Context

• Italian Baroque:

  • Early oratorio being in around 1600 in Rome
  • Grew into a form similar to opera, with soloists, choir and instrumental accompaniment
  • Includes recitatives, arias and choruses
  • Unlike opera, oratorio was not staged and was performed in a concert setting without costumes, scenery, props or acting
  • In Latin
• English Baroque:

  • Henry VIII's break from the Roman Catholic Church and establishment of the Church of England (Anglicanism) had significant implications for religious music in England
  • Elizabethan England saw a revival of religious music, with composers adapting to the changing religious landscape
  • The Restoration of the monarchy under Charles II saw a renewed interest in sacred music
  • The arrival of George Frideric Handel in England in the early 18th century ushered in a new era of English Baroque music
• Lutheran Baroque:

  • The Protestant Reformation, initiated by Martin Luther in 1517, led to significant changes in religious practices, including the development of a distinct Lutheran liturgical tradition.
  • Luther's emphasis on congregational singing had a profound impact on the development of Lutheran music. Hymn singing became central to Lutheran worship.
  • Removal of old Latin texts replaced with texts in the national language