Baroque Stylistic Features

Question 1

What kind of dynamics are typical of the baroque period?

Answer 1

Dynamics were not written in, instead being left up to interpretation.

Question 2

What are the typical rhythmic and metric features of baroque pieces?

Answer 2

Dance-like, siciliana rhythm.
Hemiolas.
Italian overture style: slow dotted rhythms to fast fugue.
Dotted rhythms.

Question 3

What structures and forms would you expect to see in the baroque period?

Answer 3

Rondo, ritornello, binary and ternary form.

Solo episodes then tutti sections in ritornello form.

Question 4

What are typical melodic features found in the baroque period?

Answer 4

Motific, arpeggiated, scalic, sequential, mostly conjunct with some leaps (octaves, sixths etc).
Ornamentation, auxiliary notes, appoggiaturas, acciaccaturas.
Suspensions and pedals.

Question 5

What are some other common features of the baroque era?

Answer 5

Frequent cadences, trills at cadence points, cadential 6/4s, circles of fifths.
Extended harmony.
Trumpets were baroque so had no valves, meant sharp keys were easier to play in and they were naturally tuned to D major.