The Baroque Period: The Age Of Absolutism

494 Words2 Pages

The Baroque period was identified as the “Age of Absolutism” because it was a period where rulers practiced their full power to control subjects. Also during the Baroque time frame music became more leant about where it was played. Instead it only being played at churches and occasionally in some courts, it was being played at specific functions and operas. It was at this time that operas were established for the first time in history. Musicians at this time were employed for aristocrat’s courts, churches and operas although they were considered high positions yet still viewed as servants. Some characteristics of Baroque music focused on the unity of mood, rhythm, dynamics and melodies. As for texture it consisted of being polyphonic with an emphasis on the highest and lowest melodies. Also the importance of bass and soprano and imitation were present. Word painting and symbolism kept making an appearance too. Chords and basso continuo were key elements to this period. A basso continuo is an accompaniment made up of bass parts usually played by two instruments. It was here that baroque orchestras started to gather which contained about ten to forty musicians. Through …show more content…

Fugue usually consists of three to five voices that imitate the subject and has a bottom bass. This also had some variations with elements such as countersubject, episodes, inversions, augmentation and retrograde, diminution and prelude. Through the Baroque period society developed a major innovation in the music world, operas. An opera is a drama that is sung to an orchestra accompaniment. Operas caused excitement and emotions through society because it was a fusion between music, acting, and costumes that people had never seen before. In which, caused many musicians raise to stardom that we still study today. Some of those musicians are Johann Sebastian Bach, Claudio Monteverdi, Henry Corelli, and Antonio Vivaldi and George