The Baroque Era

Composers

100

This composer, often dubbed the most famous composer of the Baroque Era, is known for his religious compositions the cantata and secular pieces such as the famous cello suites

Johann Sebastian Bach

200

This composer, dubbed a man of the theater, became incredibly popular in England, where he wrote many oratorios, most famous being The Messiah

George Frederich Handel

300

This composer was a former priest turned music teacher at an all girls school, where he championed solo music for the violin and concertos that resembeled the seasons

Antonio Vivaldi

400

This composer is often credited as the "Father of Opera" while also excelling at keyboard music and religious works

Henry Purcell

500

This composer is credited with setting the foundational style that Mozart and Haydn would take inspire from. 

Arcangelo Corelli

Opera and Vocal Music

100

This style, meaning beautiful singing, was incredibly popular during the Baroque era, and was commonly found in Soprano parts

Bel Canto

200

This concept in Baroque vocal music emphasized the importance of one solo singer

Monodony

300

This style in a Baroque vocal work, is heavily dependent on the music, with soaring melodies, strict meter, and orchestral accompaniment at the forefront

The Aria

400

This style in a Baroque vocal work, is heavily dependent on the text, and is often accompanied dry or with an orchestra

The Recitative

500

This opera is often seen as the first influential opera in the history of Western Music

Dido and Aeneas

Instrumental Music

100

This composition, performed commonly by a piano (or famously by cello) is seen as a warm up or pre show to a concert or mass

Prelude

200

This technique, achieved by pushing stops in and out, would allow the organ to quickly change volume

Terraced dynamics

300

Often defined by the exposition and various episodes, this polyphonic work is seen as the pinnacle of Baroque compositional technique

Fugue

400

Found in a Baroque orchestra, this style of bass line would often be given to the lower strings and lower woodwinds of the time

Basso Continuo

500

Found in a concerto grosso, the concertino (smaller group) would trade off melodic phrases with what other voice?

Ripieno

Religious Music

100

This composition style would commonly be found in Lutheran mass services, with an organ often playing the melody for the rest of the congregation to sing

The Chorale Prelude

200

This style of composition, popularized by Handel, was considered a stage concert that always included religious connotations

The oratorio

300

This style of composition, also popularized by Bach, depicts Bible stories and often features a smaller choir and instrumentation. Derives from the verb cantar

Cantata

400

This genre of mass, popularized by Bach, would be performed around the Easter holiday, with context surrounding the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ

Passion

500

This earlier style of composition emphasized polyphonic texture, music importance over text, and was often used by Palestrina and Monteverdi for religious purposes

First Practice or Stile Antica

Historical Background

100

This term, meaning distorted or irregular, is the defining concept for this musical era

Baroque

200

This religious figure used his authority to split from the Catholic Church, due to their refusal to grant this individual six divorces

King Henry VIII

300

This famous scientific researcher focused his studies on that of gravity and the effects of time

Isaac Newton

400

This venue, allowed for audience members to see early stage productions rooted in singing

Opera House

500

This device, created during the Baroque era, would be influential for music, allowing performers to practice at a variety of tempos

The metronome