Classical Period

1750-1810

Diatonic Music
Music where all the notes are within the same key.
No clashy sounds so it will all sound in harmony.
Even Phrases
Two equal length chunks of music, as if separated by commas (breathing points).

Symphony
Large orchestral piece. Split into chunks called movements. There was 3 movements.
1st movement in Sonata Form.
2nd movement is slower and in a different keys and most probably have a stronger melody line.
3rd movement is more lively, more lighthearted, in Rondo Form.

Concerto
A piece of music for a solo instrument and orchestra.

Mozart;
(1756-1791)

Haydn;

(1732-1809)

Schubert;

(1797-1828)

Baroque Music

Ground Bass- 
A short melodic bassline is repeated over and over again.
Another word for it is Ostinato. Played on a cello or bass notes of a harpsichord.

 Pachelbel's Canon;

Continuo-
An independent bass line, usually on a keyboard instrument like a harpsichord. Also called basso continuo.

Figured Bass-
Usually played by a harpsichord. Has numbers underneath the bass line to show; the bass note and the two other notes to make a chord.

String Quartet-
Two Violins, Viola and a Cello.





Concerto Grosso- 
A small group of instruments that work as a group of soloists within an orchestra.

Baroque Opera- 
Recitative: A style in which the lyrics are sang in the rhythm of natural speech.
Aria: A solo vocal piece accompanied by instruments.
Chorus: 

Oratorio- 
Long dramatic piece, with no sets or dramatic action, and performed by soloists, chorus, and orchestra.

Composers- 

Vivaldi;

Purcell;

Bach;

Baroque Music

The baroque era describes the period of european music in the 1600-1750
When the music was written it was based on how the person was feeling at the time.

Ornamentation- Frilly, twiddly bits!

CHAMBER MUSIC
A chamber orchestra is involved which means each player has his own part to play. Chamber music is played by trios (3),quartets (4),quintets (5). Live music played in stately homes.

The job of the harpsichord in the orchestra was to copy parts of the lower instruments and add chords to the harmony of the music. In a piano, little hammers hit the strings, in a harpsichords strings it is plucked so it has a more twangy sound.

Instruments that copy another part and add chords to it are called basso continuo.

Lots of stringed instruments (violins, violas, cello),
Organ, Flutes, Trumpets, Horns,

The Birth of Opera

The singing in baroque music was opera, in Opera there is: singing, instrumental music and drama. It is more like a musical as it is theatrical, where as you have another baroque music style called 'oratorio' which was like an opera but with out scenery.

One composer was Bach, he played the violin and the organ: