UNIT THREE: THE BAROQUE ERA (CA 1600- 1750)
• Derived from the Portuguese barroco – which means “oddly shaped pearl”
• Era of absolute monarchy and religious conflict
• Characteristics were reflected in the arts and culture of the period. Dramatic subject matter, vivid colors, violent images and intricate ornamentation in particular marked the visual arts
• Developments in mathematics, science and medicine.
• Many new forms, genres, and textures, new instruments have developed
• Development of figured bass and the importance of basso continuo
• The creation of the 1st opera popularized a new texture: monody, emphasizing the polarity of the outer voices with a single vocal line replaced with the rich vocal polyphony of the Renaissance. Addition, the relationship between text and music in operas and cantatas and oratorio. The quest was to show human emotions through music was realized in both vocal and instrumental genres.
OPERA:
BACKGROUND:
• Invented in Florence , Italy around 1600
• 1st opera composed by members of the Florentine Camarata
• Inspired by a renewed interest in classical antiquity (Greek drama)
• Precursors include Medieval liturgical drama (Hildegard von Bingen), madrigal cycles (Claudio Monteverdi) and Italian intermedio ( musical interlude between acts of a play)
• Most important new development in 17th music
CHARACTERISTICS:
• Drama presented through music
• All or most of the text is sung
• Components include recitative, aria, ensembles, choruses
• Brings together music with art, literature, theater and dance
• Remains popular to this day