Understanding Music: Baroque Era Concepts and Styles

1. Pachelbel Vivaldi Bach Handel Understanding Music: Working towards National 4/5

2. Unit OutcomeAssessment Standard 1.2 By the end of this unit you will be able to….. Recognise and identify musical concepts and styles from the Baroque Era.

3. Learning Intention • To understand the historical and cultural background of the Baroque Era.

4. The style • The period called "Baroque" in music history extends roughly from the year 1600 to 1750. • Baroque music is tuneful an d very organized and melodies tend to be highly decorated and elaborate. • Contrast between sections in a piece and between instruments are common. • The word Baroque is a term which is used across many art forms, such as architecture, painting and of course music. • It is used to describe a highly decorative style of art, for example a very elaborate church or palace. Baroque music is similarly very decorative and elaborate

5. The style

6. Learning Intention • To understand what instrumentation and ornamentation was used during the Baroque Era.

7. The Baroque Orchestra • The orchestra in the Baroque era was much smaller than the Orchestra you learned about in first year. Bach Orchestral Suite no. 3 • Listen to the following baroque instruments and organise them into their families - you should also write a short description of how each instruments sounds. • As the Baroque era was a long time ago will be examining music which uses only acousticinstruments! Acoustic – uses natural sound and does not need electricity to be heard

8. Strings Viola DoubleBass Violin Cello

9. Woodwind Bassoon Oboe Flute Recorder

10. Percussion Brass Trumpet Timpani

11. Keyboards Organ Harpsichord

12. Instruments not found in the Baroque Era Tuba Harp Most percussion instruments other than Timpani Trombone Clarinet Piano Conductor

13. Instrumental Baroque Characteristics • Extensive use of string instruments. • The Music is often polyphonic in texture. • Polyphonic:Two or more independent melodies played at the same time. • Extensive use of ornamentation, especially trills. • Trill: Quickly alternating between two neighbouring notes. • Features harpsichord heavily.

14. The Harpsichord • An early keyboard instrument. (A bit like the piano) • It plays a very important role in Baroque Music. • In addition to solo harspicord works, the harpsichord provided the bass line and enriched the harmony when played with the orchestra. • The sound is produced by pressing the keys causing the strings to be plucked. As a result of the action, the harpsichord couldn’t vary dynamics –it was always the same volume. Harpsichord Action Harpsichord Solo

15. Task 1 – Mind Maps in Groups ABach - Badinerie B Handel - Arrival of the Queen of Sheba

16. Knowledge Check 1 Q1 Identify two instruments heard • Flute • Harpsichord • Trumpet • Oboe Q2 Identify two instruments heard • Strings • Trumpet • Bassoon • Harpsichord Q3 Identify three instruments heard • Oboe • Flute • Bassoon • Harpsichord • Strings Q4 Write down the name of the solo instrument ______________________________ Q5 Write down the name of the solo instrument ______________________________

17. Learning Intention • To understand the texture and styles of instrumental music used during the Baroque Era.

18. Imitation • Where a melody is repeated by another instrument or part. • When the structure of a piece is built up of strict imitation: The first part will start to play on its own but will shortly be followed by another part playing the exact same melody. • Similar to a round, i.e. Frère Jacques. • Often creates a polyphonic sound. Canon

19. Ground Bass • A theme in the bass which is repeated many times, while the upper parts are varied.

20. Study the score for the opening of Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major with your teacher. Notice how the three violins play the exact same melody with entries separated by two bars, and the bass repeats the same 8-note pattern – a Ground Bass.

21. Study the score for the opening of Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major with your teacher. Notice how the three violins play the exact same melody with entries separated by two bars, and the bass repeats the same 8-note pattern – a Ground Bass. Violin 1 plays phrase 1 Violin 1 plays phrase 2 Violin 2 plays phrase 1 IMITATION Ground Bass Established Ground Bass Repeated Ground Bass Repeated

22. IMITATION IMITATION IMITATION Violin 3 plays phrase 1 Violin 3 plays phrase 2 Violin 2 plays phrase 2 Violin 1 plays phrase 3 Violin 2 plays phrase 3 Violin 1 plays phrase 4 IMITATION IMITATION IMITATION Ground Bass Repeated Ground Bass Repeated Ground Bass Repeated

23. Playing a Ground Bass: A first hand testimony

24. Texture: how the parts of the music interact with one another. Homophonic • One melody. All accompanying parts move together rhythmically and support the main melody. Polyphonic/Contrapuntal • Two or more independent melodies played at the same time. The parts interact and weave in and out of each other. ‘Pachelbel’s Canon’ begins with a Homophonic texture but soon develops into a Polyphonic texture as more parts enter.

25. The Concerto A work for solo instrument accompanied by orchestra. Four Seasons - Spring Violin Concerto

26. TheConcertocont… • Most Concertos have a passage called a Cadenza. • Cadenza: a passage in a concerto where the soloist plays a technically difficult solo with no orchestral accompaniment. • Cadenzas are designed to show off the performer’s high skill level. • The orchestra will pause and then stop playing just before a cadenza, and join in again once it is finished.

27. Knowledge Check 2 Q1 Answer one in each column Column A Column B Column C Homophonic Concerto Sequence Polyphonic Canon Trill Imitation Cadenza Q2 Identify the style • Canon • Cadenza • Concerto • Ground Bass Q3 Identify one concept • Ground Bass • Imitation • Cadenza • Concerto Q4 Identify one concept • Polyphonic • Homophonic • Ground Bass • Cadenza Q5 Identify two concepts • Canon • Repetition • Imitation • Ground Bass

28. Learning Intention • To understand the texture and styles of vocal music used during the Baroque Era.

29. Vocal Music • Music which is performed by one or more singers; sometimes with orchestral accompaniment This combination of voices is abbreviated as SATB This is the most common grouping for a typical choir/chorus. Here is a video of a Baroque choral piece accompanied by an Orchestra: Hallelujah Types of voice

30. Types of Voices Extended HIGH PITCH LOW PITCH

31. Harmony & Unison • A SATB chorus can be heard singing in harmony/unison or a mixture of both. • Harmony: When two different pitches are played/sung at the same time. • Unison: When all voices/instruments sing/play exactly the same pitch. • Listen to the full excerpt...can you hear the change from Harmony to Unison?

32. Word Setting: putting words to music. Syllabic word setting: singing one note for every syllable of a word. Melismatic word setting: singing many notes for one syllable of a word.

33. Opera A large scale vocal work in which a drama is set to music. https://vimeo.com/39074965 Performed by: Soloists(who play the main characters) & Chorus Usually accompanied by an Orchestra

34. Opera: Main Elements • Aria: a song for solo voice with accompaniment. • They are often very expressive and used in moments of great emotion. • Chorus/choir:A large group of singers. • In an opera this will often be an SATB choir

35. Knowledge Check 3 Q2 Identify the voice a) Soprano b) Mezzo Soprano c) Tenor d) Bass Q1 Identify one in each column Column A Column B Column C • Soprano a) Concerto a) Organ • Alto b) Aria b) Timpani • Tenor c) Canon c) Harpsichord • Bass d) Cadenza d) Trumpet Q4 Identify one concept • Unison • Ground Bass • Imitation • Homophonic Q5 Identify two concepts • Concerto • Harmony • Polyphonic • Homophonic Q3 Identify the texture of the music. ___________________

36. Baroque Presentation Vivaldi Bach Pachelbel Handel • In groups of four – each member should choose either - • A Baroque composer, • An instrumental concept, • A vocal concept • An instrument • Research your chosen topic and prepare a 1 minute presentation. • You should then practice in your groups - introducing each other after talking. • Someone should also introduce the presentation and also conclude at the end. • Present your talk with visuals using PowerPoint and/or Microsoft Word and also audio if possible - but this is not compulsory.

37. Baroque Presentation Vivaldi Bach Pachelbel Handel • Some ideas……….. • Composer – Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Pachelbel (see above!) Give their background, famous works, interesting facts… • Instrumental Concept – Concerto, Canon, Ground Bass, Contrapuntal… • Vocal Concept – Aria, Opera, SATB Chorus… • Instrument – Harpsichord, Recorder, the String Family etc… When were they first introduced, A famous work with that instrument, is it still used today?

38. Baroque Music Test!! Q3 – Listen again and Underline two of the following. • Harpsichord • Trills • Strings • Polyphonic Q1 – Underline one of the following. • Guitar • Piano • Harpsichord • Organ Q2 – Underline two of the following. • Trumpet • Concerto • Oboe • Cannon Q4 – Underline one in each column Column A Column B • Flute a) Organ • Timpani b) Major • Trill c) Repetition • Trumpet d) Cadenza Q5 – Describe the texture of the music – Q6 – Listen to that same piece and write down what family of instruments are playing

39. Baroque Music Test Cont… Q7 – Underline one of the following • Choir • Aria • Concerto • Cadenza Q8 – Underline two of the following • Harmony • Unison • Homophonic • Polyphonic Q9 – Underline one from each column. Column A Column B a) Oboe a) Flute b) Concerto b) Organ c) Opera c) Piano d) Cannon d) Harpsichord Q10 – Pick one in each column Column A Column B • Timpani a) Flute • Ground Bass b) Aria • Homophonic c) Polyphonic • Trill d) Cadenza Q11 –Underline one in each column. Column A Column B a) Concerto a) 4 beats in the bar b) Cadenza b) 3 beats in the bar

40. Baroque Music Test Cont… Q12 – Underline one of the following – a) Bass b) Chorus c) Sequence d) Concerto End of Listening Test!!! Now begin the written test….