Baroque Period
Jul 22 '00
Around the turn of the 18th century, an organist named Johann Sebastian Bach was making a name for himself. His compositions became an instant staple of all musicians' repertoires, and he almost singularly defined the entire Baroque period of music.
Music from this time period (approximately 1650-1750) is characterized by ornateness and mathematical precision. It reflected the time period in that this was the time of Versailles and also many advancements in science. Strict patterns based on precise formulae are the rule, and contrapuntal devices are commonplace. Forms such as the fugue arose, as did operas, sonatas, and the concerto grosso. Also important was the fact that notation became more consistent and universal and the diatonic scale and the 12-tone system became the norm.
Complicated is a good word to describe a lot of Baroque music. For example, in a fugue, the piece starts out with a subject which is then repeated throughout the piece along with as many as 3 or 4 other voices in retrograde, inversion, or inverted retrograde (in other words, they are tinkered with). As a result of the flury of motifs going on within a single piece of music, Baroque music is often difficult to listen to for some people, since it is hard to make sense of what is going on. This is not to say that it is all as such--the movement itself was a result of musicians rebelling against the polyphony of the Renaissance period.
In addition to J.S. Bach, other great composers from this time include Handel ("Water Music"), Pachelbel ("Canon in D"), Monteverdi (operas), and Vivaldi ("Four Seasons").
As a result of the increasing complicatedness of music, composers soon began to break away from the norm by writing the complete opposite style of music: clean, compact, almost simple-sounding music. Music became less elitist and daunting and more approachable and inviting. Thus the Classical Period was born from the Baroque.
**I couldn't choose just one period to write about, so I'm writing a series of these. Look for them!**
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