The Baroque Period Of Music

Due to the fact that Baroque keyboards generally lack the ability to make crescendos and diminuendos, music played on these instruments sound very boring and straight forward unless elements are added to the performance. For organ and harpsichord, the player cannot change dynamics once the registration is chosen. A decent performance of Baroque music, no matter on a Baroque or a modern day keyboard, relies very much on the variety of touch to sound interesting. I would therefore like to discuss some crucial concepts that guides keyboard players on how to effectively control the touch and attack of the keys with correct posture and movement. Friedrich Wilhelm Marpurg, a German music critic and composer in the 18th century, wrote that ‘It is true that there are passages that can be fingered in more than one way. But of all these ways, there is always one which is more suitable to these passages than any other. One should therefore choose among the good position. Then, between these different possible positions, one must choose the one that makes the least movement.’ This highlights the importance of limited movement in the body and the arm at that period of time, opposing the modern

The Classical time period, which spanned a length of seventy years, from 1750 to 1820, was very different in nature from its predecessor, the Baroque time period. The Baroque era featured works that were ornamentally elaborate, where the artists and composers centered their works on a big, bold style that was dramatic in its composition. Artists and composers transferred strong feelings of tension and emotion into their works and it was common for there to be some type of action or movement happening within the work. Those who lived in the Classical time period, valued simplicity and wanted to return to the ideals of the Greeks. Therefore, the Classical time period is characterized by clear structural clarity, simplicity, smoothness, and symmetry. However, though the works took a step back from the grand movement of the Baroque era, the composers and artists of the Classical time period did lay out a tuneful and elegant style in their music and art. Out of the Classical era came many renowned artists and composers, two of those whom are artist Sir Thomas Lawrence and composer Ludwig van Beethoven (“NYU”).

Ludwig Beethoven grew up in an unhappy home during the late 1800s in Bonn, Germany. His alcoholic father was an angry man and Ludwig escaped his dreadful childhood in his music. At the age of twelve, Ludwig had symphonies imbedded in his mind and soul. He was a gifted composer who supported his family with his talent, he taught music and performed. Music was not enough to protect Ludwig from his abusive home life, his mother died and his father’s drinking grew worse. At nineteen years old Ludwig took over the family household. Ludwig van Beethoven was the most profound, incredible composer who lived in his music, endured endless suffering, and transitioned music from classical to the romantic era.

At the age of four, in 1774 in Bunn, Germany, Beethoven began to play music, but desired to be free from the harsh vigilant eyes of his father. At the age of twenty-two, Beethoven moved to Vienna, which resulted in musical growth and freedom. In Vienna, he met Mozart as well as Haydn. Beethoven actually was taught and influenced by Haydn. To truly experience freedom in his music, Beethoven had to experience tragedies. When Beethoven’s mother died and when he realized, at thirty-one, that he was losing his hearing, Beethoven began to express the freedom of emotion in his music. Unlike Mozart, Beethoven had economic stability, but he did not have the ability to write a song instantly. However, Beethoven composed nine symphonies, the fifth being the most famous. It was in his third symphony, Eroica, when Beethoven found his own style. Beethoven truly was the father of the Romantic style, of music, due to the emotion in his

Music during the Baroque era was regarded as a powerful form of communication that could invoke emotions in the listeners. This philosophical belief was derived from a revival of the ideas of the Greco-Roman culture, and as a result, composers believed that they could also affect their listeners through the power of melody, harmony, rhythm, and stylistic details. The emphasis on communication was reflected in the major styles and components that were used throughout Baroque compositions. Baroque music is characterized by the composers’ attention to detail, such as contrast in dynamics, ornamentation, and the emphasis on bass line. These characteristics of the Baroque era are reflected in Antonio Vivaldi’s compositions. Known as one of the most popular pieces in Baroque repertoire, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, a violin concerto, reveals how composers of the Baroque period used different techniques to invoke emotion through the powerful communication of music. The Four Seasons perfectly represents the Baroque period because of Vivaldi 's elaborate style, developmental techniques, and theme of emotional impact and contrast.

The style of variations has, over time become more and more diverse. Variations had become noticeably more involved with composers during the baroque period with several German composers having a large impact on variations are composed. Although some composers focused only on variations some German composers during the Baroque period several such as Scheidt, Pachelbel, and J. S. Bach were integral to the further development of variations. From their choice of music to where these composers studied, almost all of it had a huge impact on variations.

Around the 17th century, the Baroque era contributed a new style than the previous Renaissance era. The Baroque era thrived in all of Italy and eventually the remainder of Europe. The Baroque era had new characteristics than music from before. Some characteristics that could be heard in the music during this period include a more definite and regular rhythm as compared to the floating rhythms of the Renaissance era, a systematic meter due to the first use of bar lines, and clearer beats emphasized by instruments. The change of rhythm and meters in the Baroque era created a mood of deep emotion and seriousness. The texture of music also developed during this time. The basso continuo enhanced both of the homophonic and polyphonic textures of the Baroque music. Basso continuo, otherwise known as a continuous bass, used low voices or instruments such as cellos or bassoons to advance the music of the time. Initially, the basso continuo was the lowest part of the polyphony that was strengthened by the chords, however, the basso continuo eventually was created along with the chords and the higher polyphony was modified to complement it. Chords during this era also became standardized and created tonality or a feeling of a central part among a home pitch. The chords of the music from this era were developed in a more logical fashion and they led to functional harmony. This music also used different dynamics, called terraced dynamics, that were not used formerly. Terraced dynamic

This fits the baroque period because the piece uses more instruments, and uses the organ throughout the entire piece. There is also a lot of harmony within the piece. The song has a good way of incorporating all of the instruments together, showing that it fits the characteristics of the baroque period. This piece of music has the organ throughout the entire song, but has clarinet throughout the melody. This piece includes the oboe and the bassoon, also the violin. The dynamics through the piece stay moderately loud, and stay at the same level the whole song. This piece comes off as a “dark piece” and I could see it being played in a old horror movie, because of the creepy feel it has to it. “While the other instruments join in, the sound slowly

The Baroque style helped change the role of the viewers. Italian Renaissance kept viewers at a distance from the work but played with varying perspectives making them "reflect intellectually on what they were seeing" (714). Bernini helped develop the new Baroque style by allowing the viewer to see the sculpture from all sides. The new "three-dimensional perspective" helps give David more lifelike qualities by allowing the viewer to see the "lean, sinewy body, tightly clenched mouth, and straining muscles" (717). Incorporating the viewer into the surrounding space, Bernini, "implies the presence of an unseen adversary somewhere behind the viewer" recognizing the viewer as a part of the sculpture and the action, a major component of the Baroque

The “classical period” took place from mid-1800’s to the early-1900’s. The genre of this period was predominately that of the sonata. This period brought immense changes to the music industry. The compositions written and performed during this time were largely more Homophonic. The orchestra or rather the band group of the classical period enlarged and the harpsichord was surpassed and replaced by the piano. Early piano music was generally very simple in its texture but as the classical period grew, it became more resonant. Some of the most influential composers of the time were; Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Verdi, and Tchaikovsky

Ludwig Van Beethoven was born on about December 16th, 1770 in Bonn, Germany and died on March 26th, 1827, In Vienna, Austria. The exact date of Beethoven’s birth is unknown he was baptised on December 17th. Beethoven lived between the Classical and Romantic eras. Some of Beethoven's most notable pieces of music are Symphony No. 5 , Fur Elise, and Missa Solemnis. Beethoven knew how to play The Piano, The Viola, and The Violin. When Beethoven composed some of his most famous and important music he was deaf and couldn’t listen to the music he wrote. When Beethoven was a child he was abused by his father when he made a mistake or hesitated while learning/playing music. Beethoven dropped out of school, at the age of 11 to help his family make money,

Ludwig van Beethoven being famous composer. He loved Classical and romantic. Classical is the relating to the ancient Greeks and Romans. The romantic times was known as the artistic, literary, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe toward the end of the 18th century and was at its peak in from 1800 to 1850. Beethoven was a German composer and a pianist. He will remain as one of the most famous and influential of the composers from all the times. He was on December 17, 1770 in Bonn, the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of the Holy Roman Empire. And he died March 26, 1827 in Vienna. He displayed his musical talents at an early age. He was taught by Johann van Beethoven which is his father and also by Christian Gottlob Neefe. His

The change of music from Classicism to Romanticism couldn’t have occurred without the contributions brought by Ludwig van Beethoven. He was one of the most influential German composer and pianist of all time. Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany on December 16, 1770. His mother was a singer in the service and his father was a court musician. His father noticed that Beethoven had a skill at a young age, and began teaching him piano and violin. Beethoven was a hard learner, self-involved and impatient. Gottlob Neefe, become young Beethoven’s mentor, he thought Beethoven was the next Mozart. By the time he came back to Vienna, Mozart had died so Beethoven took help from Haydn. Beethoven gave his first public performance at the age of eight and published his first works at the age of twelve.

The baroque movement was a movement that aimed to elevate the church and its teachings, at least at first. It began around 1600 when the Vatican decided to try to make Rome into the greatest city in the world in order to edify God and the church. Another aim was to combat the spread of Protestantism, which had begun to flourish in parts of Europe after Martin Luther staged his first protests of the Catholic church. There was a consistent theme of all things dramatic throughout this period. They sought to appeal to people’s senses and emotions in displaying and painting scenes with a highly dramatic flair. In addition, they also sought to edify the church and state by building things in a bigger scale than ever before. One can see this in the palaces and cathedrals built during this time. So, in short, artists and architects not only painted dramatically, but also built dramatically until the end of this period around 1700.

The time period of 1600-1760 is known as the Baroque. The term “Baroque” is derived from the Portuguese “barroco” which is used to describe an irregularly shaped pearl. The word was synonymous with absurd, irregular, and extravagant before being applied to this time period of music (Anderson 7). I decided to research this time period because after listening to music from a wide range of time periods, I found the music of the Baroque period to be most appealing. Therefore, I thought it worthy to study the time period that was of the most interest to me. There is something about the sound of the primitive orchestra, the harpsichord, and the solo concertos found within this time period that just are extremely pleasing to listen too. In addition, I found a wide range of information and resources in the library on the Baroque period, which also helped the decision to write this research article about it.