MUSIC APPRECIATION-HUMA 118

Baroque Era c.1600 – c.1750

Baroque Era was the period that followed the Renaissance era, and it is the period that music was heavily ornamented, change of musical notation, creation of tonality and introduction of new instrumental playing techniques. I think this period was a historical moment which was full of a new exploration of musical ideas and innovations. The period had great artists, literature and philosophers who led to the “expansion of the size, range and complexity of the instrumental performance” (Baroque music, 2019, May 18). Most of the music composers and performers liked “decorative” music with melodic parts. The Baroque style of music came with monophonic, homophonic and polyphonic as the main musical textures. The new musical genres that developed during the Baroque Era were opera, sonata, oratorio, cantata and concerto. The features of the Baroque music included the use of terrassed dynamics, loud or soft. The prevalence of mood or affection, the establishment of the diatonic chords, major or minor key system.  Baroque orchestra and “Basso continuo” a continuous base technique, became popular in this era. The period was experienced more invented string instruments- Violin, Cello, Mandolin, Harp, Lute, Contrabass and Hurdy-gurdy. Woodwind instruments- Bassoon, Baroque flute, Recorder, Clarinet, Musette de cour, Chalumeau and Rackett. Brasses instrument- Baroque trumpet, Serpent, Trombone and Sackbut. Percussion instrument- Baroque timpani, Tenor drum, Castanets and Tambourine. The types of keyboards established in the Baroque Era were Clavichord, Organ, Fortepiano, Tangent piano and Harpsichord. Some of the remarkable music composers during the Baroque Era included Claudio Monteverdi, Johann Sebastian Bach, Henry Purcell, Jean-Baptiste Lully, Claudio Monteverdi, ean-Philippe Rameau, Johann Pachelbel, George Frideric Handel among others. Most of them were from Europe and some migrated to America such as Manfred Bukofzer and Suzanne Clercx-Lejeune. Baroque music spread to Latin America and the idea of Ornamentation of music became popular as most musicians stared manipulating melodic material. Therefore, music became “more lively and less technically complex in a Latin American context than it was in Europe” (Baroque music, 2019, May 18). Did you know the Baroque Era was also known as “ROCOCO.”

Antonio Vivaldi

Antonio Vivaldi is mentioned among the remarkable music composer during the Baroque Era (1678 – 28 1741). He came from Italy and believed to have composed many sacred choral and instrumental concertos and Operas. A good example great work of violin concertos he created was the “Forty Seasons” (Antonio Vivaldi, 2019, June 18). Most of his successful operas were staged in Mantua, Vienna and Venice. He also worked as a priest at Ospedale della Pietà. Vivaldi collaborated with some of the Italians major writers who liked poet and thus help him to compose music. So his music work involved poem and it was innovative. He ended up composing “hundreds of works based on the principles in Corelli’s trio sonatas and concerti” (Antonio Vivaldi, 2019, June 18).

Spring Concerto- Movement 1

1. Medium: Voices, orchestra, piano and flute combinations. 
2. Meter:  Triple meter, it has a 1, 2, 3 feeling like a waltz.
3. Tempo: Slow: Largo and Medium: Allegro, fast-slow-fast
4. Rhythm: Harmonious rhythm
5. Melody: Musical mode
6. Harmony: Soloist accompanied by an orchestra and plenty of chords. “Tertian” sound.
7. Texture: The three textures were applicable Monophonic, Polyphonic, and Homophonic.
8. Form: solo instrument such as violin and string quartet, an orchestral ensemble with basso continuo. Sonata form.
9. Dynamics: Loud and Soft
10. Text:  Words and instrumental
11. Era: Baroque Era
12. Composer: Antonio Vivaldi

Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach was a Germany composer during the Baroque Era (1685 – 1750). He was known for his vocal music and instrumental compositions. Some of his great works include the Art of Fugue, Goldberg Variations, Mass in B minor and Brandenburg Concertos. He was born to a great musical family, and at a tender age, he was taught how to play a violin and harpsichord. His father, brothers, cousins and uncles were professional musicians. He became an orphan at the age of 10 and started living with his elder brother. He began studying music and theology at St. Michael’s Church in Ohrdurf. By joining the church choir made him explore his talent and became the organist of the church. He got experienced from the church and started applying for an organist job in several different churches. Later on, married Maria Barbara Bach who was believed to be his second cousin and their first son was known as first some Catharina Dorothea. Bach died in 1750 (Johann Sebastian Bach, 2019, June 14).

Art of the Fugue, Contrapunctus 1

1. Medium: Harpsichord instrumental works
2. Meter: A triple meter: it has a 1,2,3 feeling like a waltz
3. Tempo: Medium: Allegro.
4. Rhythm: Dotted rhythm with little rising and descending voices.
5. Melody: Simple and contour” of the melody.
6. Harmony: “Tertian” sound with a different set of notes.
7. Texture: Monothematic instrumental works.
8. Form: Sonata form.
9. Dynamics: Soft
10. Text: Instrumental
11. Era: Baroque Era
12. Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

George Frideric Handel

George Frideric Handel was born in German in 1685 and became one of the greatest Baroque music composer. He spend most of the time in British exploring his career but strongly influenced by Italian Baroque music and German polyphonic choral tradition. He did well in operas, anthems, oratorios and organ concertos. Most of his music training he got from Hell-upon –Saale. Later on, he established his commercial opera companies in London where he used to Italian opera. He is believed to be a dramatic genius composer of Baroque Era who also translated English choral works. His remarkable works included Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks and Messiah. Handel ended up being a “Rock Star” where he was buried after he died, 1759 (George Frideric Handel, 2019, June 14). Did you know Handel was born in the same year with Johann Sebastian Bach?

Alleluia chorus, Oratorio

1.  Medium: What is producing the music: basso continuo, trumpets, violins, timpani and viola
2. Meter: Triple meter, it has a 1,2,3 feeling like a waltz.
3. Tempo: Medium: Allegro
4. Rhythm: Basic pattern. 
5. Melody:  “contour” melody and step-wise pattern.
6. Harmony: Choral voice and instrumentation. “Tertian” sound.
7. Texture: Mixture of Monophonic, Polyphonic and Homophonic texture.
8. Form: Opera
9. Dynamics: Loud and Soft
10. Text: Words and instrumental
11. Era: Baroque Era
12. Composer: George Frideric Handel

During Alleluia Chorus everybody was supposed to stand up because it originated from a royal protocol and became a tradition to be respected. The King used to stand up during the performance of the chorus, and per the royal protocol, everyone should rise to his or her feet when a king or queen stands. It also remained as a magisterial tradition in both London and America.

Antonio Stradivarius

Antonio Stradivarius was a remarkable Italian crafter of strings instrument during the Baroque period (1644 – 1737). He used to make instruments such as violins, violas, guitars and cellos. He produced colourful varnished instruments which still remain in the records of history. Stradivarius married Zambelli and got two sons, Antonio and Paolo.  He is believed to have produced more than 1000 instrument before he died. Stradivarius instruments are still played up to today (Antonio Stradivari, 2019, June 02).The cost of Antonio Stradivarius violins today can cost more than is $15 million. This can be unbelievable.

References

Antonio Stradivari. (2019, June 02).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Stradivari

Antonio Vivaldi. (2019, June 18).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Vivaldi

Baroque music. (2019, May 18).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque_music

George Frideric Handel. (2019, June 14).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Frideric_Handel

Johann Sebastian Bach. (2019, June 14).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Sebastian_Bach