Sacred

vocal

music

Genres

Baroque

music

Characteristics

Melody: ornamented, wide range

Texture: basso Continuo or polyphonic texture

Timbre: orchestra based on string instruments. Organ

Character, dynamics, tempi: changes and contrast

Oratorio: like an opera, with a narrator, but without acting. Stories from the Bible. Haendel

Passion: like oratorio, but text based on Christ Passion. J.S. Bach

Cantatas: similar to oratorio, but much shorter. Used on Church Services. J.S. Bach

Chorals: songs for mixed choir and organ. Text from hymns. Used on Protestant Church Services

Opera

Invented in Italy. First Opera -> Orfeo (Monteverdi, 1609)

Definition: sing theatre with soloist, choir and orchestra

Italian language

Parts: three acts

Plot: mythological and historical tragedies.

Places: first in palace, later in public theaters.

Important voices: sopranos and castrati (Farinelli)

Composers: Monteverdi, Scarlatti, Lully, Haendel. Spain: zarzuelas

Overture (instrumental)

Recitative (develops the story, sing

accompanied with harpsichord)

Aria (express feelings)

Instrumental passages

Chorus (moral messages)

ELEMENTS OF THE OPERA

Instrumental

music

Ensembles/orchestra based on string instruments.

Viol family replaced by the violin family. Stradivarius.

Organs become bigger and complex.

Harpsichord: main instrument of the basso continuo

Suite: series of contrasting dances with contrasting tempi. Performed by chamber ensembles and orchestras.

Each dance has a binary structure, with two repeated sections. Courante, gigue, allemande, sarabande

Concerto: music for orchestra (tutti) and soloist/concertino (group of soloist). Three movements using a fast-

slow-fast plan. Two types: solo concerto (soloist vs tutti), concerto grosso (concertino vs tutti)

Toccata, prelude, fugue: short musical pieces for keyboard, to show the abilities of the performer.

Fugue: complex polyphonic composition based on the development of two motives in different melodies

Basso

continuo

Origin of the

accompaniment with chords

Not modal, modern harmony

(major and minor scales)

Two parts:

- Bass line (cello, archlute)

- Chords (harpsichord, lute)