• Aim of unit:
– To learn about the periods of music required for Higher Music
• Aim of lesson:
– To learn about the
Baroque Period
• By the end of the lesson you should:
– Be able to describe
Baroque vocal music

• Music written between c. 1600-1750
• Famous composers include Bach, Handel and Vivaldi
• Development of new forms of music such as opera , concerto , and oratorio

• Originated in Italy
• Architecture – very extravagant and intricately detailed
• Art – heavily influenced by religion, theatrical and dramatic in style
• Music – very ordered, lively and tuneful

• Oratorio
• Cantata
• Passion
• Opera
• Chorale
• Concerto
• Forms
– Suite
– Ternary
– Da Capo Aria
• Fugue
• Canon
• Chorale Prelude
• Polyphony
• Harpsichord
• Major/Minor
• Long, flowing melodies
• Imitation
• Sequence
• Dynamics
• Ornaments

• A musical drama featuring singing, acting, set, costumes and orchestral accompaniment
• Operas are usually written in a foreign language such as
Italian or German

• A story from the Bible set to music
• Features soloists, chorus and orchestra
• Can include recitative , arias and duets
• Is performed without acting or stage design
• Can be in English or German

• A type of vocal writing where the music follows the rhythm of speech. It is used in operas to move the story or plot on.

• A song with orchestral accompaniment which is heard in opera

• A small-scale oratorio
• Features soloists, chorus and orchestra

• An oratorio which is based on the
‘Passion’, the
Crucifixion of
Christ.
• Text is in German and features chorales as well as recitatives, arias and choruses video

• A hymn tune sung in German

• Soprano – Highest female voice
• Mezzo-Soprano - A female singer whose voice range lies between that of a soprano and an alto
• Alto – Lowest female voice

• Counter Tenor - A male adult voice whose range is higher than a tenor's
• Tenor - Highest male voice
• Baritone - A male voice whose range lies between that of Bass and Tenor
.
• Bass – Lowest male voice
2 videos

• Unaccompanied singing

Vocal music in which several notes are sung to one syllable

Vocal music where each syllable is given one note only

1. Tick one box from column A to identify the voice and one box from column B to identify the type of composition
Column A Column B
Soprano Recitative
Counter Tenor
Baritone
Chorale
Opera
Bass Passion

Opera
Alto
Soprano
Ground Bass
Oratorio
Melisma

Passion
Oratorio
Recitative
Opera

syllabic consort aria a cappella homophonic chorale

• A work for soloist and orchestra e.g. solo violin and orchestra, solo piano and orchestra etc

• A type of concerto in which a group of soloists (concertino) is combined and contrasted with a larger group (ripieno).
video

• Keyboard instrument
• Strings inside are plucked when a key is pressed
• No dynamics video

• A bass line (basso continuo) played by cello, bass, viola or bassoon.
In addition the harpsichord, organ or lute player was expected to fill in harmonies built on that bass line. Sometimes figures were written under the bass line indicating the chords the composer would like played. This was called figured bass.

• An extended composition for organ based on a chorale melody. The melody can be treated in a variety of ways, e.g. fugal style and variation form.
video

• Strict imitation. After one part starts to play or sing a melody, another part enters shortly afterwards with exactly the same melody.
video

• A contrapuntal piece based on a theme
(subject) announced in one voice part alone, then imitated by other voices in close succession.
video

• Texture which consists of two or more melodic lines, possibly of equal importance and which weave independently of each other.

• A B A. - A form where the first section is always repeated at the end.

• An aria in Ternary form (ABA) used in opera and oratorio in the 17th and 18th centuries.

• A set of dances or a collection of pieces which are part of a larger scale work.

• Where the melody is immediately copied by another part. It need not be an exact copy.

• A melodic phrase which is immediately repeated at a higher or lower pitch.

• Forte:
Loud
• Mezzo-Forte: Quite Loud
• Mezzo-Piano:
• Piano:
Quite Soft
Soft

• To gradually become louder

• To gradually become quieter

• Embellishments or decorations to the melody

• Rapid and repeated movement between two adjacent notes.

• Four notes which turn round the main note with the note above, the main note, the note below, and the main note again. An inverted turn starts with the note below reversing the process.

• An ornament which sounds the main note, the note above and then the main note again. An inverted mordent sounds the main note, the note below and then the main note again.

• An ornament which sounds like a leaning note

• An ornament which sounds like a crushed note played very quickly on the beat or just before it
.

• A prominent solo instrument part in a piece of vocal music.

• A melody played against the main melody

• A passage of music which allows soloists to display their technical ability in singing or playing an instrument.
• Most commonly found in concerto

• The final chord of a piece of music in the minor key is changed to major
• The light at the end of the tunnel

• When a note from one chord is held over to the next chord creating a discord, and is then resolved by moving one step to make a concord.

• Term for very high, florid vocal singing involving scales, runs and ornaments

1 The group of the main body of strings in a Concerto Grosso…
2. Baroque composition for instrumental soloists and orchestra …
3. Bass line in early compositions up to and including the Baroque period…
4. The solo group in a Concerto Grosso…
5. An Ornament: note itself, note above, note itself, note below…
6. Set of dances or pieces; on their own or part of larger work…

Write a short definition of these concepts
Try to do this without referring to your notes!
• Tierce de Picardie • Da Capo Aria
• Fugue
• Obbligato
• Suite
• Concerto Grosso
• Countertenor
• Oratorio
• Passion
• Chorale Prelude