The Baroque Era 101 This is so not the Renaissance'

1
The Baroque Era 101- This is so not the
Renaissance.

• An intro to the time period between1600-1750

2
Timeline of the Baroque

• 1600- Jacopo Peris Euridice premiered in
  Florence
• 1603- Death of Queen Elizabeth I
• 1607- Jamesburg founded in North America,
  Monteverdi premieres LOrfeo
• 1609- Kepler says the planets move in ellipses
• 1616- Shakespeare dies
• 1620- The Puritans land at Plymouth Rock
• 1636- Harvard founded
• 1666- The Great Fire of London

3
Timeline of the Baroque

• 1685- J.S. Bach and G.F. Handel born
• 1687- Newton develops his laws of motion
• 1692- Salem witch trials
• 1707- England and Scotland merge to form The
  Kingdom of Great Britain
• 1709- The first piano built by Cristofori
• 1722- Back publishes The Well-Tempered Clavier
• 1742- Handels Messiah premieres
• 1750- Bach dies

4
Baroque Concepts

• Unity of Mood- Pieces usually express one basic
  mood or emotion
• Exception is vocal, although it remains with one
  mood for some time before moving on
• Continuity of Rhythm- Repeated rhythm patterns
  used throughout the piece. The best becomes
  emphasized
• Continuity of melody- An opening melody will be
  heard again in various forms.
• Baroque melodies often give an impression of
  dynamic contrast rather than symmetry

5
Baroque Concepts

• Dynamic Unity- Dynamics often remain constant
  throughout. Changes are sudden
• Sudden dynamic changes is called using Terraced
  Dynamics
• Texture- Mostly polyphonic, but not as consistent
  as Renaissance music
• Ex.- Bach was consistently polyphonic, Handel
  switched between homophonic and polyphonic
• Harmony- Chords became the basis for harmony.
  Melodies were shaped to fit chord progressions

6
The Basso Continuo

• The emphasis of chords caused the bass lines to
  become very important
• The Basso Continuo is an accompaniment part
  written for the bass parts
• Usually played by two instruments, usually a
  keyboard instrument and a low melodic instrument
• Consists of a melodic line and numbers,
  indicating the chords to be played
• This means that there is no standard way to play
  the piece
• This way of writing is called a Figured Bass.

7
The Baroque Orchestra

• The orchestra started to become a standard
  performing group based on the strings.
• Ranged from 10 to 40 players
• Always has a basso continuo part (harpsichord,
  double bass, or bassoon) and the high strings
  (violins and violas)
• Woodwinds and brass parts varied, as did the use
  of percussion
• Trumpets often had to play melodies high in their
  range, and so became associated with royalty.

8
Baroque Forms

• Forms are more varied than in previous eras.
• Included Fugue, Theme and Variations, Sonata
  Form, Binary and Ternary forms
• Pieces often consisted of movements, which were
  independent sections with their own themes and a
  definite end.
• A piece with three movements may start with a
  fast and energetic movement, then have a slow and
  dramatic movement, and then a lighter, more
  playful third movement.

9
Music in Baroque Society

• Music usually written for specific purposes,
  mainly from churches and aristrocrats
• Demand was always for new music.
• Music was a major source of entertainment for the
  nobility- Courts might employ an orchestra,
  chapel chorus, and opera singers.
• Music Directors in charge of all musical staff,
  as well as composing the music for all events,
  upkeep of the instruments, and the music library.

10
Music in Baroque Society

• Most ordinary people heard music in churches
• Churches employed orchestras to accompany
  services
• Like in the courts, church musical directors had
  to produce all the music
• Large towns might also employ musicians
• Opera houses were also a source of income for
  some composers

11
Music Education in the Baroque

• Fathers usually taught their sons to play
  instruments
• Sometimes apprenticed to a local musician
• Many composers began as choir boys in the local
  church
• Music schools sometimes connected to orphanges
• Women not allowed to be employed by the church or
  courts in music positions, but some still become
  respected composers

12
Getting a job in the Baroque

• Usually had to pass an exam, perform a piece, or
  submit a composition
• Possibly had to make a voluntary contribution
  to the town
• Bach and Handel turned down the same job because
  one of the conditions of employment was marriage
  to the organists daughter