Baroque Flashcards
what are some key features of the baroque era?
use of harpsichord, polyphonic texture-contrapuntal Fast harmonic rate Lots of doubling parts Imitative writing Use of sequences
Instrumentation?
Orchestra: strings formed the backbone, woodwind would often double the strings or provide harmonies
- brass didn’t ever have the melody as they could only play from the harmonic series
- viols were replaced by violins and cellos,
- woodwind instruments had very little key work( no clarinets, recorder were being replaced with flutes),
- range of instruments was much narrower than current instruments- music was not as technically advanced as eras that followed.
- trumpets and timpanis were rarely heard separately from one another
- large use of the harpsichord.
Harmony?
mainly diatonic with very occasional chromatic notes,
fats harmonic rate- different chord on each beat of the bar
Melody?
lots of sequences,
very conjunct,
simple structures- binary, ternary form..
use of basso continuo
Texture?
homophonic,
polyphonic-contrapuntal
Basso continuo?
an accompanying part that includes a bassline and harmonies, typically played on a keyboard instrument and with other instruments such as cello or lute.
Types of music played in the baroque era?
suite of dances, concerto/ concerto gross, Mass, sonatas and trio sonatas, operas, oratorio, cantata,
Difference between a harpsichord and piano
- harpsichord range is quite a bit smaller,
- harpsichord notes are plucked not strung- so the sounds will die away immediately
- harpsichord uses mainly short note values or ornaments
- harpsichord can’t crescendo or decrescendo- terraced dynamics
- there is no sustaining pedal
what is ground bass?
This is a music device that was only really dues in the baroque era- repeating melody is head int the bass line, over which the treble line continued to change
