Baroque

Question 1

Oratorio features

Answer 1

• Sacred piece (text usually from the bible).
• Usually around 2 hours of length
• Consists of lots of different movements (53 movements in Handel’s messiah)
• The performers: Orchestra, choir (soprano, alto, tenor, bass), conductor, soloists (SATB).
• There are four different types of movement
1. Overture (orchestra only (sets the scene))
2. Recitative (soloist + continuo in speech rhythm)
3. Aria (soloist + orchestra , regular tempo, often vocally challenging, dwelling on emotion, often has solo instrument E.g : The trumpet shall sound (Handel’s Messiah)
4. Chorus (the SATB choir sing a piece with orchestra which reflects on what has just happened.

Example: Handel’s Messiah

Question 2

Da Capo Aria features

Answer 2

Da Capo Aria is a form of music where there are 3 sections. The first is most commonly major, and the second minor, but the last section is the same as the first with some added ornaments. During all of this there’s a main soloist with an orchestra accompanying them, and this solo is a cadenza (sometimes improvised), with a high note happening sometime during the piece leading to the orchestra stopping so that everyone can marvel on the singer.
• A soloist piece with an orchestra.
• Alternates between major and minor key.
• A piece with 3 sections.
• Starts major, changes to minor, then returns to major but with decorations/ornaments not always though, as it can start minor and change to major.
• Soloist can do as cadenza, at the end of the first section, where orchestra stops playing, and is semi improvised, it is a method to show off what the singer can do.

Question 3

Opera features

Answer 3

• It’s not from the bible
• People wear costumes and act it out as well as sing
• Usually around 2 hours of length
• Consists of lots of different movements
• The performers: Orchestra, choir (soprano, alto, tenor, bass), conductor, soloists (SATB).
• There are four different types of movement
1. Overture (orchestra only (sets the scene))
2. Recitative (soloist + continuo in speech rhythm)
3. Aria (soloist + orchestra , regular tempo, often vocally challenging, dwelling on emotion, often has solo instrument E.g : The trumpet shall sound (Handel’s Messiah)
4. Chorus (the SATB choir sing a piece with orchestra which reflects on what has just happened.

Question 4

Concerto Grosso features

Answer 4

A Concerto Grosso features soloists who are the Concertino and players in the background who are the Ripieno. It is still from the Baroque era and is always accompanied by the Continuo section (Double bass, Harpsichord and Cello).

Question 5

Trio Sonata features

Answer 5

A trio sonata is when four instruments are playing all together, one is always the harpsichord. There’s also a cello baseline and sometimes the organ takes over the harpsichord. The other two instruments could be anything, and some examples are a violin or flute.

Question 6

Baroque time period:

Answer 6

1600-1750

Question 7

Notable baroque composers:

Answer 7

Bach
Handel
Purcell
Vivaldi
Pergolesi

Question 8

Baroque key features

Answer 8

Terraced dynamics
Basso continuo
Ornamentation
Motifs used
One mood for a whole movement