Questions tagged [baroque-period]
A time period in Western art music spanning between 1600-1760 CE, approximately.
152
questions
2
votes
2
answers
85
views
How to normalise note lengths when analysing music
I am analysing baroque music obtained from midi files and I would like to make make timing comparisons. (Yes, I know that midi is far from ideal, but it is the only source that I have.)
A given piece ...
- 121
7
votes
1
answer
97
views
unusual segno before barline in baroque score?
In a baroque score (from sonata 1 for 2 flutes by Jean-Daniel Braun, op. 4), I spotted this mysterious segno symbol before a double barline in the middle of a movement. What might it mean?
There is ...
- 173
2
votes
1
answer
114
views
History of "white keys" and "black keys" as idiom
When explaining music theory in layman's terms, it's common to refer to "white keys" and "black keys" and take for granted that everyone knows what a piano looks like.
But ...
- 2,000
5
votes
2
answers
273
views
Figured Bass Standalone Accidentals
I'm wondering whether or not standalone accidentals always imply 3rds in figured bass notation.
Is (5)(♭)(8) the same as (5)(3♭)(8)?
Is (9)(♮) the same as (9)(3)?
Can a figure 3 always be inserted ...
- 53
2
votes
4
answers
158
views
Can I play the BWV 863 prelude like this?
So, I'm learning the prelude and fugue in G-sharp minor from the Well-Tempered Clavier I (BWV 863).
The prelude goes like this (see full score here):
And I would like to play it like this:
As you ...
- 119
9
votes
5
answers
953
views
Inconsistent number of beats per measure
This perhaps just betrays my ignorance, but I don't understand why in the attached piece, in 3/4 time, certain bars, such as 10 and 12, have 6 instead of 3 quarter notes, with no change in the time ...
- 599
3
votes
2
answers
94
views
Three consecutive dissonances in verset fugue
I've been playing from a collection of versets (fugues) by Gottlieb Muffat.
https://imslp.org/wiki/72_Versetl_sammt_12_Toccaten_(Muffat%2C_Gottlieb)
The versets are arranged by the old Church tones ...
- 58.7k
8
votes
1
answer
289
views
Pile up of ornaments in J.S.Bach's BWV 935
These are bars 19-23 in J.S. Bach's BWV 935, from the Sechs kleine Präludien für Anfänger auf dem Klavier:
Can anyone spell out for me what should be played for that E in bar 23 adorned with a grace ...
11
votes
2
answers
512
views
Accidentals and ornaments
These are the first two bars of J. S. Bach's Fughetta in c-moll (BWV 961) as edited by Henle.
Does the second trillo in the second bar start on B flat, so that it cancels the natural on the previous ...
0
votes
0
answers
52
views
How do I play this rhythm? [duplicate]
I am trying to play the Largo from Vivaldi's Concerto for Flautino in C Major (RV 443), but I am not sure how to time this passage in measure 4:
This piece is in 12/8 time, but the notes in this ...
- 101
2
votes
2
answers
57
views
When to use sixth in continuo according to Bianciardi?
From Bianciardi's Breve Regola (http://www.bassus-generalis.org/bianciardi/bianciardi.html): "But because some notes don’t have a fifth above, a sixth
is used in its place; this happens in those ...
- 21
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How does one resolve the conflict between Renaissance theory of Cadences and the contradictions against it in Bach Chorales?
A level pupil.
Made the mistake of learning Renaissance cadence voicing way before starting A-level harmony course. There's a conflict of interest between the cadential progressions of the renaissance ...
4
votes
1
answer
297
views
Ornaments in baroque music: should be avoided in some cases?
In baroque music, often the performers add ornaments (or even more complex variations) to the written notes, mostly during a repeat. It's very common to hear them on Bach, Vivaldi, Marcello, etc...
...
- 222
5
votes
1
answer
100
views
Interpreting the repeat signs in Handel's passacaglia (HWV 432)
In the urtext edition (page 84 of the pdf) that I found on IMSLP it looks as if the first period is repeated and then... the rest of the piece, without that first period, is played twice? That doesn't ...
- 641
3
votes
1
answer
142
views
French-language Baroque Music Suggestions
I have found Bach's vocal works to be a fun way to supplement learning German. I am also learning French, and I have tried looking for such works with French libretto but I have been unable to find ...
- 33
1
vote
0
answers
102
views
Rules for improvising intermediate notes in basso continuo
When realizing figured bass, passing notes in the bass are analyzed quite thoroughly in literature (e.g. The Art of Accompaniment from a Thorough Bass). However, I cannot find any information or rules ...
- 123
11
votes
2
answers
639
views
Optional notes in baroque clavier score?
I'm not a keyboard player so I'm not sure what the smaller notes in this score mean. Are they optional like an ossia or something to be played on a repeat or something else?
- 113
1
vote
2
answers
71
views
Dissonance in SWV 447
I'm a huge fan of Heinrich Schütz and in particular of the Dresdner Kammerchor's recordings of his work. This moment in bar 169 of "Vater Abraham, erbarme dich mein, SWV 447" really caught ...
- 152
1
vote
2
answers
445
views
Syncopation in classical music [closed]
Can anyone can point me, a lay person, to good examples of syncopation in classical music? I'm also wondering if syncopation shows up at all in Baroque music.
Thank you.
- 11
2
votes
0
answers
105
views
Baroque composing [closed]
What defines a "trio" style. As in, if I were composing a piece on the piano how do I compose it in a "trio" style
- 21
5
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is Gould playing extra notes in Bach's Toccata in C Minor, and if so, why?
In Glenn Gould's recording of Bach's Toccata in C Minor, it sounds like he modifies the melody in the the right hand to add two extra notes
You can hear it here.
Is this just a Gould improvisation, ...
- 197
4
votes
0
answers
95
views
Number of subject/answer entries in 16th/18th Century fugal counterexpositions
I'm studying the difference between 16th and 18th Century fugues. I've noticed something and wonder whether it is a notable trend, or just a coincidence.
First, consider this fugue from Missa Dies ...
- 5,672
1
vote
0
answers
26
views
Can you recall the author and name of a baroque Passacaille or Chaconne which uses both the descending and the ascending tetrachord in the bass? [closed]
I happened to listen to a baroque passacaille or chaconne for strings on the air.
It used both the descending and the ascending tetrachord in the ostinato bass.
I wasn't able to find anything on the ...
-1
votes
1
answer
476
views
Why was Violin Concerto No.1 in A minor (Bach) composed?
I'm doing an assignment on a baroque period composition, and I chose Violin Concerto No.1 in A minor by J.S. Bach. One of the things I need to do is explain why it was actually composed. I'm having a ...
- 27
4
votes
2
answers
627
views
Did Bach call for male countertenor for the Alto solo part for his cantatas / passion oratorios?
I see a recent trend for countertenors to sing the alto parts for Bach's cantata / passion oratorios such as Maarten Engeltjes in Magnificat and Tim Mead in St. Matthew Passion.
Is this recent trend ...
- 2,118
2
votes
2
answers
247
views
what does continuo mean?
In the sheet music for BWV1, "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" the last instrument is labeled as "continuo". What does that mean?
- 762
6
votes
2
answers
478
views
When realizing a basso continuo, should the realization avoid consecutive fifths and octaves with the written parts?
Many continuo manuals (both historical sources and modern treatises) are careful to point out that a continuo realization should be contrapuntally correct, i.e., one ought to avoid parallel fifths and ...
- 2,347
4
votes
2
answers
463
views
Is partimento a good way to learn how to write a Baroque trio sonata in the style of Corelli?
Who I am:
I am 16 years old and I play violin. I am a music student and I consider myself to have a very good ear and understanding of music theory. My piano-playing is however not very good. I really ...
3
votes
4
answers
309
views
A romantic era piece has a baroque era title: how does one determine the style?
J. Danbé's "Petite Gavotte" (ca. 1888) for violin and piano seems to be baroque mainly because of the title, "Gavotte", which was a common baroque dance. But I can't find any ...
- 131
3
votes
3
answers
212
views
Baroque ornamentation is not consistent across editions of the same piece
Here are two versions of the Quodlibet from Bach's Goldberg Variations. As you can see in the attachments, the ornaments and the recommendations as to how to play them are exactly opposite. One shows ...
19
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Who was listening to Bach's compositions in his lifetime?
Who ever encountered his work? Was his music played somewhere else in Europe, or only where he lived? What strata of society had any chance of coming into contact with his music? What might be the ...
- 191
2
votes
1
answer
233
views
Augmented and Diminished (Fifth) Chords Baroque Notation
Hello ¿Does anybody know what is the baroque notation of Augmented & Diminished (Fifth) chords?
I'm talking about of chords like this: C-E-G# & C-E-Gb
I need the baroque notation, for example: ...
- 21
5
votes
4
answers
284
views
What are the base notes that different tuning system used?
I’m trying to understand how the different tuning systems and temperaments were used from the past.
Would people tune their instruments based on the key of the piece they were going to play? Is there ...
- 51
11
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Function of augmented-fifth in figured bass
What is the harmonic function of the 5+ in the figured bass in the following snippet?
If I have interpreted the figuring correctly, a F♯ figured 5+ should realise the triad F♯ A C𝄪. I am confused ...
- 111
6
votes
1
answer
641
views
ornamentation in keyboard music of William Byrd
I'm working through some tunes by Byrd, and am wondering about the ornamentation, the two diagonal slashes through the note stem.
As far as I can tell, we don't actually know what the composers of ...
- 447
0
votes
1
answer
120
views
Name of style of piece inside the G Minor BWV915 toccata of Bach?
In Bach's Toccatas for keyboard works (BWV 911-916), I would like to know if there is a name for the style of music that is sometimes put in the middle of the toccata.
For example: in the G minor ...
user3500
5
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Different versions of mordents in Bach Invention No. 1 In C Major, BWV 772
I was playing Bach Invention 1 when my sister told me that I was playing it wrong.
When I learnt this piece like 10 years ago, my sheet looked like this.
But my sister showed me her music sheet from ...
- 153
1
vote
0
answers
108
views
Does Bach's lute partita BWV 997 Sarabande also appear as an orchestral piece?
I am practicing the Bach lute suites and I am aware that a few of them also appear as works for other instruments (BWV 1000 is also the fugue from the first violin sonata, for example).
My question is ...
- 11
2
votes
1
answer
347
views
How do you play a lower or upper mordent with two notes like in Bach D minor prelude 926? [duplicate]
How do you play these two mordents shown
- 21
6
votes
3
answers
677
views
What is the name of this notation in this example by Couperin?
Consider following excerpt from the beginning of the 2nd leçon of Couperin's Leçon des ténèbres pour le mercredi saint:
As you see, it uses a rather strange notation where, for instance, a bar of 3/2 ...
- 1,567
3
votes
1
answer
287
views
Why do notes not add up to the bar in this example by Couperin?
Consider following excerpt from the beginning of Couperin's Leçon des ténèbres pour le mercredi saint:
I noticed that the note values don't always add up in a bar.
Cases (indicated in the figure):
...
- 1,567
10
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Why did baroque music use percussion abundantly, but classical stopped?
Classical music evolved from baroque music, which in turn evolved from Renaissance music. Both baroque and even more so Renaissance make extensive use of percussion. It is certainly not new to ...
- 109
6
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What clef is this? (Baroque, Vivaldi)
What is this clef in Vivaldi RV281? This is the only source of the concerto is available ( at least without buying it, which is the manuscript). The piece did have a few weird clefs like an octave ...
- 71
6
votes
2
answers
439
views
Is there a functional interpretation for VIIb in La Follia?
La Follia chord peogression is usually written as:
i - V7 - i - VII - III - VII - i - V7 (first eight bars)
i -V7 - VII - III - VII - i,V7 - i (second eight bars)
I can understand how this progression ...
- 173
5
votes
1
answer
193
views
Playing symphonies by e.g. Rachmaninoff or Mahler using string instruments with gut strings (like more Baroque styled instruments)?
I was listening to some performances from Netherland's "All of Bach" group that performs Bach works on Baroque instruments. I quite liked the sound of the strings, and I thought that it ...
- 458
2
votes
1
answer
162
views
How did baroque composers write sequences that are both imitative and modulatory?
Still working on my Bach-style fugue. And I wonder, how did composers of that time-period come up with all those sequential episodes in their fugues?
I know that there is a certain standard ...
- 2,347
2
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What differs between the rondo and its Baroque counterpart, the ritornello?
So, ever since I heard the term ritornello, I have wondered what makes it different from the rondo. So I’ve listened to several pieces in ritornello form to try to find the difference, but I couldn’t. ...
- 6,614
5
votes
1
answer
218
views
How do/did composers deal with very many contrapuntal voices?
A work that I've admired as long as I've known about it is Antonio Caldara's Crucifixus for 16 voices. YouTube video here.
It does make me wonder how a composer like Caldara (or Thomas Tallis for ...
- 2,347
2
votes
2
answers
186
views
Why is the numbering scheme of the Telemann-Werke-Verzeichnis (TWV) not adopted more universally?
Telemann's works are numbered first according to genre, then, where applicable, by key (with minor keys in lowercase and major keys in uppercase), and finally (if possible) chronologically or else at ...
- 2,347
3
votes
3
answers
141
views
In general, do chamber musicians prefer to play from a score or from an individual part book?
Specifically in the context of Baroque trio sonatas. If part books are preferred, then what is the point of printing such works in score in the first place?
- 2,347