S3 Listening Unit 2

1. S3 Listening Unit 2 Baroque Music

2. The word Baroque was first used to describe the highly Decorative and Grand style of Architecture and art of the 17th Century Musicians adopted the word using it to describe the musical styles of the years 1600-1750

3. The system of Modes, which the tonality was based on in the Medieval and Renaissance periods was disused and by the end of the 17th Century music was based on Major and Minor tonalities Many new musical structures were introduced and developed by Baroque composers including...... Aria Opera Suite Oratorio Concerto Grosso Recitative Fugue

4. The were Many important composers in the baroque period.... The 2 most influential were • George Frederic Handel • 1685-1759 • Born Halle Saxony • Died London England • Johann Sebastian Bach • 1685-1750 • Born Thuringia Germany • Died Leipzig Germany

5. Baroque Instrumental Music • The Baroque Orchestra Contained • A string Section • 1 or 2 Flutes (or recorders), Oboes and Bassoons • 1 or 2 Horns and occasionally trumpets (NO VALVES !!!) • Timpani • Organ or Harpsichord (Continuo) The Violin family (Violin, Viola, Cello and Double bass) replaced the viols of the rennaisance period in the first half of the baroque period

6. The organ or harpsichord played a continuo or figured bass The performer follows a Bass line with a series of figures (Figured bass) which tells the player which chords to improvise around

7. The key styles of instrumental composition in the baroque period were............. Concerto Grosso Fugue Suite Ground Bass

8. Concerto Grosso Was one of the most important forms developed in the Baroque period In concerto Grosso, a small group of soloists called the Concertino contrast against the orchestra Ripieno The most well known concerto Grosso are the Brandenburg concertos by J.S Bach

9. Fugue Composers moved away from the homophonic texture; where all parts move together to polyphonic/contrapuntal writing, where 2 or more parts move at different times from each other The fugue is the most important type of Polyphonic writing in the Baroque period, and is based on imitation The fugue uses 3 or 4 parts which merge together and overlap using imitation Fugues were mostly written for Harpsichord or organ

10. Suite The suite is a set of dances originating from the Renaissance period Suites contain several contrasting dances Allemande Sarabande Passepied Courante Bouree • Gigue/Jig • In compound time (6/8, 9/8.......) • Very fast tempo • Minuet • In ¾ simple time • Ternary form • ???? • Lively 2/4 or 4/4 • Begins with anacrusis Other than the Minuet, the dances are usually in Binary form

11. The 2 main types of Baroque vocal compositions are Opera and Oratorio, These are similar but have some differences.... Opera would be performed in a concert Hall or Opera house Oratorio would be performed in a church

12. The solo song in opera and Oratorio is called an Aria, The Key features of and Aria are....... Accompanied by orchestra Usually in Ternary form Known as Da Capo Arias Syllabic: where each syllable of each word is given 1 musical note to be sung Melismatic: where each syllable can be given more than one note per syllable Word Painting: Where the musical line reflects the words being sung

13. The choir in an Opera or Oratorio is called a Chorus In an Oratorio there is a chorus known as a Chorale... A Chorale is another name for a Hymn tune Chorales are also found outwith an Oratorio..... J.S Bach wrote many of these • The key features of a Chorale are.. • Sung in 4 part Harmony (SATB) • Use of definate cadences • Use of Passing notes • Use of Suspensions

14. The key features of a Chorale are.. • Sung in 4 part Harmony (SATB) • Use of definate cadences • Use of Passing notes • Use of Suspensions