Music of the Baroque Period

The music of Europe between 1600 and 1750.

Portuguese word baroco, which means a crooked round pearl and from another Italian word parucca meaning wig or false hair.

Elements of the Baroque Period

A melody sung by a soloist in an opera, oratorio, or cantata. It follows the recitatives.

A type of dramatic writing for a voice that lies between ordinary speech and pure singing (dramatic declamation). The rhythm is free-flowing.

A hymn tune (sacred song) for the organ sung to a German religious text.

They were used to introduce the hymn about to be sung by the congregation, usually in Protestant Church, and originally in a Lutheran church.

Music drama that encompasses a large scale and involves the combination of instrumental music, singing, acting, poetry, costumes, and scenery.

Serious subject matter

Has a lighter, even comic tone, and is sometimes used in duets, trios, and larger ensembles

The French version of the opera

A short lyric form similar to the oratorio, and often limited to a soloist using few instruments of the orchestra

A dramatic but unstaged telling of a biblical or religious story. It uses no scenery or costumes and no dramatic action. It uses narrator, soloist, chorus, and an orchestra instead.

An instrumental number heard at the beginning of most operas.

an instrumental piece that alternates between improvisation and contrapuntal passages.

A work in several movements for one or more instruments (most frequently violins).

Based on the traditional pairing of dances in the Renaissance.

A concerto for solo instruments

Most important type of baroque concerto.

An Italian composer and the most important figure in the transition from Renaissance to Baroque music. He is one of the great contributors to the opera. His compositions: o Orfeo (1607) first modern opera o Arianna (1608) establish his reputation as an opera composer o The Return of Ulysses In His Homeland - The Coronation of Poppea, his masterpiece

A German-born British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, and organ concertos. His famous works: o Almira- first opera composition o Rodrigo o Agrippina o Rinaldo