Mini-Module Four  

The material which follows will serve as the framework of our lectures and discussions 
for Mini-Module Four. This material is presented in a format which will enable you 
to easily printout a copy which you might choose to do as we begin the Mini-Module, 
however, you certainly will want to refer to the Mini-Module Four notes as you complete MTIV  
[Mini-Test Four] which is a "virtual" experience

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Mini-Module Four - Listening Emphasis

Purcell: Dido and Aeneas, "When I am Laid in Earth" - Dido's Lament
J. S. Bach: Cantata #80 - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Handel: Messiah - "Rejoice Greatly" and "Hallelujah Chorus"
Vivaldi: Four Seasons, 1st Movement "Spring"
J. S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in C Minor [Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1]

The Baroque [1600-1750]

the stabilization of music as we know it today - a time of - more personal expression - trends towards the decorative - trends towards the emotional - excessive emphasis on flamboyant/dramatic

.....Visual Arts: fully decorative ["every square inch filled"]
.....Fashion: elaborate hair styles, frilly clothes,
.....Religion: splendor of cathedrals/services
.....Music: tried to paint pictures
.....Paintings: tried to produce motion

The World
"Era of Colonization"

Americans were colonized - Louis XIV "The Sun King"  of France; most important court of the day - Literature; Milton-England, Cervantes-Spain - Painting; Peter Paul Reuben, Rembrandt-Netherlands - Phil./Science; Bacon, Galileo, Descartes and Newton

Music in General: dominated by Italian ideas - [Venice leading, Florence, Naples, Rome] - written for specific medium [strings, voice, etc.] - express/represent a wide range of ideas/feelings

The Two Practices: [conflicting in intent and content]
.....stile antico - first practice, old style, use of polyphony
.....stile moderno - second practice, new style, use of monody

stile antico: music dominated the text [polyphony]
stile moderno: text dominated the music [monody]

Monody: invention/development of [both sacred and secular]
[problem with polyphony telling stories-too much]

THE GOAL OF MONODY IS TO CLEARLY EXPRESS A SINGLE IDEA OR EMOTION

.....rise of Opera
     because of monody and use of music to tell stories
.....flavor for extravagance
.....rise of patronage [music for hire]
.....great royal houses/cities/courts
.....German-Kapellmeisters [masters of chapel]
.....rise of middle class-Leipzig/Hamburg

First Opera of note [probably] Peri and Caccini "Euridice" 1600 in Florence

operas: oft-used text from Greek and Roman Mythology - orchestra, chorus, 
soloists, staging, costumes, dancing

Rise of the Oratorio: could not perform operas during Lent/Advent

oratorios: primarily religious texts and subjects - chorus, orchestra, soloists,
no staging, costumes, dancing

Four Primary Elements of Baroque Music:

Rhythm, Melody, Texture and Harmony

Baroque Rhythm: Motor Rhythm
based upon dance with strong/metrical/accents
drive/vigor/steadiness of beat through a movement
pulse established by the bass line and maintained

Baroque Melody: Fortspinnung
previously main medium was voice - rise of use of instrumental melodies - use of specific instruments for sounds - melodic extensions [spinning out/Fortspinnung

Baroque Texture: Monody
move away from massive layers of polyphony - clear melody supported by chords and bass line - bass line-basso continuo - standard form; duet w/basso continuo - 2 for duet, 2 for basso continuo

Baroque Harmony
harmonies supported melodies - start with harmonic structure/melody fit - unlike renaissance horizontal feel - Baroque had a sense of vertical orientation

Dynamics in music: how loud or soft [ff >>> pp]
Baroque use of terraced dynamics; levels - more play, less play
Terraced Dynamics; contrast/emotion/descriptive

Popular Instrumental Form: Concerto Grosso; large concerto
.....concertino - soloist or group of soloists
.....ripieno - full orchestra
.....ritornello - repeated or primary themes

Review of Baroque Musical Traits
.....terraced dynamics
.....fortspinnung
.....motor rhythm
.....basso continuo
.....monody

Consonance versus Dissonance

Dissonance: sounds wrong to western ears/ jangling/ bad
Consonance: sounds right/ logical
The Baroque music versus Renaissance approach

English Baroque [a little later as the English were also in the renaissance]

John Blow and Henry Purcell
.....Purcell wrote many religious works, instrumental and keyboard selections, 
     secular vocal compositions.
.....Purcell Main Fame: Dido and Aeneas [based on Virgil's Aeneid]
     opera written for girls boarding school [1 hr.] - Main Players: four soloists, chorus, dances  
     trio of witches, instrumentalist - and one drunken sailor - work is very emotional, tells a  
     story has recitatives

Mature Baroque: Main Players & Super-Heroes
Vivaldi/Italy--concertos//Rameau/France--operas//
J. S. Bach/Germany--cantatas//G. F. Handel/England--oratorios

Vivaldi: [click for pic]
Father was a leading violinist at St. Mark's in Venice - educated for priesthood and music - ill-health kept him from the priesthood - oft-called the "Red-Haired Priest" - worked almost exclusively in Venice - continuous need for new music [Bach/Handel, etc. also] - one of the fastest composers to have lived - concerto grosso [review ripieno/concertino] - one or more solo instruments with orchestra - ritornello-returning part/basic musical idea - highest form of this art - Four Seasons - Concepts: terraced dynamics, ripieno, concertino, ritornello, program

Rameau
foremost French musician of the 18th century - practically unknown until the age of 40 - first recognized as a musical theorist/only later as composer - most significant compositions age 50-56 - essentially defined modern tonality [M/m/inversions/I/IV/V] - music generally exhibited heroic qualities/grace/clarity, etc. - as well-known as a theorist as for his compositions - famous works include: Castor et Polllux - Hippolyte et Aricie - [demonstration on piano major/minor I-IV-V/chords]

Super Hero: Johan Sebastian Bach

The Life and Times of J. S. Bach

**Baroque Field Trip and Organ Demonstration**

J. S. Bach: 1685-1750 [click for pic]

German - son of a violinist - family of many generations of working musicians-over 200 years - became an orphan at age 10 - went to live with brother who taught him the clavichord - copied music at night - later disaster to eyes - began composing for the organ at age 16 - at age 18 began long career as musician - working class musician/organist-violinist/choir director - married twice; 1st to cousin Maria [Bach was 22 at the time] - 2nd to Anna Magdalena [Bach was 36 at the time] - 7 children from 1st wife [at least] - 13 children from 2nd wife [at least] - several children went on to greatness - CPE, JC, etc. - was virtually blind and suffered strokes before his death in 1750 - Music known for strength, simplicity and nobility of spirit - Towering serenity, intricate design

Overall
high quality of enormous output
almost universal respect and veneration by all musician

Cantor of St. Thomas in Leipzig/Lutheran Heavy-Weight - great craftsman/pleasure and edification of fellowmen - all music was for the Glory of God - A Gift Back to the Giver - very religious - would have been surprised at his fame and notoriety today - wrote in most forms except opera - main forms: cantatas, motets, masses, chorales vocal & instrumental. - use of the fugue; subject/answer/counter subject - Mendelssohn resurrection of Bach in 1800's

Noteworthy Compositions
.....Brandenburg Concertos [series of six, concerto grossi]
.....Saint John and Saint Matthew [The Passions]
.....Cantatas
.....Motets
.....Chorales
.....Preludes and Fugues
.....Well-Known Songs/Tunes
     Air on a G String, Sheep May Safely Graze, Arioso,
     Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, Come Sweet Death

Word About Fugues:
the word "fugue" translates loosely to "fleeting" or "flight" - fugues are a tad like theme & variation - except main theme remains virtually unaltered - 1st voice - subject - 2nd voice - answer [subject in a different key] - countersubject [acc. of voice 1 while 2 on answer]

Super Hero: Georg Frederic Handel

The Life and Times of G. F. Handel

G. F. Handel: 1685-1759 [click for pic]

Born in Germany - usually associated with England - thoroughly international composer - German seriousness/Italian suavity/French grandeur/ - matured in England with grand choral tradition - unlike Bach's very personal music-Handel-cosmopolitan - unlike others-popular then, popular now - organ/harpsichord-primary; oboe/violin-secondary - wrote in all forms; operas, instrumental suites, sonatas - concertos, etc. - oft-associated with Oratorios: massive choral and instrumental forces, English - soloists, recitatives [explain], religious story - unlike opera as there is no staging-cheaper - concepts: ritornello, terraced dynamics, ripieno-concertino] interesting stories of both fireworks music and water music - Highlights from the Messiah] Comfort Ye - Ev'ry Valley - And the Glory of the Lord - For Unto Us a Child Is Born - Hallelujah Chorus - concepts: oratorio, baroque traits throughout, narrative, etc. - use of soloists, recitatives, dramatic, expressive, magnificence-towering impressiveness

Noteworthy Compositions
.....the Messiah
.....Royal Fireworks Music [concerto grosso]
.....Water Music [concerto grosso]
.....discussion of others as time permits