Aarav Kashyap Blog

In the last post I mainly just gave an introduction and some information of the baroque period. Here we start by talking about the birth of the baroque period and major events in it.

The birth of the Baroque period-

The baroque period actually started of with the first ever opera which was the Jacopo Peri’s Dafne, In Florence(Italy) in 1598.The start of the Baroque period had a surprising start where Polyphony (2 melodic lines) became something people were not talking about, but rather just one single melodic line.This was called monody.The decline in polyphony and the new concept of monody was an attempt to recreate the style of classical greek drama.

How composers made compositions dramatic:

Composers in the early baroque period actually had a way of making their compositions seem more dramatic to the audience.More major chords(Used for something happy ) and Minor chords(used for something sad)were used.As well as that, people started to get dramatic and contrasting affects by varying how loud the song is, or how fast and slow it is.

Terms in this post that might seem complicated(explained):

Polyphony-Polyphony is a word from greek.In greek, Polyphony means many sounds.Its when 2 or more Lines of melody are put together.

monody-Single line melodies.

tempo-Songs speed, slower faster( I did not write tempo in the post, just for reference)

Major chords-usually chords that are meant for happy songs

Minor chords-well, the exact opposite of major chords.used when songs are supposed to portray something sad.

citations: source 1-Classical music-book, source 2

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When was the baroque period?

1600-1750

What happened in the baroque period?

This period was established in Italy in 1700, and later started in other places of the world.In this period,There were some great inventions, (I doubt that people have heard all of them) which were the harpsichord, the organ, the oboe, and the lute.

Harpsichord

The harpsichord is a keyboard instrument where strings are plucked, rather than by a hammer(This hammer is in the keyboard)The keyboard is a modified version of this as it came in the classical period rather than coming in the baroque period.

Organ

The second you read that, it will sound weird.I have no idea why they named the instrument “Organ” but like its better to add it then not.Like all the other instruments in this period is a keyboard instrument.The player operates it with both hands and feet. This instrument uses pressurised air produces notes through a series of pipes.The instrument is mainly knows as/referred to as “pipe organs” rather than “organ”

Oboe

The earliest oboe actually only had 2 keys.In the early 19th centuries several improvements occurred in the manufacture of the wind instrument key work. It introduced the concept of metal pillars in place of the wooden ridges which the keys had been mounted.

Lute

Lute is basically a guitar that was popular the 16th century.Some changes have been made but the Instrument has not changed much.The evolved version of the lute is a guitar.The lute was mainly popular in Europe.

What are the key characteristics of the baroque period?

grandeur, sensuous richness, drama, dynamism, movement, tension, emotional exuberance, and a tendency to blur distinctions between the various arts.

Where did it flourish?

It flourished in Italy,Germany, and France

next post:7th November

Citations:

source 1, source 2, source 3, source 4