Baroque Music: Characteristics, Vocal Forms, and Instrumental Genres

Baroque music features a prominent melodic line, often with figured bass (numbers indicating chords) for harmonic improvisation. It typically includes a main melody supported by accompanying voices. Harmony is built upon chords, and contrast is a key element, evident in the interplay between voices, instruments, dynamics (forte/piano), and solo/tutti sections.

Opera emerged as a significant vocal genre during the Baroque era. It is essentially musical theatre.

An overture is an orchestral introduction played before the curtain rises in an opera or other theatrical work.

Recitative is a vocal style that blends singing and speaking, typically used to advance the plot. It is usually accompanied by basso continuo.

An aria is a solo piece designed to showcase a main character's emotions. Duets and quartets are also common.

Oratorios are religious narratives set to music, drawing from biblical texts (both Old and New Testaments). Various churches (Catholic, Lutheran) used them to convey their doctrines.

Oratorios differ from operas in that they are not staged. They are performed by an orchestra, choir, and soloists who narrate the story without sets, costumes, or action.

Cantatas, like oratorios, were employed by different churches (Catholic, Lutheran) to communicate their doctrines.

During the Baroque period, instrumental music achieved complete independence from vocal music.

The concerto grosso features a musical dialogue or rivalry between a small group of instruments (the concertino) and a larger ensemble. Notable composers include Corelli and Handel. This genre declined in popularity towards the end of the Baroque period, as the solo concerto gained prominence.

The solo concerto highlights a dialogue between a single instrument and the orchestra. Torelli, Vivaldi, and Bach were prominent composers, and the form remains popular today.

A sonata is a composition intended to be played by an instrument or instruments.

The sonata da chiesa was designed for performance in a church. It typically consists of more abstract movements, such as grave, allegro, moderato, or vivo.

The sonata da camera was performed in secular settings and often combines various dance rhythms, such as prelude, corrente, adagio, sarabande, and allemande.

The fugue is a significant form that emerged during the Baroque era. It is based on imitation and is a contrapuntal composition in one movement. A main theme, known as the subject or answer, is repeated in different voices and keys.

The dance suite was an important instrumental genre of the Baroque period. It consists of a series of dances.