History of Baroque Period

• Baroque, from the Portuguese word barroco meaning an oddly shaped pearl, has meant bizarre, flamboyant, and elaborately ornamented.
• After the Renaissance period, such style was preferred especially by the aristocracy.
• Louis XIV of France held his events in the palace of Versailles where grandiose and impressive baroque paintings and architecture, with hired musicians playing on the background, symbolizes royalty, wealth, and power.
• During the Baroque Period, entertainment was a must to avoid boredom for the royalties.
• Baroque music also used word painting where the music depicted or showed what the words mean.
• For example, the word heaven is set on a high tone while hell has a low tone.
• Rising scales were presented in an upward motion, and descending scales were expressed in the opposite.
• Baroque music is characterized by repetitions.
• The Baroque period, which flourished from 1600 to 1750, was famous for its grandiose, extravagant, flamboyant, dramatic, and energetic spirit with a diverse style of expression.
• During the Baroque period, musicians were in competition with others to be recognized by the royal courts, making their pieces glamorous in its forms.
• The royalty demanded spectacular entertainment as it represents their wealth, power, and fame.
• If anyone can hear baroque compositions in the present day, the one thing that could come into the mind of the listener is that it sounds so luxurious.
• It seemed to be a requirement for the rich and elite class to employ orchestra, chapel choir, and opera singers.
• The number of members of these groups depends on the royal court’s wealth.
• Musicians were in favor of the aristocrats so they must please the taste of these people.
• These musicians applied for positions as court musicians by taking examinations, submitting their compositions, and some non-musical requirements like forced marriage.
• The churches were also grand, that aside from an organ and a choir, there was also an orchestra to add music to the church masses.
• For the ordinary people, it was only during church services that they were able to hear music since there were few concerts available for them and they were rarely invited to the royal courts.
• Musicians also often played with amateurs, like a music get-together in private homes.
• During the Baroque Period, there were immense scientific discoveries.
• Copernicus’ theory that the earth is not the center of the universe was accepted during the Baroque period.
• Galileo’s work on the cosmos advanced our understanding during the Baroque period.
• The invention of the telescope during the Baroque period led to the discovery of unknown things.
• European economy prospered with foreign trade and colonization during the Baroque period, making people acquainted with what they were previously unfamiliar about.
• Talented artists were developing new techniques in the field of art during the Baroque period.
• Baroque music began with the first attempts at opera in Italy and ended with the death of Johann Sebastian Bach.
• During the baroque period, voices were accompanied by melodic lines designed for instruments.
• A baroque piece is commonly expressed in one mood: if it begins in a joyful tone, it will remain joyful throughout the song.
• Happiness, sadness, agitation (called before as affections) were the common emotions represented in compositions.
• Rhythmic patterns found at the start of a piece are repeated in the entire song.
• Continuity of rhythm further emphasizes to the unity of mood.
• The opening melody is heard over and over again in a baroque piece.
• The character of the piece also remains constant.
• Baroque melodies sound so elaborate that they are hard to sing or there is no song recall.
• Due to continuity of rhythm and melody, the dynamics, volume, also remains constant.
• Gradual transition from crescendo to decrescendo were rarely observed in baroque pieces.
• Organ and harpsichord were the most commonly used keyboard instruments because it suits the kind of dynamics of baroque compositions.
• Late baroque music is dominated by polyphonic texture where two or more melodic lines are combined to contend for the audience’s attention.
• Soprano and bass were considered the most important voices.
• Vocal music shifts in texture and was sometimes expressed in homophonic style.