music test notes - the baroque era
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8/3/2019 Music Test Notes - The Baroque Era
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Music Test Notes: The Baroque Era
Topics:Introduction to Baroque Music
Johann Sebastian BachGeorg Friedrich HandelArcangelo CorelliDifferent Styles of Baroque Music
Introduction to Baroque Music
- “baroque” from Italian word “barocco”, means irregular pearl- used in the 1860s to describe the highly decorated style of the 17th and
18the century – for religious, public buildings in Italy, Germany andAustria.
- only later, in early to mid 1900s, was the term “baroque” applied to music. - started around 1600 to 1750- major theme = exploration of form- 1700-1750 = “high baroque” period - new forms in music include fugue, canon, variations on a bassline, a
chorale etc.- geographical influences = North Germany and Holland- North-German and Dutch composers focusing on mainly the art of
counterpoint, especially the fugue- organ and voice = major elements
- Handel studied with Corelli in Rome from 1704-1710- intermingling of musical trends from different parts of Europe wasextensive
- composers learnt music by copying the music of many of his contemporarycomposers, often rewriting them for different instruments
- two major influences in Germany = the Church, the States- focused on the harpsichord- “concerto” means get together - typical features of baroque music: exuberance, long melodies, many
ornaments, contrasts (especially in dynamics)
Johann Sebastian Bach
- born in Leipzig, Germany in 1685 (same as Handel)- Bach family members were church and court musicians, teachers and one
or two were instrument-makers – very musical family- died in 1750- the art of the fugue- pieces: Goldberg Variations, Brandenburg Concertos
Georg Friedrich Handel
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- born in Halle, Germany, 1685 (same as Bach)
- travelled a lot.- When he travelled in Italy, he met Arcangelo Corelli and learned the style
of Italian opera.
- became famous at only 20-something years old – very young age- He wrote songs for George I, such as the Water Music for certainoccasions, when King George I walked down the water bridge
- most famous piece was the Hallelujah Chorus in the Messiah- brought Italian singers to sing his operas in London- is currently buried in Westminister Abbey in London- pieces: The Messiah, Water Music
Georg Philipp Telemann- born in Germany 1681, died 1767- composer
Arcangelo Corelli
- born in Italy 1653- died in 1713- influenced many composers- violinist, composer and teacher- piece: Sonata for violin and lute
Different Styles of Baroque Music
- Inventiono Opposite (up-down, left-right) = the same
- Ground Basso Bass notes stay the same throughout the entire piece
- Retrograde Motiono Contrapuntal technique in which the melody notes are read
backwards
- Canono a contrapuntal composition that employs a melody with one or
more limitations of the melody played after a given duration