The Baroque Style

The Baroque Era (c.1600-1750)

The Baroque style originated in Italy, but its influence spread across to almost every European country in varying degrees.
The word ‘Baroque’ translates to ‘irregular shape or pearl’, indicating the elaborate and intricate nature of the music of this era.
Emotional expression and artistic freedom were the key components of Baroque music.

In this era, music was characterised by polyphonic texture, with several lines of melody interacting with each other.
Basso continuo, or continuous bass, was a definitive characteristic of the Baroque era. This included a low melodic line, often played by cello or bassoon, and harpsichord or organ supplying the chords.
The ornamentation - trills, grace notes, mordents etc, were commonly used to decorate a melodic line.

With the development of stringed instruments like violin, the sound-tuning mechanisms improved which led to their widespread usage in orchestras.
Keyboard instruments like harpsichord and organs also became popular.
Use of brass instruments with no valves such as the trumpet and the sackbut, and woodwind instruments like recorders and baroque flutes is also seen.

Johann Sebastian Bach was one of the best-known composers of the Baroque era. He is particularly known for his organ works and suites.
Antonio Vivaldi is revered for his contributions to the development of the solo concerto. His work “The Four Seasons” remains one of the most iconic pieces of this era.
George Frideric Handel wrote many Italian-style operas and later English oratorios. His work “Messiah” is particularly well-known.

The suite, the sonata, and the concerto grosso are among the key musical forms that were emerged and flourished during the Baroque period.
The suite is a collection of dances, often with a prelude at the beginning.
The sonata is a piece for one or two instruments, often in three or four movements with contrasting speeds and characters.
The concerto grosso is a form of concerto for a group of solo instruments (the concertino) and a small orchestra (the ripieno).

Music during this era was made to be performed in grand spaces such as cathedrals, making reverberation and echo a key part of the performance.
Staging of operas and use of choirs were popular during the Baroque era.
Improvisation was an important element in performance. Musicians often added ornaments or improvised on the written music during performances.