Baroque Concerto Grosso Flashcards
Define concerto
A large-scale composition for a soloist or group of soloists accompanied by an orchestra
What do the soloists tend to do in a concerto?
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
Why are the solo parts written?
To display the performer’s technical ability and to ‘show off’-a virtuoso
What is a cadenza section?
Where the solo/soloists play alone (sometimes unaccompanied) as this is often the most technically demanding and difficult piece of the entire movement
What movements are in a concerto?
3 movements contrasted by tempo, mood and style- fast, slow, fast
What is a concerto grosso?
An instrumental form involving two groups of performers: concertino and ripieno
What is a concertino/concertante?
A small group of solo instruments of: violins, cellos, recorders, flutes, oboes, bassoons or trumpets
What is a ripieno?
Accompaniment for the concertino- consists of mainly strings and continuo
What is a continuo?
A part of the accompaniment which ‘fills in the harmonies and texture’
What instruments play a continuo?
Harpsichord (or organ) and cello
What does the cello and left hand of harpsichord play in a continuo?
The bass line
What does the right hand of the harpsichord play in a continuo?
Figured bass notation
What is figured bass notation in a continuo?
Chords based on numbers and symbols given under the bass line on the music
What are some features of a melody in a baroque concerto grosso?
Long, flowing, use sequences and imitation, highly decorated with ornaments
What is the texture of baroque concerto grossos?
Mainly polyphonic, although there are some homophonic sections for contrast
What is polyphonic texture?
When parts weave in and out of each other
What is homophonic texture?
Melody and accompaniment
What are the fast movements in a baroque concerto grosso often written in?
Ritornello form
What is ritornello form/fugue?
the recurring musical section or theme that repeats between contrasting or different musical sections
What is the structure if a baroque concerto grosso?
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
What is terraced dynamics?
the contrasting and sudden shift from forte (loud) to piano (soft) volume and vice versa, without gradual changes.
What era was the baroque period?
1600-1750
Who are some famous baroque concerto grosso composers?
Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Corelli
Where is baroque music typically performed?
Churches, opera houses
What is a fugue?
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.
What is the tonality in baroque concerto grossos?
Mainly diatonic and in either clear major or minor tonalities
