Baroque Period

Baroque period

This period is considered by musical historians to have started around the year 1600 and ended around 1750 (Buelow 152). The period was characterized by an artistic style that employed exaggerated motions and distinctive detail to create drama, literature, dance, and music. Having come under criticisms for including secular themes in religious music composition during the Renaissance period, the Catholic Church, through its Council of Trent, encouraged the growth of the baroque style. The style was considered to be a way of encouraging artworks to express religious themes in a direct and emotional manner. However, the church continued to loosen its grip over musical compositions implying that the secular musical compositions could also flourish. The composers of the baroque style of secular music took advantage of the diminishing church influence to discuss and guide the trends in performing arts. Baroque is divided into three periods: the early Baroque period (1580-1630), middle period (1630-1680, and the later Baroque period (1680-1750) (Gangwere 169). Early composers of the baroque music rejected polyphony or the use of instruments and favored the ancient Greek classical music that encouraged oration and discourse. As with the Renaissance composers, the composers during the Baroque period also employed the use of harmony in musical compositions. However, rather than use harmony directed towards modality, baroque composers focused on tonality, an aspect that marked a clear distinction between the Renaissance and Baroque composers. Tonality was a form that emphasized the use of chords rather than notes in closing a musical or drama sentence.

The middle Baroque period saw the rise of centralized political and economic systems and the rise of absolute monarchies, most notably, King Louis of France and his majestic Palace of Versailles. Absolute monarchs presided over the entire kingdoms and wielded immense political power. The rise of absolute monarchs functionally changed the way palaces were organized as the new rulers indulged in opulence, grandeur, and lavish lifestyles. Music became an integral part of entertainment in palaces and even parishes. King Louis for examples, created a magnificent opera room in the Palace of Versailles where musical performances and drama were undertaken in the presence of the King and his guests (Buelow 156). Baroque music in the middle period both in secular and religious settings rose to fill the void created by the demand for organized public music. Music in the middle baroque period is characterized by the use of oratorio and cantata and the emergence of the opera presented in the form of concerts. Organized music was composed and played in churches, palaces, and in residences of the noble and wealthy individuals.

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