January 14, 2011 in Baroque Music by admin

Distinct Features of Baroque Music

Baroque Music comprises of highly decorative yet complicated composition which is steadily finding its way back into people’s hearts after being forgotten for nearly three hundred years. This European classical form of music preceded the Classical Era, involving drastic changes in notation and intricate ornamentation. Baroque music is probably the only style of music which explores all the different facets of instruments as well as vocals. It even led to the formation of a new genre of music in the form of an Opera.

Baroque musicians put a lot of emphasis on counterpoint, which involves playing a couple or more lines of music at a go. All parts of such a piece are equally important. To the listeners, it is like hearing two or more people talk at the same time in different tones/pitches. In addition, the musicians decorate the composition heavily either with instruments or a strategic use of vocals.

The fugue is the most significant attribute of baroque music. It is part of a ‘form’, which is simply a plan followed by a composer while creating music. Most baroque musical forms which were used during the years starting 1600 till 1750 continue to be used even now. A fugue is akin to a musical round where one voice enters the scene and is followed by a series of successive voices. However, voices within this form start on high pitches and end on lower ones. In addition, they keep on playing new pieces even as distinctly different voices continue to emerge. This is the main reason why baroque music is known to have a polyphonic texture.

Baroque music is also unique in nature because it can be played with or without a soloist, although it is credited with the introduction of trend. Earlier, most baroque musical pieces were developed in a choral structure. However, musicians are now blending choral arrangements with solo pieces on a regular basis.

A harpsichord is the most famous instrument synonymous with baroque although other instruments like violin and flute are also common. The different components of instrument suites derive their names from dances from the Renaissance era. One or more instrument can be used to play a particular suite. It begins with a prelude and includes the following dance phases: Allemande, Courante, Hornpipe, Sarabande, Gigue, Menuet, Gavotte, Air, Pavane, Galliard and Bouree. Most of these pieces are based on lively French and German dances.