🎼Music History – 1600 to 1750 Unit 13 – Baroque Instruments and Ensembles

Key Characteristics of Baroque Music

• Emphasized contrast and juxtaposition of different textures, timbres, and dynamics
• Utilized basso continuo, a continuous bass line played by a keyboard instrument (harpsichord) and a low melodic instrument (cello)
• Employed terraced dynamics, sudden changes between loud and soft sections
• Featured ornamentation and embellishments, such as trills, turns, and mordents
  • Ornamentation was often improvised by performers
• Developed the concept of tonality, with a clear sense of key and harmonic progression
• Utilized polyphonic textures, with multiple independent melodic lines played simultaneously
• Incorporated dance rhythms and forms, such as the sarabande, gigue, and minuet
• Explored the affections theory, the idea that music could evoke specific emotions in listeners

Major Baroque Instruments

• Strings: Violin, viola, cello, and double bass
  • Violin became the most prominent solo instrument
  • Baroque string instruments had gut strings and shorter necks compared to modern instruments
• Woodwinds: Recorder, flute, oboe, and bassoon
  • Baroque flute was made of wood and had fewer keys than modern flutes
  • Oboe and bassoon developed from earlier shawms and dulcians
• Brass: Natural trumpet and horn
  • Valves had not yet been invented, so brass instruments were limited to the notes of the harmonic series
• Keyboard: Harpsichord, clavichord, and organ
  • Harpsichord was the most common keyboard instrument, with strings plucked by quills
  • Clavichord allowed for dynamic control but had a softer sound
• Lute and theorbo, plucked string instruments used in continuo and solo repertoire
• Percussion: Timpani and various small drums and bells used for special effects and dance music

Evolution of Baroque Ensembles

• Early Baroque ensembles were small, often consisting of a few singers and continuo instruments
• The trio sonata emerged, featuring two solo melodic instruments (violins) and continuo
  • Trio sonatas were often performed with four players, as the continuo part was typically divided between a keyboard instrument and a bass instrument
• Concerto grosso developed, contrasting a small group of soloists (concertino) with a larger ensemble (ripieno)
  • Arcangelo Corelli's concerti grossi were influential models
• The orchestra expanded throughout the Baroque era, incorporating more instruments and standardizing section sizes
  • By the late Baroque, orchestras could include over 30 players
• Chamber music flourished, with genres like the solo sonata, duo sonata, and trio sonata
• Vocal ensembles ranged from solo songs with continuo to large-scale works like oratorios and operas
  • Choirs in sacred music grew in size and complexity

Prominent Baroque Composers and Works

• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
  • Brandenburg Concertos, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Mass in B minor
• George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
  • Messiah, Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks
• Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
  • The Four Seasons, L'estro armonico, Gloria
• Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)
  • L'Orfeo, Vespers of 1610, Madrigals
• Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
  • Dido and Aeneas, The Fairy Queen, Funeral Music for Queen Mary
• Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687)
  • Armide, Te Deum, Ballets
• Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713)
  • Concerti grossi, Trio sonatas, Violin sonatas
• Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
  • 555 keyboard sonatas

Performance Practices and Techniques

• Ornamentation was an essential aspect of Baroque performance
  • Performers were expected to add trills, mordents, and other embellishments to the written music
  • Improvisation was common, particularly in solo passages and cadenzas
• Rhythmic flexibility and rubato were employed to enhance expressiveness
  • Performers would slightly alter the tempo to emphasize certain notes or phrases
• Dynamics were achieved through articulation and the number of instruments playing rather than individual volume control
  • Terraced dynamics were used to create sudden contrasts between loud and soft sections
• Vibrato was used sparingly and as an ornament rather than a constant effect
• Bowing techniques for string instruments included detaché, legato, and spiccato
  • Baroque bows were shorter and more curved than modern bows, affecting articulation and phrasing
• Continuo players (keyboard and bass instruments) were expected to improvise and elaborate on the written bass line
  • Figured bass notation indicated the harmonic progression, allowing for creative realization
• Vocal techniques emphasized clear diction, agility, and expressiveness
  • Singers used a more natural, speech-like delivery compared to later operatic styles

Regional Variations in Baroque Music

• Italy: Birthplace of many Baroque genres and styles
  • Emphasis on melody, virtuosity, and expressive solo writing (Vivaldi, Corelli)
  • Development of opera, oratorio, and instrumental forms like the concerto and sonata
• France: Refined, elegant style influenced by dance and theater
  • Lully established French opera (tragédie en musique) and ballet
  • French overture, with its slow, dotted-rhythm introduction and faster fugal section, became a popular form
• Germany: Synthesis of Italian and French styles, with a focus on counterpoint and harmony
  • Bach and Handel exemplified the German Baroque style, combining various national influences
  • Lutheran church music, such as cantatas and passions, flourished
• England: Unique choral tradition and masques
  • Purcell composed semi-operas, blending spoken drama with musical interludes
  • Handel, though German-born, spent most of his career in England, composing operas and oratorios in English
• Spain and Portugal: Influenced by Italian and French styles, with a strong tradition of sacred music
  • Composers like Tomás Luis de Victoria and João Lourenço Rebelo contributed to the Iberian Baroque repertoire

Influence on Later Musical Periods

• Baroque music laid the foundation for the development of tonality and functional harmony
  • Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier explored the possibilities of equal temperament tuning
• Baroque forms and genres, such as the concerto, sonata, and opera, continued to evolve in the Classical and Romantic eras
  • Mozart and Beethoven composed concertos and sonatas that built upon Baroque models
• The Baroque emphasis on contrast and drama influenced the emotional expression of later musical styles
  • Romantic composers sought to convey intense emotions and tell stories through their music
• Baroque ornamentation and improvisation practices inspired later composers, particularly in the keyboard and jazz traditions
  • Chopin and Liszt incorporated ornamental figures and virtuosic passages in their piano works
  • Jazz musicians often use Baroque harmonic progressions and improvise on Baroque themes
• The revival of interest in historically informed performance practice in the 20th century led to a renewed appreciation for Baroque music
  • Period instrument ensembles and specialists have sought to recreate the authentic sounds and styles of the Baroque era

Notable Recordings and Modern Interpretations

• Glenn Gould's recordings of Bach's Goldberg Variations (1955 and 1981)
  • Gould's unique interpretations and technical mastery brought new attention to Bach's keyboard works
• Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Gustav Leonhardt's complete recording of Bach's cantatas (1971-1990)
  • This pioneering project used period instruments and historically informed performance practices
• Jordi Savall and Le Concert des Nations' recordings of Baroque repertoire
  • Savall's ensemble has explored a wide range of Baroque music, from Monteverdi to Bach
• Ton Koopman and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra's recordings of Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi
  • Koopman's performances are known for their energy, clarity, and expressive power
• Masaaki Suzuki and the Bach Collegium Japan's recordings of Bach's choral works
  • Suzuki's interpretations have been praised for their balance, precision, and emotional depth
• Rinaldo Alessandrini and Concerto Italiano's recordings of Monteverdi and Italian Baroque repertoire
  • Alessandrini's ensemble specializes in the music of the early Baroque, bringing fresh insights to well-known works
• Modern composers have also drawn inspiration from Baroque music, creating new works that reimagine or pay homage to the era
  • Examples include Peter Maxwell Davies' "Eight Songs for a Mad King" and Michael Nyman's "The Draughtsman's Contract"