Baroque Period
This is the time span generally given for the Baroque period in music.
1600 - 1750
Vivaldi was nicknamed this because of his red hair.
The Red Priest
Handel wrote this famous religious oratorio in less than a month.
Messiah
Bach was born in this German town on March 21, 1685.
Eisenach
Which two composers from the uploaded files were born in the same year, 1685?
George Frideric Handel and Johann Sebastian Bach
Name two groups (classes) who were often responsible for supporting and promoting the arts during the Baroque era.
Royaltyy, Clergyman, and Nobleman
Vivaldi wrote over this many concertos, many for violin.
Over 200
Handel wrote music for a king of England and composed this outdoor suite performed on the River Thames.
Water Music
At age 18 Bach became organist at this town.
Arnstadt
Which composer wrote music used for a royal river performance and which composer wrote program music depicting seasons? (two-part answer)
Water Music — George Frideric Handel; The Four Seasons — Antonio Vivaldi
Musicians often began training through three stages before becoming masters. Name one of these stages.
Apprentice, Journeyman, or Mastership
Name the famous Vivaldi set of violin concertos that depict the seasons.
The Four Seasons
Handel was born in Germany but studied in this country before moving to England.
Italy
Name one keyboard instrument Bach played and wrote for.
Organ (other acceptable: Harpsichord; Clavier)
Name one reason a composer might write music for a court or church during the Baroque period.
To receive patronage/pay, to serve religious functions, to gain social status, or to provide entertainment for royals/nobility
During the Baroque, which family is famously associated with supporting the arts in Italy?
The Medici family
Vivaldi worked as a priest and also held a musical post at this famous Venetian cathedral.
St. Mark’s Cathedral
Later in his career Handel focused on this large-scale vocal form that was especially popular in England and Ireland.
Oratorio
Bach wrote many works for church and court; name one of his best‑known keyboard works famous for its dramatic opening (often played on organ).
Toccata and Fugue in D minor
Which composer wrote an oratorio first performed in Dublin in 1742 and what is the oratorio’s name?
George Frideric Handel — Messiah
Name one way orchestras changed during the Baroque period (one-word answer).
Strings became permanent (other acceptable: accompaniment with special parts; woodwinds/brass treated like guests)
Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons is a prime example of this type of music that tells a story or paints a scene.
Program music
Handel served as artistic director of the Royal Academy of Music and later formed his own company; name one challenge he faced with these ventures.
His companies went bankrupt / business failures
Describe briefly how Bach’s family life affected him: how many children did he have across both marriages, and how many survived to adulthood from the second marriage?
About 2020 children total; from his second marriage he had 1313 children with 66 surviving to adulthood
Give two examples that show how historical events or social structures influenced music in the Baroque era.
Patronage by royalty and noble families (e.g., Medici, King George I) influenced composers’ jobs and output; composers worked for church and court (e.g., Bach writing church chorales and court music), affecting what they composed and for whom.