general characteristics

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General General Characteristics Characteristics of Baroque Music of Baroque Music By David Barrientos By David Barrientos and and Israel Garza Israel Garza

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Page 1: General Characteristics

General General CharacteristicsCharacteristics

of Baroque Musicof Baroque Music

By David BarrientosBy David Barrientos

andand

Israel GarzaIsrael Garza

Page 2: General Characteristics

INDEXINDEX1. Unity of mood1. Unity of mood

2. Rhythm2. Rhythm

3. Melody3. Melody

4. Terraced dynamics4. Terraced dynamics

5. Texture5. Texture

6. Basso continuo and figure bass6. Basso continuo and figure bass

Page 3: General Characteristics

Unity of moodUnity of mood- A baroque piece is famous for its doctrine of mood. A baroque piece is famous for its doctrine of mood.

- What is happy will be happy throughout and what is sad continues to the What is happy will be happy throughout and what is sad continues to the end. end.

- Composers moulded the musical language to fit moods and affections.Composers moulded the musical language to fit moods and affections.

- Some definite rhythms and melodic patterns are used to define certain Some definite rhythms and melodic patterns are used to define certain moods and expressions.moods and expressions.

Page 4: General Characteristics

RhythmRhythm- Unity of mood in baroque is first conveyed by the continuity of rhythm.Unity of mood in baroque is first conveyed by the continuity of rhythm.

- Rhythmic patterns heard at the beginning of the piece is reiterated Rhythmic patterns heard at the beginning of the piece is reiterated many times throughout the piece.many times throughout the piece.

- This relentless drive compelled the music to push forward. This relentless drive compelled the music to push forward.

- This forward motion is hardly ever interrupted. The beat are also far This forward motion is hardly ever interrupted. The beat are also far more distinct in baroque music. more distinct in baroque music.

Page 5: General Characteristics

MelodyMelody- Baroque music creates a Baroque music creates a

feeling of continuity. feeling of continuity.

- An opening melody will be An opening melody will be heard over and over again in heard over and over again in the course of the piece. the course of the piece.

- Many baroque melodies are Many baroque melodies are complex and elaborate. They complex and elaborate. They are not easy to sing or play.are not easy to sing or play.

- Baroque melodies give and Baroque melodies give and

impression of dynamic impression of dynamic expansion rather than balance expansion rather than balance and symmetry.and symmetry.

Page 6: General Characteristics

Terraced dynamicsTerraced dynamics- Paralleling the continuity of mood, Paralleling the continuity of mood,

the dynamics of the piece also stay the dynamics of the piece also stay constant for some period of time constant for some period of time before it shifts to another level.before it shifts to another level.

- When the dynamics shift, it is When the dynamics shift, it is sudden like physically stepping of a sudden like physically stepping of a step. Therefore, terraced dynamics step. Therefore, terraced dynamics are a distinctive quality of baroque are a distinctive quality of baroque music.music.

- Gradual changes such as Gradual changes such as

crescendo and decrescendos are crescendo and decrescendos are unheard of this is partly due to the unheard of this is partly due to the fact that the manuals of the fact that the manuals of the keyboards instrument then were keyboards instrument then were able to provide only the loud or the able to provide only the loud or the soft sound.soft sound.

- They were not able to provide the They were not able to provide the “in between” sound. “in between” sound.

Page 7: General Characteristics

TextureTexture- Late baroque music are often and predominantly polyphonic in Late baroque music are often and predominantly polyphonic in

texture : two more melodic lines compete for the listener’s texture : two more melodic lines compete for the listener’s attention.attention.

- Usually the soprano and the bass line is more important and Usually the soprano and the bass line is more important and imitation between various lines is very common.imitation between various lines is very common.

- A melodic line that happen in one voice will happen in other A melodic line that happen in one voice will happen in other voices as well.voices as well.

- - However, this was not strict during Bach’s and Handel’s time short However, this was not strict during Bach’s and Handel’s time short

snatches of homophonic pieces may also occur snatches of homophonic pieces may also occur

Page 8: General Characteristics

Basso continuo and figure Basso continuo and figure bassbass

- In any baroque piece, it is common to see figures basses, little In any baroque piece, it is common to see figures basses, little numbers at the bottom of the stave, it indicates the chords that numbers at the bottom of the stave, it indicates the chords that the basso continuo player must play.the basso continuo player must play.

- The basso continuo consists of the cello and the harpsichord. The basso continuo consists of the cello and the harpsichord.