Baroque Music: Opera, Oratorio, Cantata & Instrumental Forms

Baroque Vocal and Instrumental Music

1.1 Birth of Opera

Opera appeared in the court of the Bardi cultural circle. They were called the Camerata Fiorentina and included nobles, philosophers and poets who attempted to revive Greek theatre. The use of accompanied melody made the aim of opera clearer: opera sought intelligibility of the text. Euridice by Jacopo Peri (1600); L'Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi.

Characteristics

Compound vocal form with a narrative nature that makes use of staged performance. It is written for orchestra, choir and soloists. Three parts:

• Overture: instrumental introduction.
• Sung style: for soloists and choirs — two types:
  1. Aria — melodies for sentimental texts.
  2. Recitative — declaimed text for passages.
• Interludes: instrumental sections that join the parts of an opera.

1.2 Types of Opera

Two main types:

• Opera seria: mythological and heroic topics, written in Italian. It was the favorite genre of the aristocracy.
• Opera buffa: based on daily life, featuring characters closer to the audience. It had a popular nature reflected in its simpler music and was written in the language of each country.

Opera became one of the most important genres of the Baroque. Each country had particular characteristics:

1. France: called tragédie lyrique.
2. England: Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell.
3. Germany: opera buffa was called Singspiel.
4. Spain: opera was called Zarzuela.

Religious Vocal Music

The Protestant church kept the chorale as its most representative form.

2.1 Cantata

Introduced texts from the Gospels and popular religious topics. A compound form written for orchestra, choirs and soloists. The main composer is Johann Sebastian Bach.

2.2 Oratorio

Regarded as an opera with a religious theme but without staged performance. Formed by sequences of recitatives, arias and choruses. Introduces the narrator who tells stories about the Old and New Testaments. Messiah by Handel.

2.3 Passion

An oratorio about the Passion and death of Christ. The narrator is the evangelist, who tells events in recitative style. St. Matthew Passion by Bach.

Instrumental Music

The technical evolution of instruments and the birth of the orchestra played a decisive role. Composers specialized in one instrument, which made possible the appearance of the first "virtuosos" — horn, flutes and leading violinists. The essential basis of the Baroque orchestra was the basso continuo, performed by the harpsichord.

3.1 Suite

Instrumental form made up of sequences of dances. Common movements include the allemande, courante, sarabande and gigue.

3.2 Sonata

Compound form divided in four sections that contrast slow and fast tempos with different textures and rhythms: slow, fast, slow, fast. Duo and trio accompaniment by the harpsichord and the basso continuo.

3.3 Concerto

Compound form, three movements: fast, slow, fast. Two groups according to the instruments that intervene:

• Concerto grosso: for a group of soloists and the rest of the orchestra. (Bach and Handel.)
• Solo concerto: single solo instrument in constant dialogue with the orchestra.