THE BAROQUE PERIOD

It is was the age of absolutism, age of grandeur, age of science and technology

Politics

• Louis 14th, active patron of the arts.

Cultural interception, Identity

• Influence of the Ancient Greek mythodology on Florentine camarada.
• Crossover between Italy and France (Lully)
• Handel(:

Methodology

• ABA, da capo aria
• trio sonata
• ritornello
• sinfonia, concerto
• polyphony (fugue)
• dramatic effects(striking melodies, clearer textures)

Notion of Sound

• tuning, keys
• solo .vs. tutti
• castrato
• invention of violins

Technology

• basso continuo (the harpsichord and figured bass)
• spectacular performances
• invention of violins

Xiangning(:

SONATA FORM

SONATA FORM 

• Introduction 
• Exposition
• Development 
• Recapitulation 
• Coda 

INTRODUCTION - optional 

EXPOSITION - Theme 1 -- Transition Theme -- Theme 2 -- Closing Theme

DEVELOPMENT - any or all themes are developed here and it will retransit back to the recap. 

RECAPITULATION - 1st theme -- 2nd theme -- closing theme 

CODA - Optional 

what about DOUBLE EXPOSITION ?? 

Example : Mozart Piano concerto in A major K488 ( written in 1786 ) 

EXPOSITION 1 : Theme 1 -- Theme 2 -- Closing Theme (played by the orchestra) 

EXPOSITION 2 : Theme 1 -- Theme 2 -- Closing Theme -- New Theme (played by soloist) 

DEVELOPMENT : New theme 

RECAPITULATION : Theme 1-- Theme 2-- Closing Theme-- New Theme-- Theme 1-- Cadenza

CODA : Closing Theme 

Jianing(: 

I am Johann Sebastian Bach

ALL ABOUT ME (JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH) 

• I was born in Eisenach, in 1685 and I died in 1750 
• I worked in Weimar, Cöthen and Leipzig 
• In Weimar, I was employed to work in the court for the Duke of Weimar for a brief period in 1703. I was a court musician there. (http://www.bachinbaltimore.org/bachweimar.html) 
• I stayed in Cöthen  from 1717-1723. My prime responsibility was to conduct the court orchestra, in which the prince himself participated. The people in Cöthen inspired me to write special music for them. (http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ba-Be/Bach-Johann-Sebastian.html)
• I stayed in Leipzig from 1723-1750. My responsibility there was primarily the education of several hundred boys in the St Thomas School. I was also responsible for the music in the town's four churches. I was asked to direct music at two of the churches there.(http://www2.nau.edu/tas3/leipzig.html)
• I wrote 300 cantatas but only one was published when I was alive ): 
• I have 20 children of which 9 became composers like me. 
• I have a famous line, it reads : " Playing the organ is very simple. Just put the right finger on the right note at the right time" 
• I am an improviser and cadenzas during my period were usually improved. I liked writing out cadenzas because I was going for a job audition and I wrote it out to show the panelists how exactly I will play it. 
• I wrote chorale preludes, Chorale cantata, Brandenburg concertos and many more.
• The Baroque period ended when I died. 

Jianing(: 

A New Genre

** M&T = Minuet and Trio 
NEW GENRE 

• Divertimento(serenade) : music for chamber ensemble (5 movements: Fast - M&T - Slow - M&T - Fast)
• String Quartet : Chamber music for 2 violins, viola and cello 
• Symphony: A large work for orchestra, developed out of Italian Sinfonia 

In a symphony, there are usually 4 movements.

MOVEMENT            FORM                           TEMPO                            CHARACTER

First                           Sonata Form              Moderately Fast           complex, substantial 

Second                     No Fixed Form           Slow                               lyrical, song-like,                  

                                                                                                                 

Third                          M & T                          Moderate                           3/4 time

Fourth                       Sonata/Rondo/           Fast                                light, tuneful, brilliant 

                                  Sonata Rondo 

Jianing(: 

Age of Enlightenment !!

AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

• Texture - Homophonic, Alberti Bass 
• Harmony/Melody - balanced, tuneful, simple and clear lines 
• Rhythm - varied countermelody (link to Harmony/Melody) 
• Timbre - Basso Continuo, Social (rise of amateurs) 
• Form/Structure - Ternary ABA, Binary AB, Sonata Form, Rondo Form (ABACA/ABACABA) , Theme & Variation, Minuet & Trio, Concerto(double exposition) was manipulated in 19th century 
• Dynamics - Terrace Dynamics

**Extra Information : Before 1750, there were 16-20 players in the orchestra. From 1750-1800, there were 30-40 players in the orchestra( the flute and clarinet and timpani and trumpet were added) 

Jianing(: