Concerto Grosso and Solo Concerto

Question 1

What is a concerto grosso?

Answer 1

is an instrumental form involving two groups of performers, split into two sections (the concertante and ripieno)

Question 2

What is the concertante/concertino?

Answer 2

meaning “little ensemble”, featuring a small group of solo instruments and performed by more experienced and technically accomplished performers

Question 3

What solo instruments can feature in the concertante group?

Answer 3

Can be taken from: Violin , Cello , Recorder , Flute , Oboe , Bassoon and Trumpet and Lute

Question 4

What is the ripieno?

Answer 4

– meaning “filling” which accompany the concertante soloists and perform easier or less technically demanding parts

Question 5

What is a continuo part?

Answer 5

(all baroque concerto gorssos/solo concertos have this) an accompaniment which “fills in the harmonies and texture” this is played by the Harpsichord (or Organ)(playing chordal harmony from figured bass notation) with the Cello or Bassoon doubling the bassline

Question 6

What does the ripieno consist of?

Answer 6

The Ripieno orchestral accompaniment consists mainly strings and a Continuo

Question 7

What is figured bass notation?

Answer 7

chords based on numbers and symbols given under the bassline on the music – a type of musical shorthand (be able to play chords, knew what they meant) (harpsichord/organ uses this in the ripieno)

Question 8

What do the cello and the harpsichord do in the ripieno?

Answer 8

The Cello and the left hand of the Harpsichord (or Organ) play the bassline and the right hand of the Harpsichord (or Organ) plays figured notation

Question 9

What was the typical size of a Concerto Grosso Orchestra and Solo Concerto Orchestra?

Answer 9

Baroque Orchestra typically 10-30 players (Baroque Solo Concertos were slightly larger but typically 10-30)

Question 10

What was the main section of the Baroque Orchestra?

Answer 10

Main and largest section was the strings (1st and 2nd violins, cellos and double basses) who played most of the ‘main melody’

Question 11

What would the small woodwind section consist of?

Answer 11

2 wooden flutes (then replaced by recorders), 2 Oboes and 2 bassoons

Question 12

What was the woodwind and brass section used for?

Answer 12

woodwinds and brass were used as melodic instruments but later they were mainly used to sustain the harmony

Question 13

how was the woodwind section similar to the strings?

Answer 13

strings and woodwinds played the same sort of music melodically and rhythmically

Question 14

what did the brass section feature?

Answer 14

2 ‘natural’ trumpets and 2 Horns

Question 15

What did the percussion section consist of?

Answer 15

only timpani (used for dramatic effects at joyful or triumphal moments such as the ending)

Question 16

How led the Baroque Orchestra

Answer 16

The continuo player led and directed the Baroque Orchestra from the Harpsichord (no conductor)

Question 17

How did the Baroque Solo Concerto come around?

Answer 17

Baroque Solo Concerto grew out of the Baroque Concerto Grosso which single instruments were pitted against the weight of the string orchestra which provided the accompaniment (together with the continuo)

Question 18

Why is Solo Concertos would soloists “show off” more?

Answer 18

• The idea of contrast became stronger and composers often gave the soloist some difficult and techniacally demanding passages to play, chance for the solo performer to “show off”
• The soloist was always ‘in the spotlight’ but sometimes performed with the accompanying orchestra in the tutti sections (musical contrast more important thn in the Concerto Grossos)

Question 19

What were the instruments used in the Baroque Solo Concertos (solos)?

Answer 19

Violin , Cello , Recorder , Flute , Oboe , Bassoon and Trumpet
and Lute

Question 20

What would happen in modulations?

Answer 20

Modulations (changes of key) tended to go to the Dominant key or to the Relative minor of the original key

Question 21

What was the tonality?

Answer 21

• Tonality was mainly DIATONIC and in either clear major or minor

Question 22

why was the continuo part important?

Answer 22

Sometimes Baroque instruments were temperamental and could go out of tune or strings could snap in a performance so the role continuo part in the Baroque orchestral music was important to hold the group together

Question 23

What was the melody like?

Answer 23

• Normally quite long and flowing and use sequences( a musical phrase that is repeated at a different pitch either going up or down) and imitation ( where onw instrumental part is copied (limitated) by other instruments)
• Highly decorated (often by performers themselves during a performance) with ornaments (trills, turns, mordents and grace notes such as acciaccaturas) which make melodies sound “busy”

Question 24

what was the texture like?

Answer 24

Mainly polyphonic or contrapuntal textures where melodies interweave with each other, although some homophonic melody and accompaniment sections for musical contrast

Question 25

How many movements?

Answer 25

Three movements contrasted in Tempo – fast, slow, fast – with a single mood or style with each movement

Question 26

what were features of the slower movements?

Answer 26

Dotted rhythms were often a feature of the slower/second movements

Question 27

what were the features of the fast movements?

Answer 27

Fast movements – often written in Ritornello Form (meaning “little return”), this began with a tutti section and features the main theme

Question 28

What are Episodes?

Answer 28

Between appearances of this Ritornello Theme are contrasting sections of music called episodes which feature the soloists in the concertante group (accompanied by the continuo) and this provides musical contrast within each movement

Question 29

What was the overall structure and form of each movement?

Answer 29

Overall structure and form within each movement was often:

• Ritornello, Episode 1, Ritornello, Episode 2, Ritornello etc

Question 30

What were fast movements structured in the form of?

Answer 30

Fast movements were also structured in the form of a fugue

Question 31

Table of structure of the movements:

Answer 31

• 1st Movement: Ritornello or a Fugue – Brisk and purposeful
• 2nd Movement: Da Capo Aria or Ternary Form – Slow and song-like often dotted rhythms
• 3rd Movement: Ritornello or a Fugue – Fast and Cheerful

Question 32

When would a cadenza section sometimes come in?

Answer 32

Sometimes feature a short Cadenza section towards the end of the first movement (unaccompanied)

Question 33

What are terraced dynamics?

Answer 33

• Terraced dynamics are clear dynamic contrasts achieved by the whole orchestra changing the volume suddenly (rather than Crescendos or Diminuendos)
• No building up or fading down of volume

Question 34

Why were terraced dynamics used?

Answer 34

Used to provide contrast to loud and soft sections

Question 35

Why do Terraced dynamics occur?

Answer 35

Terraced Dynamics occur because when everyone is playing ‘tutti’ (means ‘all’) the dynamics are very loud. And when the Solo(ists) are playing the dynamics are very quiet and soft.

Question 36

What is patronage?

Answer 36

Baroque Composers and performers worked under a system of patronage:
• They worked for either aristocratic families in Europe and wealthy individuals at court, the church or the opera house
• Baroque Composers often received commissions (requests) from their patrons to write and perform music (including Concerto Grossos) in return for payment and continued support

Question 37

Where were Baroque Concerto Grossos and Solo Concertos performed ？

Answer 37

• Usually happened in either a church (where orchestral music as well as vocal music was played – including works such as Corelli’s Concerto)
or the opera house or in the salons or courts of wealthy individuals with a small aristocratic audience (chamber music)

• Public concerts were rare events

Question 38

When were Concertos like sonatas and sinfonias played?

Answer 38

Concertos like sonatas and sinfonias, where played in church as “overtures” before Mass or at certain moments in the ceremony

Question 39

Famous Baroque Composers (name 4):

Answer 39

• Vivaldi
• Handel
• J.S Bach
• Corelli (not in solo concerto)

Question 40

what is a concerto?

Answer 40

a piece for a soloist and orchestra, usually in 3 movements (fast,slow,fast)

Question 41

when was the baroque period?

Answer 41

1600-1750

Question 42

what does homophonic/chordal texture mean?

Answer 42

a texture that is essentially chordal, where all of the parts generally move together, but there is one line that’s most important

Question 43

what does polyphonic/contrapuntal/counterpoint texture mean?

Answer 43

the weaving together of 2 or more equally important melodic lines, which all fit together harmonically. This texture sounds ‘busy’

Question 44

what does monophonic mean?

Answer 44

single melody line, without harmonies, although it may be played by more than one instrument or voice