Higher Listening
Baroque Unit
Standard Grade Concepts to remember:
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Oratorio
Opera
Recitative
Aria
Homophonic
Polyphonic
Melisma
Syllabic
Antiphonal
Cantata
Passion
Chorale
Tierce de Picardie
Overture
Cadences
Ornaments
Obbligato
Chorale Prelude
Higher Baroque Concepts
 Augmentation
 Basso Continuo
 Chaconne/Passacaglia
 Concertino
 Concerto Grosso
 Da Capo Aria
 Diminution
 French/Italian Overture
 Fugue
Ornaments
Real Answer
Ripieno
Ritornello
Suite
Tonal Answer
Chords
Developments in Baroque Period
 More contrast in texture –
Homophonic/Polyphonic
 New styles – concerto grosso, chorale
prelude, suite
 Basso Continuo
 Range of ornaments used
Basso Continuo
 Vocal music was developed by adding a Basso
Continuo.
 This is an accompaniment which consists of a bass-
line and a harmonic chordal part.
 The bass-line was usually played by Cello.
 The harmony part was played by a Keyboard
instrument – usually Harpsichord or Organ
YouTube - Cavalli - il Giasone "Delizie Contente"
Michael Chance
The Overture
 An Overture is the instrumental piece of
music preceding an Opera or Oratorio.
 There are two types of Overture: French
and Italian.
 French – Slow, crisp dotted rhythms – faster
section
 Italian – Fast – Slow –Fast
YouTube - Hasse: Overture "Artaserse" (Italian
Overture)
Da Capo Aria
 Found in both Opera and Oratorio
 It is basically an Aria in Ternary Form.
 The A section is not written out again but
the player is instructed to go back to the
beginning – Da Capo.
The Concerto Grosso
 This preceded the Symphony. Don’t confuse
with the Concerto!
 This consists of Two groups of instruments:
 The Ripieno – main group
 The Concertino – soloist group
 During the concerto grosso, there is often a
recurring theme – the Ritornello
The Suite
 This is a group of pieces played by more than one
instrument.
 Chaconne/Passacaglia – Dances in triple time. Based
on a ground bass
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Other dances include:
Sarabande - Slow, Triple time
Gigue – fast, Compound time
Courante – Moderate, triple time
Allemande – Quadruple time, moderate
Bouree – Duple metre, lively
Minuet – triple time, moderate
Chorale Prelude
 The Chorale is a vocal work based on a
hymn tune, mainly homophonic texture.
 The prelude is the instrumental
introduction.
 The chorale prelude is usually played on the
Organ.
YouTube - Brahms Chorale Prelude "Es ist ein
Ros' entsprungen" Opus122#8
The Fugue
 A complex version of a Canon/Round.
 Contrapuntal texture and based on
Imitation
 Consists of 3 or 4 parts
First Section
Episode
Final
section
Middle
section
Episode
First Section of Fugue
 Main theme – SUBJECT is first heard
 Often a counter melody or COUNTER
SUBJECT is heard at the same time
Analysis of Bach's g minor fugue BWV 861 by
Jose Rodriguez Alvira
Middle Section
 This section sees the development of the SUBJECT.
 This can be done in many ways including repeating
in a different key. (ANSWER)
 There are two types of ANSWER: TONAL and REAL
 TONAL answer: The SUBJECT is played in the
transposed key but changes have been made to the
interval
 REAL answer: The SUBJECT is played in the
transposed key and no changes have been made to
the intervals.
Final Section
 The SUBJECT returns in it’s original key.
 Stressed entries of the SUBJECT which
overlap are called STRETTO.
 The EPISODES are linking passages between
the sections.
Ornaments
 There are several types of ornaments to
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listen for in Baroque music.
Acciaccatura
Appoggiatura
Mordent
Turn
Trill
Augmentation and Diminution
 Augmentation - The note values are
doubled, giving the effect that the music is
slowing down.
 Diminution – The note values are halved,
giving the effect that the music is getting
faster.