Transcript The Baroque Period

The Baroque Period
1600 - 1750
The “Age of Absolutism”
• Many rulers exercised absolute power over all
their subjects
• Kings would show their power by trying to
throw the best balls, banquets,
entertainment, etc
• The Duke of Weimar in Germany threw
Johann Sebastian Bach in jail for a month
because he asked if he could leave his job!
Famous Composers of the Baroque
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George Frederick Handel
Johann Sebastian Bach
Antonio Vivaldi
Claudio Monteverdi
Henry Purcell
Arcangelo Curelli
Baroque Phases
• Baroque is divided into 3 phases:
– The Early Phase (1600 – 1640)
– The Middle Phase (1640 – 1690)
– The Late Phase (1690 – 1750)
• Most music we know of today comes from the
late phase
• Our focus for this course will be that of the
late phase
Characteristics of Baroque Music
• Mood – What begins will end that way:
– Starts happy = ends happy
– Starts sad = ends sad
• “Affections” = mood of the music
• Rhythm – Beat stays constant and repetitive
rhythms are used in the Baroque period
• Melody – Short phrases that are repeated
• Dynamics – SUDDEN CHANGES!!! Ppp - FFF
Music is a HARD JOB to do!
• Instead of one work being five to ten minutes,
composers began to do works that would be an
hour long, but would be divided into
“MOVEMENTS”
• In order to be a well-paid musician of the
baroque period, you either knew someone, or
you replaced your father… etc
• Musicians had to pass many examinations for the
kings and would submit work to get positions!
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
• 1685 – 1750 – Born in Germany
• Was known for the composer that ended the
era
• His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather
were church musicians
• Bach had 20 children! ; 4 became musicians!
• Bach had several brothers that were also
musicians in the town
• Bach received his first music lessons from his
father, who was the town musician. He also
received lessons from his cousin, the church
organists for many years
• When he was 9, his parents died and he went
to live with his oldest brother, who was a
composer and organist nearby
• He stayed here till 15, where he moved to
another nearby town and supported himself
by singing, playing violin, and piano for the
church
Bach “Loves” his family…
• Bach was 18 when he worked at the church in
Arnstadt.
• His church authorities became nervous about
his relationship with a very “strange maiden”
that he left in the middle of the night to meet
in the alley
• They found out that he was actually having a
relationship with his cousin, Barbara Bach
• He left the job and found a better job in a
town nearby
• They were unaware of the relationship/family
ties and had a huge celebration where he
married his cousin!
• He stayed at this church and was “pampered”
for many years. When a senior musician
retired, Bach wanted the job; and was denied
the position
• He decided to leave when he was not offered
the job he wanted
Bach’s new job
• For approximately 10 years, he obtained
another organist job and conducted the
town’s symphony.
• He was paid second highest in the land (just
under the marshal of the court!
• Just afterwards, Bach’s cousin/wife died; left
him with 4 children and a lot of bills (She was
a big spender!!!)
Bach finds another love
• His wife died (at 45). Bach found another love
at 46 yrs old… he married a 16 year old singer
after only dating her for 3 weeks!
• His interest in her declined after 4 weeks, as
she said she did not like his music!
• He left her and filed for another divorce and
again, found another job
• He got the position of music director for the
St. Thomas Church or Leipzig, Germany
• Bach remained here for the final 20 years of
his life
• He only dated those that were under 20 yrs
old, and would sometimes offer them free
music lessons for a date!!
• By being in Leipzig, he had 30,000 people to
entertain (largest city).
• He had 55 students in the Leipzig University
and another 25 students that he taught in the
St. Thomas school of music
• He and his students gave town concerts every
Friday night in Leipzig.. Became the main
centerpiece for entertainment of the city
Bach’s Time is Ending…
• In the 1740’s Bach’s eyesight was
deteriorating, but he still worked hard to
compose, conduct, and teach
• In 1750, he totally became blind and was so
distraught that he could not do what he
wanted to continue to do with his life, he was
said to have grieved himself to death…
Bach Remembered
• Bach was not even considered one of the greatest
composers of his day during his life
• Bach was only known in Germany…not
recognized or accepted in other towns nearby
• Bach’s music continued to remain unpublished
for much of his life
• His works that we know of now were actually
made more famous due to other composers that
helped revive his music– they publicly performed
his masterpieces for their own concerts and gave
him the credit where credit is due
NEXT COMPOSER STUDY
George Frederick
Handel
(1685 – 1759)