THE BAROQUE SPIRIT
The Baroque Era lasted roughly 150 years, and substantially contributed to our musical language. We mark the beginning of the Baroque Era around 1600, ushered in by composer Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643), who is attributed with writing the first opera that became widely popular. Many composers and musicians followed him, ending with the beginning of Mozart’s career. The Baroque Era ignited different ways of thinking about music and its purpose—beyond the sacred and liturgical. The composers contributed innovative instruments, musical structures, theories, and conventions— shaping the music and opera to follow.
Growing trade and travel influenced composers as well, who began to learn and borrow from each other across regions and countries. Notable Baroque composers across Europe include Jean-Baptiste Lully (16621687) in France, Henry Purcell (1659-1695) in England, Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) in Italy.
The term Baroque comes from one of two sources—and is still disputed. The term’s most commonly accepted origin is the Portuguese barroco meaning “oddly shaped pearl;” and was cast as an insult by contemporary critics to the over-exaggeration of the art. Baroque wasn’t used as an accepted signifier of the artistic period until the 19th century. Alternatively, it may have derived from the Italian barocca, which was used to describe “an obstacle to logic.” In other words, the music and art of the time were contrary to rational thinking, evoking emotions instead. Defining the Baroque era, composers invented new compositional structures, including the concerto, sonata, suite, fugue, and the oratorio. The concept of designating a key signature for a piece of music began to be formally included in compositions (previously, it would have been agreed upon by the performing musicians). Composers began to designate specific instruments to a certain part, laying the groundwork for the modern day symphony.
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THE BAROQUE SPIRIT
Harpsichord from c. 1749.
