![]() ![]() The melodies of the Baroque period also became significantly longer. They used motifs (short melodic phrases) that were repeated and developed and many of the melodies were decorated with ornaments, such as trills. Baroque Melodiesīaroque composers wrote melodies based on major/minor tonality. The modes so characteristic of the Renaissance Period gave way to this new tonality. Major and minor keys took centre stage and have held on to this position ever since (although we shall see in later periods they have not always been unchallenged in this dominance!). ![]() The Baroque Period is the time where the tonality we are most familiar with today became established. If you were only allowed to think of 3 words to describe the characteristic of Baroque music to someone then the words tonality, melody and contrast would go a long way towards helping you do so. (soloist John Harrison) Baroque Music Characteristics ![]() Here is an extract from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: (Performed by the Orchestra Gli Armonici) ![]() Here is the Hallelujah from Handel’s Messiah: Here is Gloria in Excelsis Deo by Bach performed by The Netherlands Bach Society: Let’s have a listen to some of their work. Johann Sebastian Bach (composed over 1,000 pieces of music!!), George Frederic Handel (wrote The Messiah) and Antonio Vivaldi (The Four Seasons and Gloria remain very popular) are considered to be the most famous Baroque composers. It is not surprising, therefore that the music composed and performed at the time similarly stretched the boundaries of what had been heard up until this point. Great artists such as Rembrandt and Caravaggio were developing new techniques in the world of art. It was also a time of great scientific discoveries – (think of individuals such as Gallileo and Sir Isaac Newton) and new lands were still being explored. In Europe, the 30 years war (1618-1648) was being raged and powerful rulers such as Louis XIV in France, Charles II in England and Peter The Great in Russia reigned with considerable ruthlessness. The Baroque period was a very eventful period of history. ![]()
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