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INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC OF THE BAROQUE
The architectural plan of
Chambord, a French castle in
the Loire Valley, evokes a
seven-part form related to a
rondo (A-B-A-C-A-B-A).
through various key centers before the brilliant refrain returns to close off the movement. (See Listening Guide 27.) This music conjures up the grandeur of the sumptuous banquets, elegant ballets, and spectacular pageants that dominated life at the
French Royal Court.
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Listening Guide
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oll
)
-
Mouret: Rondeau, from Suite de symphonies
89"GDB
DATE:
89"GDB
1729
I]Z:c_dnbZcid[Bjh^X
GENRE:
FORM:
MEDIUM:
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR:
Dance suite (4 fanfares)
5-part A-B-A-C-A (= rondeau)
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89"GDB
I]Z:c_dnbZcid[Bjh^X!
H]dgiZg
I]Z:c_dnbZcid[Bjh^X!
H]dgiZgZWdd`
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Orchestra (trumpets, oboes, bassoons, violins, double bass, timpani, and
continuo)
Fanfare-like opening, which serves as ritornello (A).
Contrasting sections (B, C) featuring different instrument groups.
Prominent timpani part, keeping strong beat.
Regular phrasing (4- and 8-measure ideas).
Frequent trills in melody instruments (trumpets, violins, oboes).
SECTION
DESCRIPTION
A
Opening fanfare theme, heard twice in full orchestra;
trumpets and timpani prominent (16 measures).
ENJ P4(U6 8) 19-28 2PP
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27
Other Baroque Instrumental Forms
B
Short, quiet contrasting section (8 measures)
featuring oboes and violins.
A
Return of opening theme, played once (8 measures).
C
Longer, contrasting section (20 measures).
A
Repeat of opening (16 measures).
Opening martial melody, section A, in high range with trill near cadence:
&
##
œœœœ œœœœ œ œœœ œ
C œœ œ œ œ œ
B section melody, with oboes and violins, set in lower range:
#
& #C œ œ œ
œ œ œ
œ
œ
œ œ œ œ œ
œ
Ÿœ . œ
Jœ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
J
27
Other Baroque
Instrumental Forms
“He, who possessed the most profound knowledge of all the
contrapuntal arts, understood how to make art subservient to beauty.”
— C . P. E . B AC H , A B O U T H I S FAT H E R , J . S . B AC H
KEY POINTS
o
o
o
Baroque instrumental music was often set in one
of several forms built on a repeating bass line
(ground bass).
Two main types of overture were the French overture (slow-fast) and the Italian overture (fast-slowfast).
J. S. Bach’s keyboard music includes chorale preludes (short organ works elaborating on a chorale
BA
o
o
StudySpace online at www.wwnorton.com/enjoy
melody) and preludes and fugues (a free-form
piece followed by a strict imitative piece).
Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier is his most famous
collection of preludes and fugues, and The Art of
Fugue is his last and most comprehensive example
of contrapuntal writing.
The French Rococo and the German “sentimental”
styles ushered in the new Classical era.
Throughout the seventeenth century, Baroque composers explored a variety of
techniques and formal procedures to give their works both variety and coherence.
One such technique derived from a repeating bass line or ground bass. In the
passacaglia, a melody, usually four or eight bars long and in a stately triple meter,
Passacaglia
203