A single thread winds itself through time and space. It crosses eras and social classes, jobs and nationalities. It binds the Renaissance and the Baroque, the aristocrats and the commonwealth. It’s a thread of rhythm and intonation; it’s a thread of music. Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi blazed a trail of new techniques and styles that would come to define the Baroque period. Composers wanted more freedom, but the aristocrats wanted compositions written to their specifications. Influenced by society, both compositions and performances changed in the Baroque Era. People today know the Renaissance for its four ideas: humanism, secularism, individualism, and skepticism. It took place from the fifteenth to seventeenth century (Kahanda). Most prevalent
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Baroque comes from the Italian word barocco, meaning bizarre or exuberant (Sartorius). Exuberant describes this music period well; composers added many ornamentations such as trills, turns, tremolos, and more. In this way, music became more elaborate than that of the Renaissance. People wrote more operas, oratorios, and cantatas for voice and fugues, suites, and sonatas for instrumental performances (Kahanda). Aristocrats hired composers to create custom pieces. For example, Handel wrote ‘‘Water Music’’ for King George, and it was played on a boat as they sailed down the river (Schwarm). As a celebrated composer, he bought a custom organ (Gudger). However, they would also write music for other reasons. Against the secular ideas of the Renaissance, Bach wrote for the glory of God. On his pieces, he sometimes wrote soli deo gloria, or glory to God alone. ( Appendix A) He once said, ‘‘The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.” Though not all composers felt this way, Bach showed that composing for God did not necessarily mean dry or uninspired work. As the way men composed changed, so did the way people …show more content…
The Baroque oboe and traverso flute were invented amongst the many other instruments. Also, a new kind of violin bow appeared known as the Baroque German violin bow. The different instruments produced a different sound in addition to the complex ornamentation. Now, the players’ audience consisted of the common people as well, so their attitude towards the performance’s expectations changed. In addition to the aforementioned premise, the people of the time had a large influence on the music being produced. Though still surviving, the issue of social class diminished. Although aristocrats had once claimed music as their own, the middle class began to experience it more in the form of operas. (Estrella) Thus, pieces were written for the middle class to experience and perform as well. Composers wrote songs to which the public could relate. The number of songs that served as simple exercises grew to accommodate the surplus of children whom the parents sent to learn. One example, a concerto of Vivaldi’s, demonstrates a five-finger practice for children learning the art of playing an instrument. (Sartorius) During this time, outdoor concerts grew in popularity. They were excellent testing grounds for new compositions as they welcomed experimentation and the testing of original ideas for the public. As more and more people gained access to pieces through the breach of class, music evolved. Overall,
Baroque comes from the Italian word barocco, meaning bizarre or exuberant (Sartorius). Exuberant describes this music period well; composers added many ornamentations such as trills, turns, tremolos, and more. In this way, music became more elaborate than that of the Renaissance. People wrote more operas, oratorios, and cantatas for voice and fugues, suites, and sonatas for instrumental performances (Kahanda). Aristocrats hired composers to create custom pieces. For example, Handel wrote ‘‘Water Music’’ for King George, and it was played on a boat as they sailed down the river (Schwarm). As a celebrated composer, he bought a custom organ (Gudger). However, they would also write music for other reasons. Against the secular ideas of the Renaissance, Bach wrote for the glory of God. On his pieces, he sometimes wrote soli deo gloria, or glory to God alone. ( Appendix A) He once said, ‘‘The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.” Though not all composers felt this way, Bach showed that composing for God did not necessarily mean dry or uninspired work. As the way men composed changed, so did the way people …show more content…
The Baroque oboe and traverso flute were invented amongst the many other instruments. Also, a new kind of violin bow appeared known as the Baroque German violin bow. The different instruments produced a different sound in addition to the complex ornamentation. Now, the players’ audience consisted of the common people as well, so their attitude towards the performance’s expectations changed. In addition to the aforementioned premise, the people of the time had a large influence on the music being produced. Though still surviving, the issue of social class diminished. Although aristocrats had once claimed music as their own, the middle class began to experience it more in the form of operas. (Estrella) Thus, pieces were written for the middle class to experience and perform as well. Composers wrote songs to which the public could relate. The number of songs that served as simple exercises grew to accommodate the surplus of children whom the parents sent to learn. One example, a concerto of Vivaldi’s, demonstrates a five-finger practice for children learning the art of playing an instrument. (Sartorius) During this time, outdoor concerts grew in popularity. They were excellent testing grounds for new compositions as they welcomed experimentation and the testing of original ideas for the public. As more and more people gained access to pieces through the breach of class, music evolved. Overall,