Baroque Music

Question 1

Baroque

Answer 1

term used to describe the arts generally during the period 1600–1750 signifying excess and extravagance – Memorable descriptive words include – ‘Bizarre and Grotesque’

Question 2

Overture

Answer 2

Operas set the stage for our Modern day musicals. Most of these productions begin with an opening musical number. Initially these were called

Question 3

Toccata

Answer 3

a one-movement composition, free in form, originally for solo keyboard/Organ but later for instrumental ensemble as well – Served as an opening for Opera at the beginning of the Baroque era such as in Monteverdi’s Opera Orfeo

Question 4

Overture

Answer 4

an introductory movement, usually for orchestra, that precedes an opera, oratorio, or dance suite (Toccata once served this function)

Question 5

Entr’acte (short for entrance act)

Answer 5

a name used for compositions which start acts of a musical

Question 6

Ritornello

Answer 6

a theme in Baroque works that returns again and again; from Italian for “return” or “refrain”

Question 7

Recitative

Answer 7

musically heightened speech, often used in an opera, oratorio, or cantata to report dramatic action and advance the plot.

Question 8

Canon

Answer 8

musical form and compositional technique, based on the principle of strict imitation, in which an initial melody is imitated at a specified time interval by one or more parts, either at the unison (i.e., the same pitch) or at some other pitch

Question 9

Pachelbel Canon

Answer 9

a prime example of a composition using a ground bass.

Question 10

Basso Ostinato or Ground Bass

Answer 10

a motive or phrase in the bass that is repeated again and again

Question 11

Round

Answer 11

A round in music is a composition in which 3 or 4 voices sing EXACTLY THE SAME MELODY at the unison or octave with each voice starting at different times.

Question 12

Fugue

Answer 12

(Very Complex Canon) in music, a compositional procedure characterized by the systematic imitation of a principal theme (called the subject) in simultaneously sounding melodic lines

Question 13

Antonio Stradivari (1644–1737)

Answer 13

The best violin maker of the Baroque era. His instruments now sell for millions of dollars

Question 14

Corelli

Answer 14

considered the father of the orchestra

Question 15

Scientists of the Baroque Era

Answer 15

Isaac Newton, Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei

Question 16

Writers of the Baroque Era

Answer 16

William Shakespeare

Question 17

Artists of the Baroque Era

Answer 17

Rembrandt (famous for light and dark contrasts)

Question 18

Claudio Monteverdi

Answer 18

Italian (Famous for Igniting Opera. Known as the Father of Opera)

Question 19

Henry Purcell

Answer 19

British (Famous for Opera and other Courtly Music)

Question 20

Arcangelo Corelli

Answer 20

Italian (Virtuoso Violinist Famous for the Development of the Sonata Known as the Father of the Orchestra) Provided a Framework in the bass and on the Melodic instruments to improvise over. All violinists can trace back to Corelli

Question 21

Form of the Concerto

Answer 21

It consists of 3 movements – Fast – Slow – Fast

Question 22

Antonio Vivaldi

Answer 22

‘The Red-Haired Priest’ Antonio Vivaldi – Italian (famous for the development of the Concerto), most well known for the 4 Seasons Violin Concertos
Vivaldi is considered the Father of the Concerto