Uncategorized – Baroque Music and the Social, Political and Economic Aspects of the Era

Works Cited

Bauer, Marion, and Ethel Peyser. Music through the Ages: A Narrative for Student and Layman. New York, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1946. Bukofzer, Manfred. “Allegory in Baroque Music.” Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, vol. 3, no. 1/2, Oct. 1939, pp. 1-21. JSTOR, doi:10.2307/750188. Accessed 7 Nov. 2019. Bukofzer, Manfred F. Music in theContinue reading “Works Cited”

Introduction

Music and religion. These two terms have always been interrelated throughout history. Religious texts were sung, and a sense of otherworldliness has always accompanied musical works. Starting from the Age of Enlightenment, this relationship gradually changed, and music started to be dominated by religious views. Music became a tool of propaganda for the church, helpingContinue reading “Introduction”

The Baroque Ensemble and the New Setting

A tiny “orchestra,” or an ensemble to be precise, is performing one of the trio sonatas of Bach. The melody is a rather fast one, and the group has divided its pace into two: The recorder and the violin play the main melody while the harpsichord and viola da gamba accompany them on the background.Continue reading “The Baroque Ensemble and the New Setting”

Recitative: The Combination of Word and Music

He is very passionate, right? His words are well intelligible, and the music, which is subordinate to the text, heightens the emotions of the speaking voice. The actor speaks high or low, fast or slow, “according to the concept he is expressing”. In contrast to the polyphonic voices of the Renaissance, his voice is notContinue reading “Recitative: The Combination of Word and Music”

The Monophony of the Baroque and the Polyphony of the Renaissance

On this place, you can hear Tochter Zion, freue dich by the famous Baroque composer Georg Friedrich Handel. It is an advent song, so it was sung during the four weeks of preparation for Christmas. This version is sung by the choir of the Saxon State Opera of Dresden in the city chapel of Dresden.Continue reading “The Monophony of the Baroque and the Polyphony of the Renaissance”

Concerto: Letting Individuals Stand Out

Note the central figure in this Baroque orchestra. It is not the violinists, nor the harpsichordist. The recorder player takes our attention at the first sight. This flute concerto from Vivaldi is centered on the recorder: it is the recorder that sets the speed, and the rest of the orchestra follows the melodies played byContinue reading “Concerto: Letting Individuals Stand Out”