Baroque Instrumental Music

1. Baroque
Instrumental Music

2. During the Baroque era, for the first
time in the history of music,
instrumental music became as
important as vocal music.

3. Solo Concerto
Solo Concerto—a single solo instrument with the melody line,
accompanied by the orchestra.
Structure:
1. Fast movement, 2. Slow movement, 3. Fast movment.
Bach, Violin Concerto in A Minor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ-xJ1ChNh8
J. S. Bach, Keyboard Concerto in F Minor, BWV 1056
http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/keyboard-
concerto-in-f-minor-johann-sebastian-bach/
A. Vivaldi, “The Four Seasons” (1723) – four violin
concertos. Each concerto is accompanied by a sonnet
written probably by Vivaldi. An example of program music.
http://content.thespco.org/music/playlists/the-four-
seasons/

4. Concerto Grosso
Concerto Grosso—the musical material is passed between a
small group of soloists (the concertino) and full orchestra (the
ripieno).
• G. F. Handel, Concerti Grossi
http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/concerto-
grosso-in-d-george-frideric-handel/
• J. S. Bach, “Brandenburg Concertos”, 1721—six concertos
presented to the Margrave of Brandenburg as a part of
Bach’s employment application.
http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/brandenburg
-concerto-no-5-in-d-johann-sebastian-bach/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5oh68s9iDU&list=PL9E3
A3268C900D93F

5. Suite
• Suite—an ordered set of instrumental or orchestral pieces
normally performed in a concert setting.
• Orchestral Suite
• J. S. Bach, Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor BWV 1067
http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/orchestral-
suite-no-2-in-b-minor-johann-sebastian-bach/
• G. F. Handel, Music for the Royal Fireworks
http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/music-for-
the-royal-fireworks-george-frideric-handel/
• Instrumental Suite
• J. S. Bach, Sonatas and Partitas for Violin Solo
http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/lara-sonatas1/
• J. S. Bach, Cello Suites
http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/paternoster-
cellosuites1/

6. Movements of the Baroque Suite
• Allemande—a German dance played at a moderate tempo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9ZVuV8Py24
• Courante—a lively, French dance in triple meter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXtpN4oXr5Y
• Sarabande—a Spanish dance in triple meter, one of the slowest of the
baroque dances. There is an emphasis on the second beat, creating the
characteristic 'halting', or iambic rhythm of the sarabande.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXnujMPt30Q
• Gigue—an upbeat and lively baroque dance in compound meter, typically
the concluding movement of an instrumental suite. The gigue originated in
the British Isles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7OBpnPkYw4
• Optional movements:
• Overture, Gavotte, Bourree, Minuet, Passeppied, Rigaudon, Hornpipe.

7. Fugue
Fugue—a contrapuntal composition in two or more voices, built
on a theme that is introduced in the beginning and recurs
frequently in other voice(s).
Bach, “Little” Fugue in G Minor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVadl4ocX0M
Please listen to the following with the score.
J. S. Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 4, 3rd Movement, Presto
http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/brandenburg-
concerto-no-4-in-g-johann-sebastian-bach/
http://conquest.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/8/8d/IMSLP020
42-BWV1049.pdf

8. Sections of the Fugue
• Exposition—the opening section of the fugue,
ends when the theme is presented in each voice.
• Subject—the main theme of the fugue.
• Answer—subject imitated in another voice.
• Countersubject—new material in the voice in
which the subject was previously stated.
• Episodes—transitions based on the exposition
material.
• Development—subject and answer being
developed.

9. Exposition
Voice Themes
played
Themes
played
Themes
played
Themes
played
Soprano Subject Counters
subject 1
Counter
subject 2
Answer
Alto Answer Counter
subject 1
Counter
subject 2
Bass Subject Counter
subject 1

10. Sonata
• J. S. Bach, Sonatas and Partitas for Violin Solo
http://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/6/6e/IMSLP2505
90-SIBLEY1802.21004.93cd-39087009905870score.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wGzDkHfCpY
This is an example of Baroque program music. Composer
portraits birds and animals:
• H. Biber, Sonata Representativa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBx4PNtCP0I

11. Sonata da camera
• A secular sonata, proper for use at court.
• Consisted almost entirely of dance movements.
• Eventually was called a suite or partita.
Please listen to Corelli’s Sonata da camera No. 7 with the score
(be sure to find Sonata 7). Note the titles for the movements.
http://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/2/2a/IMSLP0167
2-Corelli_opus2.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpVF3q6JbYk

12. Sonata da chiesa
• Suitable for use in church.
• For one of more violins and bass.
• 4 movements: a slow introduction, fugue, a slow movement,
and a fast finale.
Please listen to Corelli’s Sonata 1 with the score
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIZtODub6Mw
http://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/2/2a/IMSLP24687-
PMLP04986-Corelli_-_Op._3.pdf

13. Trio Sonata
A trio sonata is written for two solo melodic instruments and one accompanied
instrument (basso continuo).
Bach, Trio Sonata in G Major BWV 1038
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmBUZBsPruc
Examples:
• Tomaso Albinoni, 12 sonatas da chiesa op. 1 and 12 sonatas da camera op. 8
• Arcangelo Corelli, 24 sonatas da chiesa opp.1 and 3, 24 sonatas da camera opp. 2 and
4.
• Henry Purcell, Twelve sonatas of three parts, 1683, ten sonatas in four parts, 1697.
• Johann Sebastian Bach, trio sonatas BWV 1036–1039
• Dieterich Buxtehude, op. 1, six trio sonatas, and op. 2, seven trio sonatas.
• George Frideric Handel, trio sonatas opp. 2 and 5.
• Georg Philipp Telemann, around 150 trio sonatas.
http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/voicesofmusic-bachtelemann/
• Johann Pachelbel, Musikalische Ergötzung ("Musical Delight"), containing 6 trio
sonatas for two violins and basso continuo. Original score in scordatura
• Antonio Vivaldi, 12 trio sonatas da camera op. 1, and two trio sonatas mixed with solo
sonatas in op. 5, and about ten unpublished trios.

14. Theme and Variations in Baroque
Forms
• Chaconne—a set of variations on a short harmonic progression.
• J. S. Bach, Chaconne in D Minor, from Partita No. 2 for Violin Solo
http://conquest.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/d/dc/IMSLP01307-
BWV1004.pdf
http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/lara-sonatas2/
• Passacaglia—a set of variations on basso ostinato (persistently
repetitive line).
• G. F. Handel, Passacaglia in G Minor.
http://imslp.org/wiki/Passacaglia_for_Violin_and_Viola_(Halvorsen,_Jo
han)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoGErup6-xk
• Folia—a set of variations on a standard chord progression.
• A. Corelli, La Folia from Violin Sonata No. 12, op. 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BPhkY6xIP8

15. Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741)
• Nicknamed The Red Priest because of
his red hair.
• Was taught to play the violin by his
father, a professional violinist.
• Worked at the orphanage Ospedale
della Pieta as a violin teacher and
composer. (1703–38)
• Became an opera impresario in Venice
and wrote operas. (1714)
• Worked as Maestro di Cappella of the
court of the governor of Mantua.
(171–18)
• Was a famous composer, received
commissions from European nobility
and royalty.
• Had financial difficulties in the end of
his life.

16. Important Compositions
• Operas
• More than 40 operas, more than 20 survived, including: Ottone ub
villa (1713); L’Olimpiade (1734); Catone in Utica (1737); etc.
• Instrumental Concertos
• over 500 concertos, including 49 Concerti Grossi, 228 for Violin; The
Four Seasons (1725); etc.
• Sacred Music
• Oratorio Juditha Triumphans (1716); 3 Glorias, Stabat Mater, Nisi
Dominus, Beatus Vir, Magnificat, Dixit Dominus, etc.
• Orchestra: Sinfonias
• Chamber Music: 73 sonatas for different instruments
• Secular Cantatas, Serenades

17. Video Assignment
Please watch this video and take notes. You will be asked to
reflect on Vivaldi’s life and legacy using this information.
http://digital.films.com.ezproxy.vccs.edu:2048/PortalViewVideo.
aspx?xtid=4074&psid=0&sid=0&State=&title=Venice%20and%2
0Vivaldi&IsSearch=N&parentSeriesID=

18. Required Readings:
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque_music
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivaldi
• http://www.teoria.com/tutorials/forms/counterpoint/fugue01
.php