1600-1750
 The term Baroque era describes the style or period of
European music between the years of 1600 and 1750.
The term Baroque was derived from a Portuguese word
meaning "a pearl of irregular shape." The word
Baroque was initially used to imply strangeness,
abnormality and extravagance, applying more to art
than music. It is only in the 20th century that this term
has been employed to refer to a period in music
history.
Music
 The music in Baroque is distinctive due mainly for its
several major components :
 1. Basso continuo or music that is played by one or
more bass instruments and a keyboard instrument
 2. Emphasis of the vocal and instrumental
accompaniment
 3. Great separation of the melody line and
accompaniment became widely accepted.
 4. The use of the doctrine of affections.
basso continuo
 A notated (pre written) bass line that could be
improvised upon by a keyboard player or other soloist.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR6IQ9SPSYM
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFDx-
L7PcrY&p=81D26D4A47388279&index=28&feature=BF
Vocal and instrumental
accompaniment
 Example; opera, and vocal solos
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed5iaG6xiII&featu
re=channel
The Doctrine of Affections
 The Doctrine of the Affections or the Doctrine of
Affects is derived from the German word
Affektenlehre. This is as theory in musical aesthetics
widely accepted by the Baroque composers in the
Baroque era from 1600- 1750.
 The idea behind the Doctrine of the Affections is that
one “rationalized” Affekt should be the focus of single
movement of music and having more would lead to
confusion.
The Piano
From the beginning
 The invention of the piano is credited to the Italian
Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655-1731). Cristofori was
a keyboard instrument designer for the prince
Ferdinand d' Medici of Florence at the turn of the 18th
century. At this time, the most popular keyboard
instruments were the harpsichord and the clavichord
The Harpsichord
Harpsichord cont…
 Precursor to the piano
 Produced sound by plucking a tuned string
 Believed to have originated in the 1300’s
 The design was perfected by the Ruckers family in the
late 1500’s. Their harpsichords used heavier
construction and produced a louder/higher quality
sound.
Harpsichord cont…
The Clavichord
The Clavichord
 Believed to have originated in the 1400’s
 The clavichord was simply an improvement on the
harpsichord.
 While a clavichord produced sound the same way as a
harpsichord, The musician was now able to let a note
sound as long as they held down the key.
Piano Cont…
 Keyboard enthusiasts during Cristofori's time wanted
2 things:
 VOLUME (like the harpsichord)
 CONTROL (like the clavichord)
 Cristofori came up with the brilliant idea of replacing
the wire hooks of the two instruments with leather
padded hammers. The result was an instrument that
played both piano (soft) and forte (loud). The new
keyboard became known as the pianoforte, which
over the years has shortened to piano.
Early Pianos
 Wood Framed
 Iron strings (sometimes plated)
 Reverse “black and white” keys
 Custom “one of a kind” parts
 5 octave range
Modern Pianos
 Cast iron frame
 Steel and brass strings
 Iconic black and white keys
 Machined parts
 6 to 7 octave range
FUGUE
 a musical composition in which one or two themes are
repeated or imitated by successively entering voices
and are developed in a continuous interweaving of the
voice parts
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVadl4ocX0M
Cannon
 Similar to a fugue, but the imitating voices begin
quicker.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wpPk8qk3uQ