12 Questions
What marked the end of the baroque period in music?
Johann Sebastian Bach's death
What type of texture did early baroque composers favor?
Homophonic
Who were the two giants of baroque composition?
George Frideric Handel and Johann Sebastian Bach
What spurred the 'baroque revival' in the late 1940s?
The appearance of long-playing records
During the early baroque period, what type of texture was emphasized by composers?
Homophonic texture
What characterized the musical style during the middle phase of the baroque period?
Spread of the new musical style from Italy to practically every country in Europe
What marked the late baroque period in terms of instrumental music?
Instrumental music became as important as vocal music for the first time
What was a notable feature of the middle baroque phase in terms of scales?
Gradual transition from medieval or church modes to major and minor scales
What characterized the early baroque composers' use of dissonance?
Used dissonance with a new freedom to depict extreme emotions in their texts
What was the tonal basis of most compositions by about 1690?
Major or minor scales
What was a notable feature of the late baroque period in terms of harmony?
Emphasis on the attraction of the dominant chord to the tonic
What characterized the use of instruments in early baroque music?
Voices were accompanied by melodic lines designed for instruments
Study Notes
End of the Baroque Period
- The end of the Baroque period in music is marked by the emergence of new styles and composers, such as Haydn and Mozart, who paved the way for the Classical period.
Early Baroque Composers
- Early Baroque composers favored a complex, intricate texture, often featuring multiple independent melodic lines.
Giants of Baroque Composition
- The two giants of Baroque composition are Bach and Handel, renowned for their contributions to the period's musical landscape.
Baroque Revival
- The 'Baroque revival' in the late 1940s was spurred by the rediscovery of original Baroque instruments and performance practices.
Early Baroque Period
- During the early Baroque period, composers emphasized a complex, contrapuntal texture, characterized by interweaving melodic lines.
Middle Baroque Period
- The middle phase of the Baroque period was characterized by a more expressive, ornate, and decorative musical style.
Late Baroque Period
- The late Baroque period was marked by the development of instrumental music, particularly the concerto grosso and solo concerto.
Middle Baroque Phase
- A notable feature of the middle Baroque phase is the widespread use of modal interchange, which involved borrowing notes from parallel modes.
Dissonance in Early Baroque Music
- Early Baroque composers used dissonance in a highly expressive and dramatic way, often leaving dissonances unresolved for longer periods than before.
Tonal Basis of Compositions
- By around 1690, the tonal basis of most compositions was functional tonality, with a central key and a sense of harmonic progression.
Late Baroque Harmony
- A notable feature of the late Baroque period is the increased use of chromaticism and a more complex approach to harmony.
Instrumental Music in Early Baroque
- In early Baroque music, instruments were often used in a vocal style, with intricate, ornamented lines that mimicked vocal music.
Test your knowledge of Baroque music with this quiz! Explore the works of composers like Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, and more, and learn about the distinct characteristics of the Baroque style.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
