The term Baroque had been used widely in the nineteenth century to describe a period of time in Western European art music from about 1600-1750. During the nineteenth century, “baroque” had a derogatory connotation. Nowadays, “baroque” is a convenient term for one of the richest and most diverse periods in music history. The baroque era greatly expanded our horizons.
Many of the well-known artists of the baroque period hail from Italy. Although Italy played a vital role in the development of genres such as the cantata, concerto, sonata, oratorio, and opera, new concepts of what it meant to be a nation increased the imperative of a “national style.” Differences in nations are often audible in music from the baroque period. These differences were not only apparent in the way the music was composed, but also in conventions of performance: particularly between Italy and France. As musicians and composers traveled throughout Europe and heard each other's music, the new conventions they encountered made subtle impressions on them.
One of the major philosophical currents in baroque music comes from the belief that music was a potent tool of communication. Greeks and Romans believed that music was a powerful tool of communication and could arouse any emotion in its listeners. As a result of these ideas, composers because increasingly aware of music’s potential power and believed their own compositions could have similar effects if they correctly emulated ancient music. Throughout much of the baroque era, composers only earned a living writing music if they were fortunate enough to be on the payroll of a political or religious institution.
Baroque music usually has contrast in the drama of the composition. Differences between loud and soft, solo and ensemble (i.e. in the concerto), and different instruments and timbres all play important roles in many baroque compositions. Composers also began to be more precise about instrumentation, often specifying the instruments on which a piece should be played instead of allowing the performer to choose. Instruments like the trumpet and violin also grew in popularity during this period.
In previous musical eras, a piece of music tended to consist of a single melody sometimes with an improvised accompaniment, or several melodies played simultaneously. The concept of “melody” and “harmony” truly began to be articulated during the baroque period. Composers started focusing more on a single voice with a simplified accompaniment, or monody. The practice of basso continuo (musical notation in which the melody and bass line are written out and the harmonic filler indicated in a type of shorthand) came shortly after the emphasis on a single melody and bass line. Since basso continuo, or thorough bass, remained standard practice until the end of the baroque period, the era is sometimes known as the “age of the thorough bass.”
Some of the most influential and beloved compositions are regularly performed in concert halls and a wealth of recordings make the baroque available on demand. Many of the musical genres still in use today, like the oratorio, concerto, and opera, originated in the baroque period. The unwavering belief in the power of music to touch people’s lives in the baroque period changed music history forever.
