1. The Baroque 1600 – 1750
3. The term BAROQUE Comes from barocco : meaning abnormally shaped pearl.
Originally meant as an insulting remark…
4. This term originally was used to describe the flamboyant, ornate architecture of European churches.
5. It grew to mean fancy, gaudy, and overdone.
6. Notice the exterior made of pebbles and gold gilt. Look for more decoration…
7. In Europe The Church struggled to maintain its power
The middle class grew
8. Sounds of the music: let’s review the Renaissance: Church music features men and boys.
Secular music: women could sing, often using instruments. Church music offered the “mind” to God by being overly complex.
Secular music celebrated the accomplishments of man.
9. In the Baroque Opera is born the favorite form of entertainment.
Concertos, dances such as gavotte and minuet.
Oratorio is born: this is a sacred opera. Even the Church is affected by the popularity of opera.
10. A time of ‘firsts’ 1601: The 1st Opera is written by Monteverdi.
The modern trumpet is developed.
1709: The piano is invented.
The modern orchestra falls into place.
11. Decorating the music Trills and other ornaments
Fast moving notes
Style of music called the fugue: this is similar to a round; voices enter one at a time until all 4 are being ‘juggled’.
12. Aristocratic and royal households supported their own composers and orchestras. This is the chapel at Versailles. (Paris, France)
13. This led to public performances in new concert halls and opera houses.
14. TRENDS Wigs displayed social class and wealth
A longer, fancier wig indicated one’s place on the ‘social ladder’. The wealthier you were, the longer the wig you could afford.
Notice King Louis
XIV (14th) of France
15. Louis XIV as a child and King and Patron
16. Patron (‘the boss’) A person who supports the arts. In other words, the EMPLOYER of the musician. The patron could be a church or a wealthy individual. In essence, this was an exchange system: the composer received ‘room and board’ in exchange for his musical services.
17. These services could include: Composing and writing the music for ALL of the instruments in a performance
Tuning and repairing the instruments of the house
Rehearsing and maintaining a small orchestra
Obtaining extra musicians for special events
Conducting the music, often while playing the harpsichord.
18. A musician was thought of as a common worker or SERVANT! The composer was at the mercy of his patron.
19. Popular BAROQUE instruments Harpsichord
Sound produced by hooks or quills, which pull up on the strings.
Notice the keys!
20. Pipe organ: this was a favorite of Bach and Handel!
21. The pipe organ is sometimes called “the KING of the wind instruments” Sound is produced by air circulating in the ‘wind chamber’. When the key is depressed, it opens a tube, the circulating air passes across this, and out through the mouth of the pipe.
22. A sampling of pipes
23. Can you locate the organ pipes? Notice the great amount of ornamentation on the columns and supports.
24. Composers Johann Sebastian Bach 1685-1750
Born into a musical family. Bach played organ, keyboard, and violin. His children all played instruments. Several of them also became important composers.
25. Born in Eisenach, Germany
A genius. His favorite style of composition was a Fugue. Do you remember hearing this style of music?
Church was extremely important to him. He was religious, and signed his music SOLI DEO GLORIA to the glory of one God. (Latin)
Hard working. Bach’s perfectionism and faith motivated him to work long and rigorous hours. Although he was often stern and stubborn, he was a humble and dedicated man.
27. George Frederic Handel 1685-1759 Halle, Germany
28. His father wanted him to become a lawyer.
A professional organist by age 11.
Not very loyal to his first patron, the Prince of Hanover.
Did not enjoy working for the German court…and after traveling to Italy twice, he moved permanently to…
England. He worked for Kings George I and II.
Loved so much by the people of England that he is buried in Westminster Abbey.
36. Check out some of the pipe organs built in the Baroque period.
