Baroque era

Ground bass is a common feature, usually played by the continuo (double bass/cello/harpsichord. It is a recurring bass line.

Impotant composers...

key musical features include...

Claudio Monteverdi

Henry Purcel

Antonio Vivaladid

Johann Sebastian bach

Gerorge Fredrick Handel

Orchestra in these days...

First and second violins. A pair each of flutes, oboe, oboe d'admire. 3 trumpets. Kettle drums/timpani. Harpsichord. Solo = organ prelude, violin partita. Choral = Choirs accompanied by ensembles or harpsichord.

  • Music is generaly poluphonic in texture.
  • There is usualy a harpsichord or cello basso continuo part
  • Music is clearly defined in major and minor keys
  • Melodies are long and flowing imitation and sequences.
  • Terraced dynamics are employed where the music is either loud or soft, depending on the texture of the music.

Era

1600-1750

Modulation

Western classical tradition would normally modulate and these are the relative ones...

  • Dominant (V)
  • Sub dominant (IV)
  • Relative Minor (VI)

Cadences...

They occur at the end of a phrase of music.

It is a way of completing a phrase
There are four cadences you must know...
Perfect The cadence sounds finished
Imperfect sounds unfinished
Pagal sounds a bit finished but not as much as the imperfect.
Interrupted this cadence will sound bizarre.

Ornamentation has acciacatura, appogiatura and trill

Choral voices...

There are considered to be 4 main voice types for choral music.

Soprano: High females, treble clef.

Alto: Low females, treble clef.

Tenor: High males, tenor clef (looks like a treble clef but with an 8 underneath)

Bass: Low males, bass clef.

In operas/oratorios and solo music, the voices ‘mezzo-soprano’ and ‘baritone’ are also used.

These ranges are approximate and ultimately depend on the individual singer.

Melisma

Handel’s Messiah (1741)

Oratorios

An oratorio is a religious work that tells a Biblical story.

It is not part of a church service.

It differs from an opera because there are no actors/dancers/costumes etc. It relies upon the power of the music and lyrics to portray the story.

i. Tells the prophecies of Jesus coming and the Nativity.

ii. Tells of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

iii. Reaffirms Christian faith, discusses the Day of Judgement and redemption for all.

A group of notes sung to to one syllable.

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