MUSIC HISTORY: THE BAROQUE ERA

1.- INTRODUCTION
The Baroque is the period between 1600 and 1750 approximately. The XVII century was a period of crisis that hit Europe: economic, political, religious and social crisis, aggravated by famine 1 and epidemics. This period of crisis brought about the need for a strong authority, both civil and religious. In this period the king is the head of a highly hierarchical society. Emerge the absolute monarchy, surrounded by great pomp and luxury. Power will focus on the king,the aristocracy and the church. The Baroque was a time where arts and sciences emerged in Europe. Authors like Lope de Vega, Cervantes, Moliere in writing; Velzquez, Rubens, Rembrandt in painting, or scientists like Galileo Galilei, Newton developed their activity in this period... The arts became a vehicle of propaganda that can persuade and 2move, and is also a way used for the expression of power. Luxury, is understood as an external manifestation of power. Music and entertainment will be a way to make propaganda and for representing the monarchical and religious power. During the XVII century the first public concerts and theaters of payment were created. Until then, one only could listen to music at the church, or had to be invited by a noble or a rich merchant at home for a private concert. With the emergence of a large number of fans who wanted to listen to music (mostly from the bourgeoisie), came the for: theaters and concert halls.

2.-CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BAROQUE MUSIC.

The main feature3 of Baroque music is the expression of feelings. A common feature in all composers of the Baroque was the need to express and represent ideas and feelings through music. They will use mainly three ways to express these feelings and ideas: a) Contrast. b) Accompanied melody and basso continuo. c) Concertato style. a) Contrast. Used as a way to express feelings in all its variants: Contrast between tempos4 In the Baroque era, composers contrast tempos in the same piece with slow and fast sections, and to indicate the different tempos several words are going to be used: terms like Grave, Largo, Adagio or Andante for the slow parts, Allegro, Presto and Vivace for the fast parts.
1 Famine: fam 2 Move: commoure 3 Feature: caracterstica 4 Tempo: velocitat

Contrast between intensities They also contrast loud and soft parts, using differents number of instruments between the sections, as an example we have the concerto grosso that contrasts a reduced group of instruments with the orquestra. Contrast between timbres Composers contrast parts between the string section and the woodwind section, or contrast instrumental parts with vocal parts. The contrast between small group of instruments and the orquestra is what we call the concertato style. b) Accompanied melody and basso continuo. Since the end of the XVI century, the expression of feelings was considered as the primary goal of music and poetry. This involved a research for new ways to compose that could give to music more expressivity: this is how accompanied melody arises, based in the supremacy of the upper5 voice. This supposes the birth of a new texture: Accompanied melody6. In the previous era (Renaissance), the method used was poliphony. The main melody will be accompanied by the basso continuo. The basso continuo is the accompaniament method of the Baroque music, and is a line of low notes during all the composition. The interpretation was in charge of a low instrument (cello, bassoon7 ...) and a polyphonic instrument (lute, guitar, harpsichord, organ ...) that improvised the chords of the acompaniament. c) Concertato style. The style is based on the contrast between two different groups of instruments. That is a soloist and and orchestra, or a little group against a bigger group of instruments. This principle of contrasting two groups promoted the aparition of a new musical form: the concerto. We also have a number of other common features throughout the Baroque period:

d) The melody: the baroque melodies are often long and flowing, searching the virtuosity of the soloist, and they are usually very ornamented. e) The rhythm: it appears a kind of rhythm very clear with a very regular pulse. A mechanical rhythm with repetitive patterns 8. At the same time is also used a free rhythm for the declamation of the text in the recitatives of the operas. f) The orchestra arises as a group of instruments or sections organized by families, in which the string section (violin, viola, cello and bass) will become the basis of the orchestra. Other instruments will be added: flutes , oboes, bassoon, occasionally trumpets,
5 Upper: superior 6 Accompanied melody: melodia acompanyada 7 Basson: fagot 8 Pattern: patr

trombones and timpani, and the harpsichord 9 for the realization of the basso continuo. g) Polychoralism: The use of multiple choirs in the same piece, especially in religious music enabling an stereo effect. h) Great development of instrumental music that equaled the vocal music. The impetus given to instrumental music was great due to the technical development of the instruments, especially the violin, that will become the star of the orchestra for its great sound volume, and expression and technical possibilities.

3 .- THE BAROQUE MUSICAL FORMS. 3.1.- VOCAL FORMS: THE OPERA

The Baroque era is the birth of the opera in Florence. This is a musical drama (or what is the same: theater with music) where the music has an essential role in the development of the plot10 and the description of moods and feelings. It is one of the most important Baroque forms, and will reflect the main characteristics of the music of this period, and will influence in both 11 the vocal and instrumental music. We can define the opera as a vocal-instrumental form where we can find solo parts. The different parts of the opera are:

Overture: The opera begins with an orchestral piece called overture. Recitative: It is a vocal-instrumental form that relates the action. It could be defined as a mixture of singing and speaking. Aria: It is a vocal-instrumental form for one or two soloists. On one hand it is used to express the feelings of the characters and it is a commentary on the action. On the other, it shows the singer's vocal ability. Choir: polyphonic piece played by a choir 12, and usually accompanied by the orchestra.

3.2 .- INSTRUMENTAL FORMS.

1. 2. 3. 4. During the Baroque era there is an eclosion of instrumental music due to: The instruments not only accompany the voices, but also become protagonists. The orchestra arises13. The performers specialize in playing only one instrument: virtuosism. The instruments are improved, luthiers will get great importance.

9 Harpsichord: clavicmbal 10 Plot: argument 11 Both: ambdues 12 Choir: cor o coral 13 Arises: sorgeix

5. The violin and the keyboard will have greater prominence. 6. The composer determines on the score which instrument will be played in each voice, something that didn't happen during the Renaissance. THE CONCERTO The term concerto can be confusing. It isn't the same going to a concert than the concert as a musical form, that is a king of baroque composition, that appears in the last two decades of the century XVII. It contains all the characteristics of the baroque music: the contrast between slow and fast movements, the opposition of timbers and intensities, contraposition of a soloist with a group of instruments. The concert is a piece for a solo instrument or for various solo instruments and orchestra. The soloist is the protagonist of the piece and must show their technical ability and expressivity. It is structured in three movements: fast / slow / fast. COMPULSORY AUDITIONS: -Vivaldi. Four seasons: 1) Summer (3rd movement) 2) Spring (1st movement) 3) Winter (1st and 2nd and 3rd movements, full-concert) -Handel. 4) The Messiah. Choir: Al.leluia 5) Opera Rinaldo. Aria Lascia ch'io pianga -JS Bach. 6) St. Matthew Passion. Aria "Erbarme dich" 7) Toccata and Fugue in D minor 8) Brandenburg Concerto No 4 (3 rd movement: fuga) 9) Air from Suite no 3 -Marcello 10) Oboe concerto (2nd movement) -Albinoni 11) Adagio QUESTIONNAIRE 1 .- Which period of time is the moment of the Baroque era? What kind of government is there? What role had the music in the establishment of the power? 2 .- Which are the characteristics of the baroque music. 3 .- Which musical texture arose14 and imposed itself during this period? Why? 4.- Which public musical events arose ? 5 .- What was the form that was born during the Baroque vocal? Which party has? Explain them. 6 .- What is the difference between a passion, a cantata and an oratorio. 7 .- The Opera and the concerto and its different parts 8.- During the Baroque period there was an explosion of instrumental music. What were the causes of this explosion?
14 Arose: aparegu