Baroque Music Forms: Opera, Oratorio, and Instrumental Masterpieces

Baroque art is characterized by its rich ornamentation and dramatic intensity, pursuing the exploration of form and the contrast of light and shadow.

Profane Vocal Music: The Birth of Opera

Characteristics of Opera

• Main profane vocal form.
• Understood as an entirely sung piece, written for orchestra, choirs, and soloists.

Early Operas

• First opera: Euridice by Jacopo Peri.
• First drama in music: L'Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi (1607).

Parts of an Opera

Key Composers

• Antonio Vivaldi
• Johann Sebastian Bach
• George Frideric Handel

Vocal Parts

• Recitative: Halfway between spoken word and singing.
• Aria: A part sung by a soloist.

Instrumental Parts

• Overture: An instrumental introduction.
• Interludes: Connecting instrumental sections.
• Choruses and Ballets: Often integrated into the performance.

Notable Castrati

• Farinelli
• Pacchierotti
• Ferri
• Senesino

Religious Vocal Music: Oratorio, Passion, and Cantata

Traditional Forms and New Developments

Traditional forms like masses and motets (often in Latin) continued to be composed regularly. However, new forms such as the oratorio, passion, and cantata also emerged.

These new forms were typically written for orchestra, choir, and soloists, structured as a sequence of recitatives, arias, choruses, and instrumental parts. Unlike opera, they generally lacked stage settings or dances.

Key Religious Forms

• Oratorio: Similar to opera but with a religious theme and no staging.
• Cantata: Meaning "sung" in Italian, it could be either profane or religious.
• Passion: A liturgical drama depicting the Passion (death) of Christ, typically performed during Holy Week.

Notable Oratorio Composer

One of the greatest oratorio composers was George Frideric Handel.

Baroque Instrumental Music: Key Characteristics

Characteristics

1. Independence from Vocal Forms: Instrumental music became an autonomous genre, no longer merely accompanying or imitating vocal forms.
2. Perfection of Instrument Making: Violin luthiers achieved an unparalleled level of craftsmanship. Family names like Amati, Stradivari, and Guarneri became synonymous with the finest instrument makers in history.
3. Virtuosity: Composers began writing music specifically for highly skilled and specialized performers.
4. The Rise of the Orchestra: The orchestra emerged as a distinct ensemble, comprising a varied number of string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments.
5. The Basso Continuo: A foundational element, it required at least one instrument capable of:
   • Playing chords (e.g., lute, harpsichord).
   • Playing melodies in the bass register (e.g., viola da gamba, bassoon, cello).
6. Development of Instrumental Forms: Many significant instrumental forms were created and developed during the Baroque period. The most important include the sonata, the concerto (which could be solo or concerto grosso), and the suite.