The Baroque Style
- The Baroque period spans from 1600 to 1750. Although this is slightly earlier than the Instrumental Music 1700-1820 focus, understanding the Baroque style is key to understanding the transition into the Classical period.
- Composers of this era include Bach, Vivaldi, and Handel. Their works are presently much loved and studied throughout history. If you want to understand the music of 1700-1820, getting to know their works can provide you with a fundamental understanding.
- Baroque music often features contrast between loud and soft, a technique known as "terraced dynamics". This can be found in a single piece, between different sections, or even within the same section.
- Music of this era heavily used ornamentation in melody lines, including trills and mordents. These embellishments served to enhance and enrich the musical experience.
- The Baroque style often employs polyphonic or counterpoint texture, meaning multiple melodic lines are woven together to create a complex, rich sound.
- In this period, the harpsichord was extensively used as a principal keyboard instrument. String instruments such as violins and cellos also became more prominent and developed into the form we recognise today.
- The use of a ground bass ("basso continuo" or a repeating, usually descending, bass line) was common in the Baroque era. This led to structured, predictable harmonies which provided a foundation for the melodic line.
- Forms such as the da capo aria (ABA structure where the A section returns after a contrasting B section) and instrumental forms like the fugue and the suite were dominant in the Baroque period.
- Baroque composers and musicians were beginning to explore and expand the capabilities of their instruments - pushing for more range, versatility, and expressiveness. This led to the development of more complex musical pieces.
- Baroque music often sought to evoke a heightened emotional response from the listener - an approach known as 'The Doctrine of Affections'. This aimed to create a single 'affection' (emotion) in the listener for the entirety of a piece or movement.
- Dance styles like the minuet, gigue, and bourrée formed the building blocks of Baroque instrumental music, and were often incorporated into larger works, such as suites.