1. Basso continuo- A set of chords continuously underlying the melody in a piece of Baroque music.
2. Opera- Drama presented in music, with characters singing, instead of speaking.
3. Recitative- Half singing, half reciting style of presenting words in opera that follows the normal
speech accents and rhythms.
4. Aria- A vocal number for solo singer and orchestra, generally in opera, cantata, or oratorio.
5. Suites- A piece of music consisting of a series of dances.
6. Fugue- A composition written systematically in imitative polyphony, usually with a single main
theme called the fugue subject.
7. Variations- Sectional pieces in which each section repeats certain musical elements while others
change around them.
8. Toccata- A written out composition in improvisational style, generally for organ or harpsichord.
9. Baroque - A name that was later given by critics meaning irregularly shaped pearls. This period
represents the drama, tension, exuberance and granduer in sculpting, painting, literature,
dance, and music.
10. Absolutism - Describes a form of monarchical power that is unrestrained by other institutions. In
music, absolutism was a way for composers to pay homage to those of nobility by glorification
within allegorical tributes.
11. Basic orchestra - Consisted of strings: violins 1 and 2, violas, cellos, bass, and either harpsichord
or organ.
12. Festive orchestra - Primarily used for celebrations and consisted of the basis string and keyboard
instruments as well as some woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments.
13. Ornamentation - Addition of notes and effects to a melody making it more florid and expressive.
14. Ground bass (basso ostinato) - A repeating and persistent bass line.
15. Fugue - A polyphonic composition for a fixed number of instrumental lines or voices built on a
single principal or theme.
16. Subject - The primary theme of a fugue.
17. Exposition - The first section of a fugue.
18. Subject entries - The appearances of the entire fugue subject after the opening exposition.
19. Episodes - A passage that does not contain any complete appearance of the fugue subject.
20. Countersubject - A subsiding melodic line that appears regularly in counterpoint (polyphonic)
music with a subject.
21. Prelude - A short introductory piece that comes before a main piece of music.
22. Opera seria – A term for the serious, heroic opera of the Baroque period in Italy.
23. Libretto – The complete book of words for an opera, oratorio, or cantata.
24. Librettist – One who writes the libretto.
25. Aria – A vocal number for solo singer and orchestra, generally performed as a part of an opera,
oratorio, or cantata.
26. Oratorio – An opera on a religious subject, usually taken from the Old Testament or based on
the life of a saint. Includes a narrative plot, several acts, implied action, no staging, costumes, or
scenery and no acting.
27. Church cantata – A composition in several movements for solo voice, instruments, and chorus
with religious words.
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Chorale – Hymn which uses four part harmonization primarily in the Lutheran church.
Bach-Dates
Handel’s dates
Baroque Period Dates
Facts about Bach and Handel
Facts about the Baroque Period
Concerto - A large composition for orchestra and solo instrument.
Concerto grosso - The main early Baroque type of concerto for a group of solo instruments
and a small orchestra.
36. Movement - A self contained section of a larger piece such as a symphony or concerto grosso.
37. Vivaldi’s dates
38. Facts about Vivaldi
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