Baroque music is characterized by 1) a unity of mood where a happy or sad mood is maintained throughout the piece, 2) a relentless rhythmic drive conveyed through reiterated patterns, and 3) terraced dynamics where the volume shifts suddenly between constant levels rather than with gradual changes. Melodies are also complex and elaborated upon throughout pieces. Texture is predominantly polyphonic with important melodic lines in the soprano and bass, and basso continuo provides chordal accompaniment indicated through figure bass notation.