The Role Of the Castrati in the Baroque Era

The Renaissance occurred in Europe between 1400 and 1600. This event began in Italy during the Medieval period and then expanded to the rest of Europe, marking the start of the Modern age. The Renaissance began in Florence Italy in the 14th century. It was a cultural movement that had an enormous impact in Europe during the early modern period. The Renaissance’s influenced politics, science, literature, art, philosophy, religion, music, and other aspects. Around the 13th century in Italy started the Renaissance’s art influence. Leonardo da Vinci, was known as the "Renaissance man," because of his art masterpieces and his studies in other fields during this time. Italy wasn’t a political concept in the

The Baroque era began in the year 1600, at the end of the Renaissance period (Kamien 99). The word Baroque has had several different meanings. Back in its time, the word Baroque has meant: Bizarre, Flamboyant, and Elaborately ornamented. Historians, however, used this word to indicate the particular style in all different forms of art that fills space; which includes canvas, stone, or sound (Kamien 99). The Baroque Period is also known as “the age of absolutism” because so many different rulers of the time used and abused their royal power to control their subjects. For example, in Germany, the duke of Weimar imprisoned the famous Johann Sebastian Bach into prison for a month just because Bach asked to leave his job as the Duke’s musician (Kamien 99). This era in time was also home to scientific discoveries by Newton and Galileo. The Baroque era has shaped the world, as they knew it, to what the people of the twenty-first century all know and love.

The Baroque period of the 1600 and 1750s began in Europe and defined the art of the time (Stechow 111). Spain’s quest for the unity and assimilation to Spanish culture of its subjects in the Americas led to the systematic suppression and destruction of the indigenous cultures of the regions, such as the Aztecs and the Incans. Baroque art was only supposed to be another aspect of Spanish culture for the indigenous population to assimilate to (Gauvin 4, 33-34). However, the Baroque period created an atmosphere in the Americas that led to a blending of the Spanish and indigenous cultures. The subsequent art and architecture that was created was a hybrid formed from the cultures coinhabiting the area. This hybrid form has been characterized as “a hidden inscription of difference within the fictional sameness of official culture, as rebellious graffiti camouflaged in the forest of baroque symbols” (Salgado 317-318). It provided a place for the people of Latin America to subtly celebrate and preserve their heritage that Spain was threatening. To understand the significance of the cultural impact that the hybridization of Baroque art had on culture in the Spanish colonies of the New World, we must first define what hybridization of an art form means. Then we will investigate what constitutes baroque art and why it was so conducive to being hybridized. To further the understanding of the hybridization, we will examine the painting Our Lady of Guapulo and the architecture

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”).

Castiglione was a humanist diplomat and author of the Renaissance born on December 6th, 1478 in Casatico, Italy. He was born of a noble family, and at 16, he went to Milan to explore humanist studies at the school of Giorgio Merula and Demetrius Chalcondyles. 5 years later, Baldassare returned home and served in Francesco Gonzaga’s court of Mantua. Following the death of his father, Castiglione transferred to the court of Urbino, a city that served as a bastion for humanist, Renaissance intellectuals and artistry. In this court is when he wrote his pastoral drama Tirsi as well as served as Urbino’s ambassador to Rome. In 1521, Pope Leo X gave Baldassare an ecclesiastical position where he was posted in Spain to report on the intentions of Emperor Charles V, with whom he created a friendly relationship.

The renaissance began in Italy from the 14th to the 16th century, and was followed by the baroque period which roughly was between 16th to 17th century, each revolutionized the period prior. This is perfectly represented by two very different and yet very similar artists: Sofonisba Anguissola and Artemisia Gentileschi. Though one more so paved-the-way for the other, there connection appears to have nearly materialized out of thin air, and begs the age old psychological question of nature Vs. nurture.

nature in which he would play the trumpet and act outside of performing. When he

The art of the Baroque period was very colorful and dramatic, which translated into the music created at the time. The idea of being very expressive and embellishing in detail would lead to the development of opera. Opera is a dramatic play that is acted out through music. In opera, a soloist must be able to act and sing out the mood of the text or libretto. This expressive singing accompanied by a bass line or basso continuo is called monody. This idea of a new texture would feature the distinction between the high voice that carries one melody and the low voice or bass. The accompanying bass line was played by harpsichord with the addition of a bassoon or cello (Wright 6-3a,6-3b).

The Italian Renaissance is the “rebirth” of new ideas based on classical teachings. The Italian Renaissance gave birth to many innovations in theater architecture and scene design, including the proscenium arch stage, painted-flat wings and shutters, and Torelli’s mechanized pole-and-chariot system. In addition, the Italian Renaissance saw the development of the neoclassical rules of dramatic structure, and of opera and Commedia dell’arte. Between the 14th and 16th centuries Renaissance drama developed in Italy, marking an end to medieval practices and a release of traditional Roman ways of presenting drama. (Web.) The three major Renaissance contributions to Theatre were one, Neoclassical ideal in playwriting and criticism, two, Italianate staging and architecture, and three, Commedia dell’arte. By 1600, this rebirth had moved to other parts of Europe. It remained dominant for over 200 years, especially among upper classes.

The start of the concert was promising because classical beats filled the air. When the time came for the musician to move on stage, I was surprised by the appraisal from the audience. If I had attended, I could have joined others in welcoming Fleming on stage. All the musicians seemed to be confident on the stage, and the crowd was shouting to the performing musicians. From the acclamation, I realized that she was a favorite opera artist for many people. Her music style was classic opera with a standard that left everybody in the concert startled by the beats and tunes. Fleming’s standard styles, the classic lyrics on stage were awesome. I learned that many of her fans liked and loved her

The Baroque period has played a great role in many aspects of the society in different countries, but most significantly in religion, politics, and socioeconomic.

In 1815, at the age of five, Ole Bull’s uncle gave him a little violin. He had already shown a love for music and singing and astonished his uncle by playing

The era known as the Baroque period includes the seventeenth and most of the eighteenth centuries in Europe. The Baroque style was a style in which the art and artists of the time focused upon details and intricate designs. Their art often appeals to the mind by way of the heart. During this time the portraits began to portray modern life, and artists turned their backs on classical tradition. Much of the art shows great energy and feeling, and a dramatic use of light, scale, and balance (Preble 302). Buildings were more elaborate and ornately decorated. These works of art created history and altered the progress of Western Civilization. Architecture such as the palace of Versailles, and artists like

Within The Book of the Courtier, written by Baldassare Castiglione in 1582, the expected qualities and roles of the Elite Italian Renaissance men and woman are expressed in extensive detail. While the characteristics of both men and women differ greatly, very few qualities are shared. The men Courtiers are expected to exhibit control, loyalty, and courage. Not only do men have to possess these traits, they must be confident in showing them at the correct time and manner. If the Courtier is unaware of how to show these skills or exhibits cowardice and disgrace, then he will be forever condemned by the people around him.

This essay looks at the time in history beginning in the 1400’s to the mid-1700’s which we identify in art history as The Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo periods. Focusing on the influence new scientific knowledge had in the art produced during this time with specific examples from each period and artists of the time.