German Baroque music
Sean Henry Moss
Ft. Edmundton
Kapellmeister
Music of the German Baroque
Baroque: "Of or relating to a dramatic style of art and music that was common in the 17th and early 18th centuries and that featured many decorative parts and details.
The Baroque Era was a time period lasting from 1600 to 1750. During these brief 150 years, our world saw the writing of some of the most distinguished and complex music, and the births and deaths of some of the most famous composers. In this time, mankind bore such composers as Johann Sebastian Bach, Dietrich Buxtehude, Johann Pachelbel, Georg Philipp Telemann, and Georg Frideric Handel.
Baroque music is as complex as it is exiting. Compositions often are in specific, and often very strict, musical forms. Counterpoint is often involved (multiple melodies playing at the same time, so as to create harmony). Counterpoint is one of the important aspects that make Baroque music so recognizable. Many strict forms, such as the canon and the fugue, are contrapuntal in nature. Moreover, Baroque music is many times heavily ornamented. Its melodies are often decorated with trills, mordents, and other such ornaments.
It is also important to note that the Orchestra was invented in the Baroque Era. Ensembles involving a larger variety of instruments were called for in some scores. Some examples include, but are not limited, to some of the works of Jean-Baptiste Lully and Claudio Monteverdi. Other composers, such as Johann Stamitz, established some of the facets of the Orchestra.
Forms were pioneered in the Baroque Era. These include the Concerto, and the Opera.
Many Baroque instruments are of Renaissance origin. Some examples of Baroque instruments include the Organ, the Harpsichord, the Violin, and the Bassoon.
Among the most important composers of the Baroque Era was Johann Sebastian Bach. Born in Eisenach, 1685, of a line of musicians, Bach developed music to a very high point. Many composers after him have learnt of him.
Despite the amazing talents of some of the Baroque composers, musicians were not highly regarded in society. In Weimar, Johann Sebastian Bach served as a musician for Duke Wilhelm Ernst. Bach wished to leave, searching employment elsewhere. For pushing the issue of his own release, Bach was thrown in prison.
Sources:
Film by Sir John Eliot Gardiner: Bach-A Passionate Life
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Baroque_composers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_pomposa
http://library.thinkquest.org/15413/history/history-bar.htm
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/131077/concerto
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/431249/orchestra
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=baroque
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baroque
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterpoint
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/mileycyrus/wreckingball.html
http://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxjsbach.html
Observations based on the works of Bach, Handel, and others
Sources for all of the information on Baroque Music on the website are above.
Ft. Edmundton
Kapellmeister
Music of the German Baroque
Baroque: "Of or relating to a dramatic style of art and music that was common in the 17th and early 18th centuries and that featured many decorative parts and details.
The Baroque Era was a time period lasting from 1600 to 1750. During these brief 150 years, our world saw the writing of some of the most distinguished and complex music, and the births and deaths of some of the most famous composers. In this time, mankind bore such composers as Johann Sebastian Bach, Dietrich Buxtehude, Johann Pachelbel, Georg Philipp Telemann, and Georg Frideric Handel.
Baroque music is as complex as it is exiting. Compositions often are in specific, and often very strict, musical forms. Counterpoint is often involved (multiple melodies playing at the same time, so as to create harmony). Counterpoint is one of the important aspects that make Baroque music so recognizable. Many strict forms, such as the canon and the fugue, are contrapuntal in nature. Moreover, Baroque music is many times heavily ornamented. Its melodies are often decorated with trills, mordents, and other such ornaments.
It is also important to note that the Orchestra was invented in the Baroque Era. Ensembles involving a larger variety of instruments were called for in some scores. Some examples include, but are not limited, to some of the works of Jean-Baptiste Lully and Claudio Monteverdi. Other composers, such as Johann Stamitz, established some of the facets of the Orchestra.
Forms were pioneered in the Baroque Era. These include the Concerto, and the Opera.
Many Baroque instruments are of Renaissance origin. Some examples of Baroque instruments include the Organ, the Harpsichord, the Violin, and the Bassoon.
Among the most important composers of the Baroque Era was Johann Sebastian Bach. Born in Eisenach, 1685, of a line of musicians, Bach developed music to a very high point. Many composers after him have learnt of him.
Despite the amazing talents of some of the Baroque composers, musicians were not highly regarded in society. In Weimar, Johann Sebastian Bach served as a musician for Duke Wilhelm Ernst. Bach wished to leave, searching employment elsewhere. For pushing the issue of his own release, Bach was thrown in prison.
Sources:
Film by Sir John Eliot Gardiner: Bach-A Passionate Life
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Baroque_composers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_pomposa
http://library.thinkquest.org/15413/history/history-bar.htm
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/131077/concerto
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/431249/orchestra
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=baroque
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baroque
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterpoint
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/mileycyrus/wreckingball.html
http://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxjsbach.html
Observations based on the works of Bach, Handel, and others
Sources for all of the information on Baroque Music on the website are above.