Javier Mendoza

In Vivaldis Trio Sonata in G Minor RV85 there are many aspects of the
Baroque period, along with many from other periods of the past that have been
carried on in classical music. One of the main elements found in this song is the
incorporation of the Basso Continuo; this is heard in the guitar that is playing by
plucking the strings. In this day and age, the method of plucking strings as is done in
the song is called Pizzicate. The effect that the Basso Continuo has is that it
maintains the tempo of the song; the entirety of the song is based around the way
that the guitar is being played in the background, which creates a rhythm that flows
all together and creates unison in the song. I also believe that the song is a courante
song due to its triple meter and fast tempo. It is a song that I could see children
running and jumping to it although its main emphasis is not on happiness, and the
fact that it is in a minor key. I feel like this song is something that creates a pensive
environment, and it makes the listener reflect. Although the song is in a minor key
which means that the song should evoke some sort of sad emotion to the listener, its
not what I feel when I listen to this song. I do feel like it describes the composers
sadness due to the fact it is composed in a minor key. Some of the musical concepts
that help make this song sad and evoke that emotion is the fact that its done by
pizzicate, that creates a lonely and somber sound since its not full in sound. It leaves
empty space between every note that is plucked which creates an emphasis on the
emptiness and loneliness feeling that it is trying to convey. There are never any
chord progressions that are full and rich in sound, therefore its a simply beautiful
sad song. Another aspect that emphasizes the emotion of the song is the use of
various instruments, the main instrument that gives it that saddening appeal is the
violin that plays in conjunction with the guitar. The violin creates long sounds of
sadness that only complements to the beautiful emptiness of the guitar. And the
main aspect is the basso continuo, this pulls the entire song together and gives it the
greatest emotional appeal of all because its always in the background, something is
always going on that allows the other instruments to harmonize with one another.
The beautiful emptiness of the pizzicate of the guitar with the longing sadness of the
violin, only encourage the basso continuo of the guitar in the background to create a
new layer for the sadness of the song to come together. I feel like its important to
mention that the Baroque period was a revolutionary period that created a new
emphasis on music, because its the start of the new musical notation and musical
instrument incorporation, especially instruments the complement one another. I
also believe that its important to mention that music from the Baroque period was
meant to be exuberant and challenge the status quo of the time.