Baroque music and Baroque art - Essay Example

Paper Background Information The word Baroque originated from the Portuguese barroco. Since nineteenth century, a myriad of artists have commonly used the word to describe the duration of Western European different pieces from 1600 to 1750. It is a special music and art that emphasizes on strain effect known by boldness, elaborate ornamentation, curving forms and balance in different parts. During this period the church used art work as a way of stimulating faith on members of the public. Art programs were believed to be offering emotional and sensory appeal to both members of the public and the clergy. The work developed during this period was therefore paradoxically spiritual and sensuous. As naturalistic treatment made the treatment accessible to church members, illusionary and dramatic effects were adopted in explaining devotion, piety and expressed an impression of splendor of the divine. There was an infinite painting on some of the pictures which were used during this time. Moreover, there was the monarchies consolidation which was connected with crystallization of powerful middle class people who were very important. There was also display of grandeur and the state of power in the palace constructed on the monumental scale. This was the best scene in gardens at the Versailles and also at the gardens. Artists during this period developed a new interest in expanding the intellectual space of human beings which was closely linked to development of art and exploration of the earth. This produced a new sense of human significance and unknown complexity. The changing awareness of the human condition is seen in the landscape painting whereby human beings are seen as minute figures in the vast natural setting. Visual arts The art here produces unusual diversity during the Baroque period. This was because of current classicism and naturalism events which intermingled and coexisted with the Baroque style. The beginning of the Baroque painting is traced during the 16th century which ended with the painting of church ceilings. Most of the painting work was done in Western Europe with limited paintings being seen in Germany. Most of the paintings were in Austria and Holland where the architects broke from the Italian buildings in 1720s in an ornate monarchies, churches and palaces which were designed by the Asam brothers, J.B. Fischer von Erlach among others. (Strunk and Powers 52) Music The dramatic turn in music was witnessed during the 17th century with Italy leading the way. Despite the fact that Stile Antico was known polyphonic style, it was mainly reserved for the music. Besides, Stile moderno which mainly focused on solo music, base line and polarity of the melody and outstanding harmony developed for the secular music which was between the instrumental and the vocal idioms. Just like the periods in art, the music period also presented a lot of diversity. Some of the frequent and common new vocals included oratorio, opera and cantala while the concerto, sonata and overture were the known created instruments for the instrumental music. Claudio Monteverdi was one of the greatest composers and was followed by Giovanni Pergolesi and Allesandro Scarlati; later, a myriad of other composers such as Frederic Handel, Sebastian Bach, George Phillip Telleman among others came. Discussion Baroque music The time period when the Baroque music became common emphasized on the opulence and complexity which had to be discovered. There was the combination of new music styles and other presentation which was combined with exaggerated drama in order to have the art form which was referred to as opera. Others perceived the era as too complex and therefore there was the formation of the classical era. This era mainly focused on classical antiquities that made the ancient Greek one of the mist strongest influence in different cultural perspectives. (Strunk and Powers 57) The Baroque music style focused on the love of ornamentation which spawned incredibly and peculiar influential style which majored on complexity in different art design and facets. A number of music layers melodies, instrumentation and harmonies were put together in order to produce polyphonic music style. During this period, the composers put a lot of emphasis on grandeur and exuberance, which released the artist’s emotions and that of the composers as it was seen during the opera. This kind of combination made it possible for someone who is not able to understand the language to still be in a position to understand the presentation so as to be able to understand the flow of the story and the emotions being communicated. (Brown, 78) The kind of expected complexity had to be able to metaphorically dance a line not far from the opulence. The ornamentation had the possibility of being presented with a confusion which is not intended. This kind of similar access was able to alienate the whole segments of the audience as a result of cultural understanding. (Strunk and Powers 57) The simple classical style which was designed during this time gave the audience a clear audience and understanding of the intention of the artist through prevalent contrast, variety and clear division of the parts. This kind of simplicity helped in evoking emotions from different audiences. An extreme level of simplicity can also confuse the audience with confusion without having a clear point of view. Characteristics of Baroque Music Unity of Mood In most of the baroque artistic work what is portrayed in the music as happiness will be so throughout the song and what is sad will continue being so until the end. The composers of this time were able to mould the musical language so as to be in a position to fit the affection and the moods (Kamien, 19) Rhythm The continuity shown in the music was as a result of rhythm. There was stanzas repetition in different activities which were conducted. The forward motion depicted in baroque music was not easily interrupted. The music during this time also had distinct beat. (McCabe, 25) Melody One of the intentions of the music is to create continuity in music. The artistic work had a special opening melody that is heard throughout music. Even if the piece is constant the passage of the music will be varied. A myriad of melodies indicated in the art were quite complex and elaborate, besides it was not easy to play. (Kamien, 29) Terraced dynamics This stays constant and then shifts at some point. In most of the pieces there was the gradual change such as decrescendo and crescendo which is seldom heard of in most of this music. Texture Most of these music styles portrayed a polyphonic in texture. Example Antonio Vivaldi-Listen to the concerto La Primavera (spring) from the four seasons... Violin, string Antonio Vivaldi was one of the known virtuoso violinist, virtuoso teacher and also composer. He travelled a lot and is also known for epitomizing the Italian Baroque music than any other composer in history. Example of music is concerto for oboe, concerto La Primavera, Gloria and spring from four seasons. Concerto La Primavera is nice listening to because it has adopted use of different settings of choral composition in song. (Strunk and Powers 57) Some of the instruments which were used are; String Orchestra, Harpsichord Continuo and Violin. The work is a solo given its extensive adoption of the violin and also that concertos are also homophonic, given the single instruments association. Just like other good baroque music, it does maintain some kind of polyphony. This artistic work was a solo of concerto continuo, strings and violin. (Brown, 78) This line is connected to the elements of music. Music has a monophonic texture. In other words, music had a single line and a single voice. The composition has music with simple accompaniment and also chords moving in a similar rhythm. There is also a bit of heterophony, which has different versions of melody which is simultaneously performed. The piece is also associated with a myriad of dynamics. It is quite a cool and soft having a single composition with soft passages and other few having loud passages which rested on the dynamic range. A number of elements of Baroque are closely connected and explained in this work. Bass continuo and figure bass element indicates that in the normal baroque piece, it is usual seeing figure basses. There is also the little bottom of the stay, which attempts to show that the chords which continuo player must play. The work also indicated the cello and the harpsichord throughout. The piece was also connected with the terraced dynamics. This showed that the paralleling of the theme of mood and continuity of the same and decision before shifting to another. As seen, in the music, when the dynamic shifts it physically steps out in every step. Terraced dynamics for no doubt is one of the qualities found in almost all the baroque music. There is the connotation of gradual crescendo and decrescendo are often unheard due to the fact that the keyboard of the manuals were in a position provide both soft and loud music. (Blume, 87) Baroque Art The Baroque work just like music elaborated passion, energetic, and elaborate. The movement in these artistic paintings was known by the curves. This piece of art is linked with rich and dynamic images which was textured and had a number of flowing robes. (Webb,63) Example Caravaggio, Baroque style, Gabrieli, Monteverdi, or Vivaldi The main characteristic of the Italian Baroque painting includes depicted figures of human beings which are realistic and adopts vivid use of colors and extensive adoption on the use of foreshadowing techniques. Caravagio is one of the best known painters in history. One of the most attractive characteristic of Caravaggio’s painting is the adoption of Chiaroscuro which is an extremely big contrast between dark values and the lights. In a number of his resented paintings, most figures tend to emerge out of the total darkness. It presents a background which is black though they are illuminated in a very striking in a very heavenly light which at the end accentuates given flesh tones and also their clothing’s. (Christiansen, 41) Antonio Vivaldi was one of the known virtuoso violinist, virtuoso teacher and also composer. He travelled a lot and is also known for epitomizing the Italian Baroque music than any other composer in history. This paper prefers Gloria because it has adopted the use of different settings of choral composition in the song. (Christiansen, 23) The best Baroque painting for the music is that of Rembrandts which the sacrifice of Isaac is. This is relevant as it presents an intense relevant theme which is inclusive of those of ghosts, and martyrs. Its iconography matches the message which is intended to being passed by Antonio. The other one is the space since it presents an infinite space created by the perspective of good image placement. Finally, it brings with it relevant realism which helps in the figuring of individual characteristics and also very expressive personalities. Conclusion From the above analysis, it is fact that there are a number of connections between the baroque art and music. Given the entertaining characteristics, the work is connected to melody which is also connected to the musical line which is a combination of the rhythm and pitch. The connection is depicted in both the art and music in this because of the absolutism and the age of scientific revolution. The work is appealing and very attractive having direct connection of the same. Both rat and music presented in most cases a texture with the intention of appealing to our emotions. There are a number of artistic work which were done in a peculiar manner with the main intention of appealing to emotions of the listener. The designers and composers adopted a unique styles having known what a number of people liked. The melodinic line happening in a single voice will also happen in others. Works Cited Blume, Friedrich. Renaissance and Baroque music; a comprehensive survey.. [1st ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 1997. Print. Brown, Steve The sense of music. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.2000 Print! Christiansen, Keith. "Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi) (1571–1610) and his Followers". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/crvg/hd_crvg.htm (October 2003) Christiansen, Keith. "Annibale Carracci (1560–1609)". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/carr/hd_carr.htm 2003 Handel, George and Jennens,MoserMessiah: the wordbook for the oratorio. New York: W. Perlman Books. 1992. Print Palisca, Claude V.. Baroque music. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1998. Print. Strunk, William and Powers, Herold Studies in music history; essays for Oliver Strunk. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. 1998 Print. Kamien, Relly, Music: an appreciation (10th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.2011 print! McCabe, Jeans. (2012). Trumpet concerto (la primavera) (2012). London: Novello. 2012 Print Webb, Geoffrey Fairbank. Baroque art. London: G. Cumberlege, 1997. Print. Read More