Essays on Baroque Music

The aesthetics of the Baroque era and it's addiction to motion and scale was reflected not only in architecture, sculpture and painting, but it has mainly become obvious in the music. The world of contrasts, contradictions and passion was expressed by major and minor keys. The meaning of the major key is joy, the slightest nuances from tenderness to exultant. The minor key means sadness in melancholy and tragic desperation.

RENAISSANCE AND BAROQUE

Musical culture in the XVII and the beginning of the XVIII century has been developed in the frame of Baroque style (Claude 3). It has created new art principles ...

The Context of the World of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Introduction Creative work in the arts emerges in the context of several elements. These create influences for the artist, painter and sculptor. For example, one’s appreciation of a Claude Monet painting is noticeably enhanced after visiting his garden and home in Giverny, France. The same is true of music composers. This brief essay examines important aspects of life surrounding composer Johann Sebastian Bach in the hope that reviewing general Baroque period influences, especially those from societal practices, visual ...

An Examination of Style and Performance

Introduction Joseph Haydn may be the most underrated of all the great composers, especially when it comes to his piano music. Music students in every field, remain taught that Haydn is the “father of the Symphony.” It is this fact that keeps the student from seeking out, discovering, and delighting in his brilliant, often difficult, but worth the challenge of playing Haydn’s late keyboard compositions. Haydn’s major keyboard works are sonatas, generally representing his growth from his early years until 1794 with completion of his final three sonatas. According to Gordon (1996), Haydn often set the ...

In this essay, I will compare and critique three different renditions of the same piece by Johann Sebastian Bach, Prelude and Fugue in C major from the Well- Tempered Clavier BWV 864. For making the interpretation, I have pick three different pianists; Glenn Gould is the first one, Samuel Feinberg is the second one and Daniel Ben Pienaar is the third and also the last one. After I will listen to all three interpretations, I will discuss the different performing style of this three pianist approaching music components such as dynamics, tempo, colour and articulation. Furthermore, I will comment ...

“Greetings old friends, this speech is written in honor of all the lovers of music from classical, RnB, jazz and other genres. I also dedicate this speech to my chosen composer who not only took time to compose a song for this occasion, but also willed to perform it himself. I have so many composers in mind and naming them would take forever.

Firstly, let me explain the purpose of my speech. I happen to be a niece of a proud uncle and well, he is a great lover of music. As a gift, I sought to seek assistance, specifically from you. I ...

Arcangelo Corelli

Arcangelo Corelli is one of the greatest violinists. He is considered to be the founder of modern violin technique. Corelli was one of the key figures of Italian music in XVII-XVIII centuries. Corelli’s works, without exaggeration, can be called masterpieces of Italian classical music. His compositions are embodied rigor, modesty and simplicity. But, at the same time, they are written with the perfect taste, in his exquisite manner. His style is clear and unique. You won’t hear such unnecessary details in Corelli’s compositions like external effects, random notes – each sound has own place. And, at ...

The first movements of piano concertos by J.C. Bach and W.A. Mozart Mozart’s piano concertos are said to among his best compositions. The Piano Concerto in A Major, K. 488 is testament to this. This graceful composition has three movements and uses small orchestra comprised of instruments from all four classes. The instruments are two flutes, two bassoons, two clarinets and two horns as well the instruments from the string section like the violin. One significant difference of Mozart’s concertos was refusing the harpsichord and clavichord. He started to compose sonata concertos only for piano ...

Music is an inseparable part of human life. Nowadays, there are different kinds of music and every person can find something to one’s liking. This essay is aimed at comparing and contrasting two concerts: the pop music concert and Baroque era concert. The first concert I have watched was the concert of Charmaine Clamor. Frankly speaking, I was not impressed much by the concert. However, I should admit that the atmosphere of the concert was interesting and inspiring. Although, it is pop music, it is much alike to jazz. The atmosphere in the club and the manner ...

Revolutionizing the Musical Stage of Northern Italy

Although not as popular as Bach, Claudio Monteverdi, Schutz, Charpentier or Pachelbel. Barbara Strozzi was a representative name for Baroque music. Daughter of poet Giulio Strozzi's servant, born in 1617, she lived an intriguing life, later becoming the most respected and appreciated female composer of the 17th century. She was adopted by her mother's master, a rather famous Venetian intellectual, who saw to her musical education. Her first notable teacher was Francesco Cavalli, already reputable singer and composer. The news of her talent soon spread, and Nicolò Fontei dedicated her no less than two solo songs books, the first one ...

Introduction

The Pre-lude and Fugue in C major, BWV is a composition written by J.S Bach. It appears in the book “The Well-Tempered Clavier” as the first prelude and fugue. This book comprises of a set of 48 preludes and fugues that were authored by J.S Bach. The prelude part of this keyboard piece consists of 35 bars and is also characterized by broken chords. It ends with a single C major chord. However, some artists over time have added extra bars inside the piece in order to add a personal touch to the piece or to alter its progression. The fugue, on the ...

Introduction

Baroque opera involves two distinguished characteristics which can be acquired by its name. This includes baroque which can be described as an era in the history of art in Europe between the 1600 and 1750 years. This era was after the Renaissance period and was later followed Classical era thus marking the initial years in evolution of opera. An opera in a large scale drama characterized by instruments and delivered to the audience through singing, poetry and drama. The dramatically part of the opera involves poetry, captivating action and pantomime, different scenes and costumes. This combination offers a unified element thus ...

The first movements of piano concertos by J.C. Bach and W.A. Mozart Johann Christian Bach and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart have both influenced the development of classical music. Both of them formed the musical style of sonata – most of the 20th and 21th century composers still hold on to the same structure. J.C. Bach was a son of J.S. Bach. Father influenced him a lot – he taught him the art of music since early childhood, but since he died when Johann Christian was only fifteenyears old, he started to compose is his own way.Style of music he wrote was different ...

Introduction

There are many different musical eras, which have influenced music to be composed the way it is now. The eras are the baroque era, the classical era, the romantic era and the modern era. There have been a number of notable famous musicians and composers of music from various countries across from Europe and the United States of America. These composers came from different periods and have influenced one another in their music. In looking at the composition from all the eras, it is very clear that there is a difference and some similarities of the music.

Baroque era

The baroque period is ...

Johann Sebastian Bach is one of the most renowned classical musicians whose works are popular even today. He is considered as one of the most important composers of the Baroque period. His nine symphonies have particularly been cited as some of the most brilliant western classical musical pieces of all time. Apart from symphonies, Bach is also recognized for his other compositions such as Cantatas, which are religious pieces of musical composition. Today, some of his works have been performed by various musicians, compiled and then sold in album format to millions of classical music lovers around the world. ...

- Which system popular during the classical Era of music provided financial stability for musicians and composers? Patronage system was popular during the classical Era of music and provided large financial stability for musicians as well as composers. This is where by the musicians and composers would work under powerful noblemen writing and performing pieces for their patron. However, the musicians lived in isolation and restricted creativity. The musicians and composers were fully committed to composing whatever their boss wanted. This left the musicians and composers with little expose to the musical influences outsides the walls of the ...

The canon of classical and contemporary music

Since the dawn of time, music has been one of the most important cultural inventions of humanity. The use of music to convey knowledge and share information is so profound that almost all existing societies today have its own musical heritage. Music has always taken a vital place in the development of human culture. In fact, instrumental music and songs are regarded as one of the highest form of art by any culture at any point in time. From the tribal traditions passed on from generation to generation through songs, to the highly commercialized music industry of today, music is ...

Comparison of Musicians

Ludwig van Beethoven and Johann Sebastian Bach were two of the most brilliant composers in the genre of classical Western music. The nationality of these two musicians is German. Bach was a composer who lived during the Baroque period. On the other hand, Beethoven was a musical genius who lived during the transition period of Classical period to Romantic era. Beethoven came later than Bach or was born 20 years after Bach’s demise. Beethoven looked up to Bach as his inspiration were he adapted the work of Bach entitled “Well-Tempered Clavier” in one of his musical masterpieces, and regards Bach ...

Baroque music was developed in the period 1600 to 1750. It has its origin in Spain. This type of music shares a lot of characteristics with the modern rock music. These similarities range from the use of instruments, tone and pitch of the music. The excerpts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7CZk6DHGxc show an English Baroque performance while the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPaydWu_gN8 shows a modern rock concert. From the excerpts, it is evident that baroque music and rock are similar in the structure, patterns and the way the, message is portrayed. Both rock music and baroques use imaginative combinations. They are accompanied by strong beats that are ...

Relevance to the Los Angeles Baroque Performers

“The Los Angeles Baroque Players” is one of the most famous baroque musicians in Los Angeles who played several instruments such as viola, harpsichord, flute, and oboe. The group is founded in 1983 and over the years; they have able to maintain their par level performance. It only shows that they have unique musical approach, interpretation, and execution, as well. They hold several concerts and one of the most remarkable performances they have are last January 6, 2012. It was fun and breathtaking event. Certainly, a night to be remembered. The night started to become amazing, when Anthony Brazier, ...

The Baroque period of music falls roughly between the years 1600 and 1750; it was popular throughout many countries of Europe including Italy, France, England, and Germany (Thornburgh 1990). The style of Baroque music sounds very organized, logical, and formal. This has led some critics to describe Baroque music to be emotionally cold, but when performed by the virtuoso performers it was composed for, this music offers a full range of emotions, is captivating, and delightful. There are a great variety of different styles in Baroque music, some of this depending on the time (early, middle, or late during the Baroque ...

Purcell: Dido and Aeneas

Introduction: Purcell’s opera is one of the classic works which includes singing of the highest level together with instrumentation which also shows the composer’s skill at high level opera production. The opera which deals with Ancient Greece is based on a libretto by Nahum Tate who adapted the story of Dido and Aeneas in Carthage in quite a masterful way also including parts which could be said to be tribute to marriage between two monarchs with an allegory to the present manage between Queen Mary and Prince William. Purcell’s score is richly imbued with several fine ...

Part I

Monody – This style is particularly associated with Italian songs in 17th century, specifically from 1600 to 1640. The main composers of Monody were Vincenzo Galilei, Emilio de Cavalieri, and Claudio Monteverdi. Sacrae cantiunculae tribus vocibus of 1582 is the major work in Monody by Claudio Monteverdi. The style grew in Italy as the response to the 16th century contrapuntal style vocal genres like motet and madrigal. The Messiah – Messiah is the work of George Frideric Handel and reached the peak of its popularity in 19th century. It uses text painting and is segregated in three acts. The most ...

Introduction

Rhetoric is defined as “the art or study of using language effectively and persuasively” (thefreedictionary). Throughout history, the relationship between rhetoric and music has often been a close one, especially in the Baroque period (rhetoric). The term ‘baroque’ was derived from the Portuguese barroco, meaning “oddly shaped pearl.” Since the nineteenth century, it has been much used to define the era in Western European music from around 1600 through to 1750 (Baroque). The comparison of history’s greatest musical masterpieces to a misshapen pearl seems unwarranted today. However, the critics of the nineteenth century who coined the phrase felt that ...