Baroque music Essay - 607 Words

The Music of the Baroque Era The style of polyphonic music containing elaborate ornamentation and contrasting elements, that is how Baroque music is defined. The Baroque era was a kind of transitional era in art and music. The Renaissance means rebirth and is typically regarded as such. The Baroque era in music is not a set style in music but many diverse styles which may be broken down into at least three distinct periods. A renewed interest in art and music was experienced throughout the Renaissance which then led to the Baroque era which was more of a transitional stage leading up to the maturity of classical music in the Classical era which began as Baroque ended. (Howard n. pag.) The origins of the word Baroque itself is as obscure†¦show more content†¦The Baroque style music was voices only. It was sung in a cappella, a choral style music with only singing and no instruments. If instruments happened to be used, it only imitated the melody of the voices. It would not pick up its only melody or tune. The Baroque style music brought up more than just choir singing. It introduced soloists. When solo music was sung, this brought up the idea of thoroughbass. Which is a bass part was assigned to the singing (Arnold 174). The term Baroque, no matter which definition you choose to accept, really does not fit the entire period to which the name is applied. It could certainly be applied to certain times during the period but not to the entire 150-year range that it has been described as covering. This was certainly an important era in the history and growth of musical styles lending tonality and monadic styles that are still present in music today. Definitions of specific time periods in music really only assist us in tracking the changes of form, style, and historical significance of each era and are not so important in giving an accurate description of the music of the times. Although, when looked at objectively, the word Baroque could be seen as accurately describing the period because of its unusual diversity or irregularity of music style. Works Cited Arnold, Denis, ed. The New Oxford Companion to Music. 2 vols. New York: Oxford UP,Show MoreRelatedBaroque Music764 Words   |  4 PagesBaroque Music Period ​â€Å"Baroque music expresses order, the fundamental order of the universe. Yet it is always lively and tuneful. Follow the development of music through this brief outline, from the earliest times to the present day, with baroque music set in historical context.† The style of polyphonic music containing elaborate ornamentation and contrasting elements, that is how Baroque music is defined. The Baroque era in music is not a set style in music but many diverse styles which may beRead MoreInfluence of Baroque Music to Classical Music4158 Words   |  17 PagesCHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Music of any period reflects, in its own way, some of the same influences, tendencies, and generative impulses that are found in the other arts of that time (Donna, 2005). Thus the word baroque, usually used despairingly by eighteenth-century art critics to describe the art and architecture of the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, came to be applied also to the music of the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. After some years after the death of JohannRead MoreMusic During The Baroque Era2164 Words   |  9 PagesMusic during the Baroque era was regarded as a powerful form of communication that could invoke emotions in the listeners. This philosophical belief was derived from a revival of the ideas of the Greco-Roman culture, and as a result, composers believed that they could also affect their listeners through the power of melody, harmony, rhythm, and stylistic details. The emphasis on communication was reflected in the major styles and components that were used throughout Baroque compositions. BaroqueRead MoreThe Baroque Era of Music Essay515 Words   |  3 PagesThe Baroque period of music lasted from approximately 1600 – 1750 AD. It falls into the Common Practice period and was the most predominant style of writing after the Renaissance period and before the Classical period (the Classical period uses many elements from the Baroque period). The word Baroque means highly deco rated and essentially gives us an insight into what the music of the time was like. Many pieces in the Baroque style have three or four different parts which work together to produceRead MoreThe Restoration Of Baroque Music1628 Words   |  7 Pagesthe Baroque period. The english word baroque originated from the Italian word barocco, meaning bizarre. The usage of this term started in the 1860s to describe the decorative, elaborate style of the 17th century religious and public Italian buildings. Baroque music has affected everything we hear in music today due to the incredible form of the music, instruments, and composers of that time. Baroque music is a style of Western art composed from approximately 1600 to 1750. This style of music is filledRead MoreBaroque Music And The Baroque Era1366 Words   |  6 PagesBaroque music began in Italy and it spread to all other parts of Europe. The musical characters in the baroque era pursued interests in subjectivity of the observers and created a deep human feeling while composing their music (Harbison 22). This character of the baroque artists is depicted in several works done by Michelangelo. One of the pieces of art was campidoglio on the hill capitalino. The picture above takes the structure of a sculpture and it is placed in a three dimension space havingRead MoreModern Music During The Baroque Era1798 Words   |  8 PagesThe term Baroque has been widely acknowledged as a period in Western European Art Music lasting for 150 years from early 17th to mid-18th century. The word itself is originated from barroco in Portuguese meaning â€Å"oddly shaped pearl†, w hich best describes the visual and details of the buildings existed during that period. Its flamboyant and ornate details of the building is what causes ornamentations and harpsichords to become an essential element of Baroque music. Bach, ornamentation, and harpsichordRead MoreBaroque Music Characteristics537 Words   |  3 PagesBaroque Period (1600-1750) Baroque Music Characteristics 2 Rhythm †¢Most baroque music has an easily recognizable strong, steady pulse, and continuity of rhythm. †¢Patterns of rhythmic sequences permeate much of Baroque music. †¢Rapid changes in harmony often makes the pieces feel more rhythmic. †¢Dance rhythms were frequently used in multi-movement form pieces. †¢Dotted rhythms were widely used. Harmony †¢Figured Bass—a system of numbers placed under the music—was developed to indicateRead MoreThe Baroque Era Of Music Essay2374 Words   |  10 PagesThe Baroque chamber orchestra, a type of ensemble today that can vary greatly from group to group, is involved in a type of performance many musicians remain confused about. For a modern musician, the confusion surrounding the Baroque style stems from a notion that spending time learning a style of instrument that is no longer commonplace is something that is not worthwhile or is even detrimental to a modern instrumental career. Much of this stems from the idea that the romantic era of music is theRead MoreEssay on Ensemble Music During the Baroque Period 640 Words   |  3 PagesBaroque Period (1600-1750) Ensemble Music During the Baroque period, instrumental music was written for every conceivable size of ensemble. On the smaller side, the Baroque sonata offers one of the finest examples of chamber music. Two types of sonata are found during this period: the sonata da chiesa (church sonata), and the sonata da camera (chamber sonata). The sonata da chiesa was more somber, while the sonata da camera was, much like the suite, usually comprised of dance forms. The gigue