Baroque Era Background
Time period for Baroque: 1600-1750.
Reason for dates: 1600 starts for two reasons.
1. Time of operaÕs beginning.
2. Musical language became the language of tonality and functional harmony. (I-IV-V-I). Before 1600, this sound was not a standard part of musical language. It holds from 1600-1900---300 years! In this functional harmonic language, there is much more of a sense of direction and predictability.
In the same respect, the year 1750 is considered the end of the Baroque due to the death of Johann Sebastian Bach. His music is considered to be the culmination of the Baroque style.
Baroque is a term that was first applied to architecture in a derogatory manner. The term means Òodd shaped pearlÓ in Portuguese, distorted and grotesque. That is what people of the time thought of the new style.
Comparing the two Renaissance and Baroque in art, we notice a difference in the contrast of the Baroque. Also a lack of balance, more motion in the work, a breaking up of the space. The faces of Baroque statues express more emotion, overly dramatic and drawn away from realism. In art as well as music, the Baroque style fills space with action and movement.
Representing emotions and new scientific thought. The scientists thought that since the body is made up of mostly liquids, then moods, etc. could be explained by an imbalance of fluids.
The idea of the Baroque is that these emotions and moods could be formulated and affected by representation. This is known as the Doctrine of Affections. Emotions can be represented, ex. joy and happiness expressed in dotted rhythms, sadness and mourning/grief in a descending bass line, especially a chromatic one. Baroque expression differs from 19th century expression in that it is more detached and reported as if by an impartial observer, where the RomanticsÕ expression is purely individual.
This is also known as the age of Absolutism. Increase in central state authority and idea of rule by monarchy. Louis XIVÕs comment ÒI am the stateÓ. The power of society is no longer in church. The monarch has absolute power. Belief that monarch is a direct descendent from God--you wouldnÕt even think to question. Best example is Louis XIV from France--Versailles. All that gold! In his childhood of being neglected and always put on parade and display. The ministers were his advisors and did not advise him on anything that would make him a good ruler; i.e. history, politics, economics, etc. He studied the arts especially Dancing. Loved being on display and when opera was performed for him, he would get up on stage and dance. The composers would actually write in a dance scene into the opera so the king could dance.
Function of the arts was for glorification. To glorify the monarch and impress the people. Two functions were to express and impress.
Music, Art, etc. The Baroque fills space with action and movement. A breaking up of space. Away from reality, towards drama, theatricality, representing emotions.
In the music of the Baroque, we will be looking at two different types of music, instrumental and vocal. Instrumental in the concerto, sonata, and fugue; Vocal in opera.