Baroque Flashcards
Which musical forms were birthed in the Baroque period?
Opera
Oratorio
Cantata
Concerto
Suite
What can the upsurge in instrumental writing in the Baroque period be attributed to?
The development of instruments (especially the violin family) which led to the establishment of the orchestra
Consequent expansion of available musical skills
What do early Baroque and early Classical compositions have in common?
They reverted to a simple style, melody-dominanted and supported by a bass-line
This was a reaction against the complex music they succeeded (late Renaissance polyphony and late Baroque counterpoint)
How did general musical language change between the Renaissance and Baroque periods?
The horizontal polyphonic style shifted to vertical/harmonic musical thinking, involving the use of triads as the basis of musical composition
Which two players would provide the continuo in Baroque music?
A bass instrument e.g. viola da gamba, and a keyboard
The keyboard would ‘realise’ the figured bass
Why is V7-I such a satisfying progression?
The 5th of the scale (root of V7) has a natural pull down towards the tonic
The leading note (3rd of V7) has a natural pull upwards towards the tonic
The minor 7th dissonance in V7 resolves downwards towards the third of chord I
What is the chief function of the dominant 7th?
To reinforce the sense of key - its diatonic ‘spelling’ can belong to and describe one key only
In which progression is the 7th in V7 allowed to rise?
V7c-Ib
Which composer was a big fan of chord V7d?
Handel
Why were inversions of V7 useful to composers?
They avoided the sense of close provided by V7 in root position
How did the purpose of imitation change between the Renaissance and Baroque periods?
Renaissance composers used it mainly to draw attention to the various phrases of text
Baroque composers used the repeated pattern as a means of extending a single musical line
What made Baroque vocal lines so difficult to sing?
Baroque melodic lines contained elaborate passages of melodic decoration and figuration
Frequently, composers did not differentiate between the lines they wrote for voices and those they gave to instruments
Which Baroque composer was renowned for having a particular skill for word-setting?
Purcell
Particularly in songs and choruses from his dramatic music, he was able to capture the essence of the words and evoke a specific mood with the melody line
Why is the progression of 5ths so strong?
It is a sequence of roots with falling 5ths or rising 4ths
What is the progression of 5ths?
I-IV-vii-iii-vi-ii-V-I
True or false: 7ths often appear in sequences in the progression of 5ths?
True
They are usually prepared
How was chord ii often changed in the progression of 5ths?
By adding the 7th and altering the 3rd, making it into chord II7, ie. the dominant 7th of the dominant (V7/V)
Why was scalic movement in the bass common in Baroque music?
Give the music a sense of direction, either towards the dominant or tonic, often helped by the upper part moving in contrary motion
What was the nature of ascending and descending scalic movement in the bass in Baroque music?
Ascending scales usually moved between tonic and dominant chords
Descending movement produced particularly strong and satisfying progressions; generally moved from the tonic and often included chords associated with the progression of 5ths
What is a ground bass?
A short, very harmonically-driven phrase that is repeated, sometimes strictly, and sometimes with variation, while a melody is built over the top
Which features were common in Baroque ground basses?
Descending scale - could create satisfying harmonic progressions
Descending tetrachord, particularly moving from tonic to dominant and back to tonic upon repetition - provides constant harmonic drive and tension
Chromatic movement - used whenever the music was designed to evoke emotions such as grief and anguish
In what context can iiib be a useful chord?
May be used as a substitute for the dominant as it contains the leading note over a dominant bass
Why should the progression vi-I (or VI-i) be avoided?
The tonal centre needs a stronger approach chord, such as V or IV
In what context was IVc a useful chord?
Often used as a decoration of the tonic in the progression I-IVc-I
What tended to happen to the harmonic rhythm in the approach to a cadence?
Harmonic rhythm quickened - gave a forward momentum to the music
How was hemiola used in the Baroque period?
To create a ‘broadening’ effect at cadences and drive home the message of the words
How was a hemiola effect created in Baroque music?
By making the harmonic rhythm conflict with the standard metre of the piece
Which ‘coloured’ chords were frequently used at cadences?
The diminished 7th (vii^d7)
The Neapolitan 6th (biib)
Which chord does vii^d7 normally resolve to?
I
Other than vii^d7, which other diminished 7th chords often featured in Baroque music?
i^d7 - ii in Cm implies vii^d7 - i in Dm
Decorations of the supertonic (#i^d7) or dominant (#iv^d7) chord
Where does the Neapolitan 6th get its name from?
From its frequent use by Alessandro Scarlatti who composed operas for many years in Naples
How does the Neapolitan 6th resolve?
Moves towards V either:
Directly
Via ic
Via a diminished 7th chord (#iv^d7)
What is needed to establish a new key?
A chord of the dominant group, inc. V, V7, viib, or vii^d7
How can a ‘pivot note’ be used to modulate?
A note of the tonic chord is held over, and the next chord placed under or over it then ‘takes over’ and the music proceeds in the new key
What were the recognised methods of modulation in the Baroque period?
Pivot chord
Pivot note
Phrase modulation
Chromatic movement in bass
By sequence
Switch to tonic minor
What were the accepted types of unprepared dissonances in the Baroque period?
The accented passing note
The appoggiatura/leaning note
