Authentic Performance Practices of Baroque Music Dena M. Andrews.
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Transcript of Authentic Performance Practices of Baroque Music Dena M. Andrews.
Authentic Performance Practices of Baroque Music
Dena M. Andrews
What was the Baroque?
• The Baroque Period began in 1600 with the first opera and led up to 1750 with the death of J.S. Bach
• Absolutism and Science, Great Thinkers
• Baroque = Misshapen Pearl
• Major Composers: Monteverdi, Purcell, Bach, Handel
Philosophy of Baroque Music
• A belief in music as a potent tool of communication
• Emotion drawn from the listeners
• Monteverdi coined the term “1st and 2nd Practice”
• The 2nd communicative practice dominated the era
Elements of Baroque Music
• Religious dictation of music genre and style: Ex. Bach/Cantatas
• Contrasting Dramatic Elements
• Melody & Harmony
• “Age of the Thorough Bass” Basso Continuo
• Developmental Themes and Ideas // Counterpoint
• Instrumental Temperament
•Pitch & Phythagoras
•Tuning1939: 440 Hz 1893: 435 Hz
•Mean-Tone vs. Well-Tempered
•Form: Sonata, Cantata, Opera, Oratorio, Concerto, Suite
•Authentic vs. Traditional Performance
The Sound of Baroque Music
Discrepancies of Baroque Performance
• Timbre, Tempi & Balance
• Mendelssohn began “Early Music Revival” with first performance of Bach St. Matthew Passion with choir of 300-400
• Bach Entwurff
• Historical context vs. Excitement of Listeners
• Recording and Balance engineers
Tempi
• Fast tempo vs. Slow tempo & the church
• Articulation of short notes and clarity
• Relative tempi within concerto sections
• “Slow movements shall never drag, and fast movements shall never express haste”
• Unsteady tempi and the role of the conductor
Timbre
• The debate about straight tone singing
• The German harpsichord
• The German violin bow
• Period Instruments
• Balance of orchestra and choir
Balance
• Full Organ vs Portative
• Orchestral balance
• The role of the Harpsichord
• Choral and Orchestral Balance
Bach’s Vocal Scoring
• Bach’s letter to Leipzig in 1730 (Entwurff)
• 3-4 Voices per part
• Large rehearsal choir in case of sickness
• St. Matthew Passion debate
• Historical Experience
Video/Performances
• http://www.baroquecds.com/18Concerto6a.mp3
• http://www.baroquemusic.org/7334SDG1Can29.mp3
• Funfgeld vs. Parrott