the baroque music period(1600-1750). common baroque instruments

The Baroque Music Period (1600-1750)

Common Baroque Instruments

ORGAN

Keyboard wind instrument

Commonly associated with church music

First invented in the 3rd century BC

Harpsichord

Similar to piano Strings played by

plucking rather than hammering

Lost popularity when the pianoforte was invented

Baroque Composers

Johann Sebastian Bach

Member of a large musical family

Favorite instrument was the organ

His death in 1750 marked the end of the Baroque Period in music

Wrote “Brandenburg Concerto” and “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring”

George Frideric Handel

Born in Germany, studied music in Italy, and lived mainly in England

Best known for his vocal works

Wrote “The Messiah” which includes the Hallelujah Chorus

Went blind late in his life.

Antonio Vivaldi

The son of a professional violinist

Was a Catholic priest

Composed The Four Seasons.

Scientific Discoveries

People were beginning to trust their own minds

Scientists such as Galileo and Newton were unlocking the secrets of the universe

Telescope Microscope

During the Baroque Period…

The first permanent British colony is formed in Jamestown, VA,(1607)

The first African slaves are brought to British America(1619)

20 young women are tried and killed for witchcraft in Salem, Mass.(1692)

George Washington is born in Virginia. (1732)

Characteristics of Baroque Music-Emphasized emotion in music writing

-Repetitive rhythms that drive the music forward

-”Flowery” and fast movement

-Complex melodies that repeat

-Dynamics are important finally

-Uses embellishments, ornamentation and word painting

-Unique harmonies

-Bass lines that repeat. *Ostinatos

-BAROQUE- comes from the Italian word “baracco” meaning exuberant (over the top)

-Composers usually wrote music for a specific reason. They often wrote church music, concertos, or for specific people in the courts where they worked. These people were called patrons.

-The term COMMISSION means that a composer is paid to compose music for someone specific.

COUNTERPOINT- 2 or more different ideas or lines of music interacting