🎻Music of the Baroque Unit 9 – German Baroque: Schütz and North German Organ

Historical Context

• The German Baroque period spans from the early 17th century to the mid-18th century
• Coincides with the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) which had a significant impact on German culture and society
• The Protestant Reformation played a crucial role in shaping the musical landscape of German Baroque
• Rise of absolutism and the establishment of powerful courts (Saxony, Prussia) fostered the development of music
• Emergence of new musical genres such as the cantata, oratorio, and passion
• Increasing influence of Italian and French musical styles on German composers
• Growth of music publishing and the dissemination of printed music across Europe

Key Composers and Works

• Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672) considered the father of German Baroque music
  • Notable works: "Psalmen Davids," "Musikalische Exequien," "Weihnachtshistorie"
• Dieterich Buxtehude (1637-1707) renowned organist and composer
  • Notable works: "Membra Jesu Nostri," "Abendmusiken," organ preludes and fugues
• Johann Hermann Schein (1586-1630) important figure in the development of Lutheran church music
  • Notable works: "Banchetto Musicale," "Israelis Brünnlein," "Opella Nova"
• Samuel Scheidt (1587-1654) influential composer and organist
  • Notable works: "Tabulatura Nova," "Cantiones Sacrae," "Geistliche Konzerte"
• Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706) known for his organ and chamber music
  • Notable works: "Canon in D," "Hexachordum Apollinis," organ chorales
• Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) prolific composer of the late Baroque period
  • Notable works: "Tafelmusik," "Der Tag des Gerichts," "Brockes-Passion"

Musical Characteristics

• Emphasis on text expression and rhetorical devices in vocal music
• Development of the basso continuo (figured bass) as a fundamental element of Baroque music
• Extensive use of polyphony and counterpoint in both vocal and instrumental compositions
• Emergence of the concertato style featuring contrasts between solo voices/instruments and the ensemble
• Increasing use of ornamentation and embellishments in melodic lines
• Exploration of various affekts (emotions) through musical means
• Establishment of major-minor tonality and the expansion of harmonic language

North German Organ Tradition

• The North German organ tradition flourished in the 17th and early 18th centuries
• Characterized by the development of large, multi-manual organs with a wide range of stops and tonal colors
• Emphasis on virtuosic playing techniques, such as pedal solos and elaborate figurations
• Prominent composers: Dieterich Buxtehude, Johann Adam Reincken, Nicolaus Bruhns, Vincent Lübeck
• Influence on the young Johann Sebastian Bach, who studied with Buxtehude in Lübeck
• Cultivation of distinct organ genres, such as the praeludium, toccata, and chorale fantasia
• The organ as a central instrument in Lutheran church services and as a vehicle for artistic expression

Performance Practices

• The use of period instruments (Baroque violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord) to achieve historically informed performances
• One-to-a-part vocal performances in sacred music, with singers also playing instruments
• Improvisation as an essential skill for Baroque musicians, particularly in the realms of ornamentation and basso continuo
• Terraced dynamics (sudden changes between loud and soft) as a means of creating contrast
• Flexibility in tempo and rhythm, with the use of rubato and agogic accents
• The importance of rhetoric and text declamation in vocal music
• The practice of alternatim (alternating between organ and choir) in liturgical settings

Cultural and Religious Influences

• The Lutheran chorale as a fundamental element of German Baroque music
  • Chorales served as the basis for various compositional techniques (chorale preludes, chorale fantasias, chorale cantatas)
• The Doctrine of the Affections (Affektenlehre) which sought to evoke specific emotions through musical means
• The influence of Pietism, a religious movement emphasizing personal devotion and emotional expression
• The role of music in the education system, with Lateinschulen (Latin schools) and universities training musicians
• Patronage system, with composers and musicians employed by aristocratic courts and churches
• The impact of the Thirty Years' War on musical life, leading to the decentralization of musical centers
• The exchange of musical ideas and styles between Germany, Italy, and France

Legacy and Impact

• German Baroque music laid the foundation for the development of the Classical and Romantic periods
• The works of German Baroque composers served as models for later generations of musicians
• The influence of German Baroque music on the development of Lutheran church music and hymnody
• The preservation and rediscovery of German Baroque music through the efforts of scholars and performers in the 19th and 20th centuries
• The impact of German Baroque composers on the development of keyboard music, particularly the organ and harpsichord repertoire
• The contribution of German Baroque music to the establishment of national musical identities in Europe
• The enduring popularity and performance of German Baroque works in modern concert halls and recordings

Fun Facts and Trivia

• Heinrich Schütz studied with Giovanni Gabrieli in Venice, bringing Italian musical influences back to Germany
• Dieterich Buxtehude's famous Abendmusiken (Evening Music) concerts in Lübeck attracted musicians from all over Germany, including the young J.S. Bach
• Johann Pachelbel's "Canon in D" is one of the most popular and recognizable pieces of classical music today, often played at weddings and other events
• Georg Philipp Telemann was an incredibly prolific composer, with over 3,000 works to his name
• The organ at the St. Jacobi Church in Hamburg, where Johann Adam Reincken served as organist, had four manuals and over 60 stops
• The term "Baroque" comes from the Portuguese word "barroco," meaning "misshapen pearl," and was initially used as a derogatory term for the elaborate and ornate style of the period
• Many German Baroque composers also held positions as Kantors, responsible for the musical education of students and the direction of church music
• The famous "Bach bow," a curved bow used for playing string instruments, was developed during the Baroque period to facilitate the performance of polyphonic music.