Baroque and Classical Music: Forms and Great Composers

Vocal Forms in Baroque Music

Recitative: A system used to recite, which is accompanied by basso continuo.
Arioso: It is a more ornate form of singing than recitative.
Aria: A melody that is decorated with profusion.

Opera and Zarzuela Traditions

Opera Seria: Characterized by an aristocratic nature with historical themes; it has a high cost, long duration, and features great costumes.
Opera Buffa: A popular form used by middle-class characters; it is inexpensive, economical, features few actors, and utilizes small stages.
Zarzuela: A play performed in Castilian in which spoken and sung scenes alternate. There are two types: large and small. The work is a scenic interlude, both sung and spoken, that is short and fun.

Religious and Secular Vocal Structures

Baroque religious music is based on realities found in the works, but it also used the polychoral style (the use of two, three, or more choirs at the same time); Giovanni Gabrieli excels in this field.
English Composers: Henry Purcell (famous for Dido and Aeneas, his first opera) and George Frideric Handel.
The Oratorio is a vocal form of religious character without narrative stage performance; it depicts a religious drama through song.
The Cantata is a musical form of secular (profane) lyrical character. The Passion is a massive cantata designed to glorify the passion and death of Christ.

Instrumental Music and Regional Masters

The Concerto is a form for Baroque orchestra in three movements: 1st Allegro, 2nd Slow, and 3rd Allegro.

Regional Developments

• Italy: Featuring Giovanni Gabrieli, Tintoretto, Titian, Veronese, Arcangelo Corelli, and Antonio Vivaldi. Vivaldi represents the culmination of Baroque instrumental qualities, which are beauty in its melodies and rhythmic vitality.
• Germany: Johann Sebastian Bach is important for his creations for organ, harpsichord, and orchestra; in his works, he binds melodic taste with contrapuntal technique.
• England: George Frideric Handel, of German origin, settled in London. Highlights include his organ concertos of great beauty; he also wrote a series of works for court ceremonies.
• France: François Couperin and Jean-Philippe Rameau.

The Classical Period and the Symphony

The Sonata follows a specific scheme (1st Allegro, 2nd Adagio, 3rd Minuetto, 4th Final). The structure is: A (Exposition), B (Development), and A (Exposition/Recapitulation). The Symphony is a sonata for orchestra and has the same parts as the sonata.

Great Masters of the Era

Joseph Haydn: Born in Rohrau in 1732 and died in 1809, he is considered the "Father of the Symphony" because he made it the star of Classical music. His works reflect aristocratic tastes and are inspired by popular melodies; he also founded the string quartet.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Born in Salzburg in 1756 and died in 1791, he is considered a child prodigy because at 4 years old he played the piano and by age 6 had composed relevant works. His compositions include symphonies, quartets, and concertos.

Ludwig van Beethoven: Born in Bonn in 1770, he is one of the great creators of music. His career is divided into three periods: 1st until 1800, 2nd until 1815, and 3rd until his death. Beethoven gives relevance to music and leads the symphony to its summit.