What is the Baroque Period?
The word “baroque” comes from the Portuguese word “barroco”, which means “irregularly shaped pearl”. In relation to the Baroque Period, the word implies that Baroque-style music is dramatic and extravagant. Perhaps those adjectives, along with expressive and contrasting, best sum up the Baroque Period.
The Baroque Period refers to Western European art music composed roughly between the years 1600 to 1750 A.D. Music is transitory, so there is no exact answer as to when the Baroque Period officially started and ended. The beginning of the Baroque Period overlapped with the conclusion of the Renaissance and as such, expanded upon the ideas created during the Renaissance while also bringing about new ideas.
The notion of rebirth or revitalization of art from the Renaissance continued throughout the Baroque Period. Composers and other artists experienced still increased patronage for and appreciation of their works.
During this period, music became more enjoyable and accessible to a larger audience in the sense that there was a shift away from purely sacred or religious music. Throughout medieval times and the Renaissance, music was mainly created for the sake of the church. However, during the Baroque Period, music became increasingly secular and ornate.
Prior to the Baroque Period, vocal music was emphasized over instrumental music. Each voice in a vocal piece was treated as being equal and there was rarely a clear melody given to the upper voice. However, in the Baroque Period, each voice had its own role. Most notably, the soprano is usually given the melody and the bass provided foundation and support for the soprano. The middle two voices also took on supplementary roles that were melodically interesting.
The relationship between the soprano and the bass became noteworthy with the further implementation and expansion of counterpoint, where the two outer voices were often written as melodies in conjunction with one another according to a strict set of rules. The bass line in both vocal and instrumental music was especially important, as it could take on other roles such as the basso continuo or figured bass.
Apart from vocal music, instrumental music also became more popular during the Baroque Period. Many instruments that are still commonly seen in orchestras today were either created or further developed due to increased recognition during the Baroque Period such as the violin, cello, fortepiano, and harpsichord.
A typical Baroque Orchestra consisted of strings, such as the violin, viola, cello, and double-bass; woodwinds, such as the flute and oboe; brass, such as the occasional trumpet; and continuos, such as the harpsichord or organ.
In addition, dynamics were more prevalent in Baroque-style music and there was a higher demand for skill-based performances and compositions. Since there was a heightened appreciation for secular music, there was also a heightened appreciation for more complex and ornate compositions. New styles of works that emerged included the cantata, concerto, sonata, and oratorio. At this time, opera was first introduced in Italy.
After all, works from the Baroque Period are probably more familiar than you might think. If you have ever heard Handel’s Messiah, Pachelbel’s Canon, or other works from famous composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741), Jean-Philippe Romeau (1683-1764), or Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643), you have heard works from the Baroque Period.
