baroque solo concerto

• Baroque Solo Concerto


  A work for a single solo instrument accompanied by an orchestra, grew out of the Baroque Concerto Grosso
• Baroque Solo Concerto period

  1600-1750
• Baroque Solo Concerto


  • All have a CONTINUO part – an accompaniment which "fills in the harmonies and texture" played by the HARPSICHORD (or Organ) (playing CHORDAL HARMONY from FIGURED BASS NOTATION) with the CELLO or BASSOON doubling the Bass Line
  • MODULATIONS (changes of key) tended to go to the Dominant key or to the Relative minor of the original key
  • Tonality was mainly DIATONIC and in either clear MAJOR or MINOR tonalities
• Baroque Solo Concerto form

  1. THREE MOVEMENTS – contrasted by TEMPO and a single mood or style within each movement

  2. Movements in RITORNELLO FORM began with a TUTTI section which featured a THEME

  3. Between appearances of this Ritornello Theme came EPISODES (contrasting sections)

  4. Sometimes feature a short CADENZA section towards the end of the first movement (unaccompanied)
• Baroque Solo Concerto movements

  • 1st Movement: Ritornello or a Fugue, Brisk and purposeful
  • 2nd Movement: Da Capo Aria or Ternary Form, Slow and song-like often dotted rhythms
  • 3rd Movement: Ritornello or a Fugue, Fast and Cheerful
• Baroque Solo Concerto


  • Rhythm, Tempo & Metre: Contrasted in TEMPO – Fast-Slow-Fast – with a consistent tempo within each movement, Dotted Rhythms were often a feature of the slower/second movements
  • Texture: Mainly POLYPHONIC or CONTRAPUNTAL textures – complex and interweaving of parts, though some HOMOPHONIC MELODY & ACCOMPANIMENT sections for musical contrast
  • Dynamics: TERRACED DYNAMICS – clear dynamic contrasts achieved by the whole orchestra changing the volume suddenly (rather than Crescendos or Diminuendos)
  • Melody: Melodies are decorated and embellished with ORNAMENTS (often by the soloist) e.g. trills, turns, mordents and grace notes such as acciaccaturas, which make melodies sound "busy", Melodies often long and flowing and use SEQUENCES and IMITATION
• Baroque Solo Concerto soloists


  • The Baroque Solo Concerto is a work for a single solo instrument, The soloist's parts were often very technically difficult with a chance for the solo performer to "show off" their technical ability and skill, The soloist was always "in the spotlight" but sometimes performed with the accompanying orchestra in TUTTI sections
• Venue


  Baroque Solo Concertos were performed either in churches, opera houses or small salons (rooms) or courts of wealthy individuals
• Baroque Solo Concerto composers

  • J. S. Bach, Handel, Vivaldi
• Baroque Solo Concerto instrumentation

  The orchestra used to accompany Baroque Solo Concertos was slightly larger than the Baroque Concerto Grosso but typically numbered between 10-30 players, The main section was the STRINGS, a small WOODWIND section, a BRASS section and TIMPANI in the PERCUSSION SECTION, The CONTINUO player led and directed the Baroque Orchestra from the Harpsichord (no conductor), The instruments used as soloists included the Violin, Cello, Recorder, Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Trumpet and Lute