Baroque Concerto Grosso

Question 1

Define concerto

Answer 1

A large-scale composition for a soloist or group of soloists accompanied by an orchestra

Question 2

What do the soloists tend to do in a concerto?

Answer 2

Lead the piece, interact and alternate with the instrumental backing, sometimes in a ‘musical dialogue’, play alongside the larger ensemble together (tutti) to provide musical contrast

Question 3

Why are the solo parts written?

Answer 3

To display the performer’s technical ability and to ‘show off’-a virtuoso

Question 4

What is a cadenza section?

Answer 4

Where the solo/soloists play alone (sometimes unaccompanied) as this is often the most technically demanding and difficult piece of the entire movement

Question 5

What movements are in a concerto?

Answer 5

3 movements contrasted by tempo, mood and style- fast, slow, fast

Question 6

What is a concerto grosso?

Answer 6

An instrumental form involving two groups of performers: concertino and ripieno

Question 7

What is a concertino/concertante?

Answer 7

A small group of solo instruments of: violins, cellos, recorders, flutes, oboes, bassoons or trumpets

Question 8

What is a ripieno?

Answer 8

Accompaniment for the concertino- consists of mainly strings and continuo

Question 9

What is a continuo?

Answer 9

A part of the accompaniment which ‘fills in the harmonies and texture’

Question 10

What instruments play a continuo?

Answer 10

Harpsichord (or organ) and cello

Question 11

What does the cello and left hand of harpsichord play in a continuo?

Answer 11

The bass line

Question 12

What does the right hand of the harpsichord play in a continuo?

Answer 12

Figured bass notation

Question 13

What is figured bass notation in a continuo?

Answer 13

Chords based on numbers and symbols given under the bass line on the music

Question 14

What are some features of a melody in a baroque concerto grosso?

Answer 14

Long, flowing, use sequences and imitation, highly decorated with ornaments

Question 15

What is the texture of baroque concerto grossos?

Answer 15

Mainly polyphonic, although there are some homophonic sections for contrast

Question 16

What is polyphonic texture?

Answer 16

When parts weave in and out of each other

Question 17

What is homophonic texture?

Answer 17

Melody and accompaniment

Question 18

What are the fast movements in a baroque concerto grosso often written in?

Answer 18

Ritornello form

Question 19

What is ritornello form/fugue?

Answer 19

the recurring musical section or theme that repeats between contrasting or different musical sections

Question 20

What is the structure if a baroque concerto grosso?

Answer 20

Begins with a tutti ritornello section and features the main theme. Between appearances of this ritornello theme are constrasting sections of music called episodes which feature the soloists in the concertino group (accompanied by the continuo) and this provides musical contrast within a movement. The overall form and structure within each movement was often: ritornello, episode 1, ritornello etc. fast movements were often structured in the form of a fugue

Question 21

What is terraced dynamics?

Answer 21

the contrasting and sudden shift from forte (loud) to piano (soft) volume and vice versa, without gradual changes.

Question 22

What era was the baroque period?

Answer 22

1600-1750

Question 23

Who are some famous baroque concerto grosso composers?

Answer 23

Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Corelli

Question 24

Where is baroque music typically performed?

Answer 24

Churches, opera houses

Question 25

What is a fugue?

Answer 25

A special type of polyphonic texture that always begins with a tune that is played on a solo instrument/sung by a solo voice or produced by instruments/voices in unison. This tune is then played by all the other instruments or voices in turn, but not necessarily at the same pitch.

Question 26

What is the tonality in baroque concerto grossos?

Answer 26

Mainly diatonic and in either clear major or minor tonalities