in-depth look at the music that
revolutionized mankind’s
appreciation of music.
Connections to other arts
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The music of the time can be
compared to the visual art of the time.
Descriptors: excess, ornamentation,
contrasts, tensions, and energy.
Music was used in the new dance form
ballet.
Johan Sebastian Bach
(1685 – 1750)
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Known as JS Bach, as many
other “Bachs” existed.
Originally known for playing
the organ, not his
compositions.
Reflects the complexity of
the Baroque period.
Intelligent music that is
technically challenging.
Wrote for choir, keyboard
and orchestra
He is remembered for his
cantatas.
Bach’s Works
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clearly reflects the Baroque
characteristic of making things
complex.
Bach wrote for the harpsichord and
the organ (the piano was not yet
widely in use).
Cantata
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A musical work that consists of several pieces of
music that are related to each other by their texts.
Written for choir, with soloists, and instrumental
accompaniment.
Took around 25 minutes to perform, sacred or
secular text, written and sung in German.
Use of the fugue is found in many of the choral
movements.
Bach wrote one for every Sunday while working for
the Protestant church, and an additional one for
ever major church holiday.
Characteristics of a
fugue:
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Main musical idea (melody) introduced in
one voice, called the subject. (voice in choir,
instrumental section, part of the keyboard)
After the first voice performs the “subject” it
enters its own melody, and the second voice
begins the original melody. This continues
through 4 voices.
Eventually, all voices interact with one
another until the end of the piece, where all
the voices stop on a cadence (final chord).
Bach’s Most Famous
Work:
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The Well Tempered Clavier, Book 1 and 2
Each book contains 24 pieces, each
consisting of a prelude and a fugue.
prelude: introduction (pre / ludere)
player demonstrates skill
fugue: music on which one must think
and interpret.
George Frideric Handel
(1685 – 1759)
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Born in Germany as
well, but moved
abroad to study in
Italy.
Eventually settled in
England and
became known as a
composer of operas
and oratorios.
More about Handel…
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Unlike Bach, Handel was known for his
compositions, and was frequently
asked to write music for public
occasions, such as fireworks displays.
His most famous Oratorio is The
Messiah.
What’s an Oratorio?
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Similar to a cantata:
– They are both extended works for choir
and soloist with instrumental
accompaniment that are performed
without scenery and costumes.
– Sung in the language of the people,
German or possibly English.
Differences between a
Cantata and an Oratorio…
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Oratorio is much longer than a cantata
Oratorio usually tells a religious story
Not performed as part of the church service
It is a sacred story or subject using poetic
text but NOT text from the Bible
Follow typical plot construction of:
exposition, conflict climax, and resolution
Handel’s Most Famous
Work:
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Messiah an Oratorio
The first Section, The Messiah is
widely performed at Christmas each
year.
Most famous section is The Hallelujah
Chorus
The music of Bach and Handel reflects the
characteristics of the Baroque age in many
ways
 the Catholic Church was no longer the
dominant religion in every European country
 In Germany, Bach wrote cantatas for the
Lutheran church service
 In England oratorios were performed as
special music concerts as an alternative to
opera
 The music of Bach and Handel shows
greater changes in dynamics and tone color
to express a greater range of emotions.
Jean Baptiste Lully
(1632-1687)
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Florentine born
French Composer
Spent most of his
career working for
Louis XIV
Considered the
master of French
Baroque music
A Little more on Lully
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Disavowed any Italian influence in
French music
Became a French citizen in 1661
Died in quasi-disgrace as music and
political/social tastes changed
Lully’s Secular Music
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Lully's music is known for its power,
liveliness in its fast movements and its
deep emotional character in its sad
movements.
Lully created French-style opera as a
musical genre: tragédie en musique or
tragédie lyrique
Lully’s Sacred Music
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Lully's grand motets were written for
the royal chapel, usually for vespers or
for the king's daily low mass.
Lully did not invent the genre, he built
upon it.
Grand motets often were psalm
settings
Final Thoughts:
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Their music explored only one emotion
for an entire piece of music.
The use of the fugue demonstrates
the tendency toward anything
elaborate and ornate.