1. Baroque Music
A presentation made by Pranav, Henrique,
Tassio, Leonardo, Khensany & Thenday, 9R

2. Have you ever heard about Baroque music?
 Baroque music, is a style of music that prevailed
during the period from about 16th century to 18th
century, known for its grandiose, dramatic, and
energetic spirit but also for its stylistic diversity.
 While the stile antico, the universal polyphonic
style of the 16th century, continued, it was
henceforth reserved for sacred music, while the
stile moderno, or nuove musiche—with its
emphasis on solo voice, polarity of the melody
and the bass line, and interest in expressive
harmony—developed for secular usage.
 One of the major philosophical
currents in Baroque music originates
from the Renaissance interest in ideas
from ancient Greece and Rome. The
Greeks and Romans believed that
music was a powerful tool of
communication and could arouse any
emotion in its listeners. As a result of
the renewal of these ideas, composers
became increasingly aware of music’s
potential power, and cultivated the
belief that their own compositions
could have similar effects if they
correctly emulated ancient music.

3. Where and when did it first appear?
 One of the most dramatic turning
points in the history of music
occurred at the beginning of the
17th century, with Italy leading
the way. The early Baroque era of
music first appeared around 1600
in Italy. Italian composers based
Rome and its surroundings
composed music that drew on the
traditions of the Renaissance era
but also expanded its harmonic
and ornamental boundaries.

4. Baroque music made notable advances from the Renaissance period, many of which are still employed by contemporary musicians and
composers. Baroque music often has the following characteristics:
1. Emphasis on dynamics: During the Baroque era, the pianoforte (an early version of the piano) replaced the harpsichord as the
primary keyboard instrument. The pianoforte (called a klavier in German) struck strings with felted hammers, whereas the
harpsichord plucked the strings. This meant the pianoforte could play both soft and loud, opening new dynamic possibilities. Other
new Baroque instruments, like the valve trumpet and the violin, also had immense dynamic potential. Renaissance instruments like the
lute were still played, but they were eclipsed in popularity by newer, more dynamic options.
2. Embrace of instrumental music: Prior to the Baroque era, a great amount of music was vocal music used in liturgical settings. While
Baroque composers still embraced singing in the form of chorales, cantatas, and opera, instrumental music became increasingly
popular. Some of the most renowned pieces of Baroque music, such as Vivaldi's Four Seasons or Bach's Brandenburg Concerto, are
instrumental pieces.
3. Ornamentation: Much like Baroque architecture and sculpture, Baroque music embraces flair. Even the simplest melodies were
often embellished with ornamentations like trills, acciaccaturas, appoggiaturas, mordents, and turns.
4. Basso continuo: Basso continuo notation became popular during the Baroque era. This form of music notation includes a complete
bass line, which is usually played by a cello in a Baroque ensemble. A player of a keyboard instrument like a harpsichord or piano then
improvises chords using figured bass notation. Solo organ players often play basso continuo notation entirely on their own.

5. Examples of Baroque Music sheets
The 1st piture is The
Prologue from the opera
Euridice, from the score
published in 1600. Euridice
is an opera in a prologue
and one act by the Italian
composer Giulio Caccini.
The libretto, by Ottavio
Rinuccini, had already been
set by Caccini's rival Jacopo
Peri in 1600. Caccini's version
of Euridice was first
performed at the Pitti Palace,
Florence, on 5 December
1602. Caccini hurriedly
prepared the score for the
press and published it six
weeks before Peri's version
appeared:
The 2nd picture is an example of figured bass played by
a violone (also know as double bass) and a cembalo
(know as harpsichord) accompanying a violin:

6. Top 5 Greatest Baroque
Period Composers YOU
SHOULD KNOW!
1. Johann Sebastian Bach: No composer better defines the High
Baroque era than J.S. Bach. Based largely in Leipzig, Germany,
Bach was a master organ player (among many other instrumental
talents) and a composer who created both liturgical and profane
music.
2. George Frideric Handel: Born in Germany but notably a
Londoner, Handel composed Baroque landmarks like Water
Music and the opera Rodrigo. Yet he is most remembered for
Messiah, an English-language oratorio composed in 1742. His
Music for the Royal Fireworks was commissioned by King George
II and firmly established his place in British music history.
3. Antonio Vivaldi: A Venetian composer, Vivaldi was famed for
his mastery of the violin (you may even notice that he is holding
his violin in his hand in the 3rd picture). His musical
compositions reflect his instrumental brilliance. The most famous
of these is Four Seasons, a series of violin concertos that is
generally performed by today's classical musicians. During his
lifetime, Vivaldi made most of his income as an opera composer,
where he pushed thematic boundaries in works like 1716's
Arsilda, regina di Ponto.
4. Arcangelo Corelli: The Italian composer Corelli’s music helped
establish many of these rules, as well as conventional forms like
the sonata. In addition to writing numerous concertos, he was
one of the great violin virtuosos of his day, his playing style
influencing accepted instrumental technique for centuries to
arise.
5. Henry Purcell: Purcell is regarded as one of England’s greatest
ever composers: following his death, aged just 36, no other
English musician would derive close to his level of influence until
the 20th Century.

7. What type of notation system was introduced during the
Baroque era?
 Figured bass notation originated in Baroque basso
continuo parts. It is also used extensively in
accordion notation. The bass notes of the music are
conventionally notated, along with numbers and
other signs that determine which chords the
harpsichordist, organist or lutenist should improvise.
It does not, however, specify the exact pitches of the
harmony, leaving that for the performer to
improvise.
 If you do not know what a Figured bass is, it
is basically a musical notation in which
numerals and symbols appear above or
below (or next to) a bass note. The numerals
and symbols (often accidentals) indicate
intervals, chords, and non-chord tones that a
musician playing piano, harpsichord, organ,
or lute (or other instruments capable of
playing chords) should play in relation to the
bass note. Figured bass is closely associated
with basso continuo: a historically
improvised accompaniment used in almost
all genres of music in the Baroque period of
Classical music, though rarely in modern
music. Figured bass is also known as
thoroughbass.
This picture shows the Melody from the opening of
Henry Purcell's "Thy Hand, Belinda", Dido and
Aeneas (1689) with figured bass below

8. The End of an era…
 Regarded as one of the greatest
composers of all time, Johann
Sebastian Bach was from a family of
seven generations of musicians.
Beethoven considered Bach the
“original father of harmony.” His
influence was so encompassing that
his death on July 28, 1750 marks the
end of the Baroque period in music.
 The year 1750 is considered the end
of the Baroque due to the death of
Johann Sebastian Bach. His music is
considered to be the culmination of
the Baroque style. Baroque is a term
that was first applied to architecture
in a derogatory manner.