The Concerto of the Baroque Era and the Classical Period

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To begin with, I should say, that there are too many beautiful things connected with art. The variety of them is very high so that one can capture the wholeness of the world through its reflection on canvas, architecture, music, etc. A man was not enough to only have a survey of nature, all its peculiarities, and miracles. He attempted to describe it by different means, mainly thoughts, imagination, words, creativeness. From that time began the era of art, through which men tried to express and impress their admirers, as well as to make them think critically.

In course of the historical development of art, the era of Baroque is known to give birth to the Classical period in music. Classical because the musicians tried to connect all the perfect things done by them with antiquity and best manners of ancient Greeks and Romans art expression. This music aimed to enlighten those who had forgotten the ideas of ancestors in a slight and picturesque way. “The art of classicism typically seeks to be formal and restrained.” (The Classical Era 3) It is so not only in music but also in the visual and literary sides of art. Classic music at its best obtained precious qualities, namely: “noble simplicity, balance, the perfection of form, diversity within unity, the seriousness of purpose, and restrained use of ornamentation.” (The Classical Era 3) Symphony, realized in contrast temples within four movements in large orchestras; Concerto, fulfilled with three movements for an orchestra of medium size and with solo; Sonata, underlining the significance of one or more solo instruments and similar to the symphony in tempo model; and String Quartet, for two violins, viola, and cello with guidelines equal to the symphony. (The Classical Era 14).

It was an epoch of grand forms and performance, which was supplied by outstanding musicians, such as Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741), Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). Their influence on music was huge and versatile. The details in their works were of high significance. Music at that moment began personifying the idea of gorgeous intermediacy Moreover, there was grace and dignity in each of its “gestures”.

The meaning of the word baroque has its roots in the Portuguese word “barroco”, which was a part of the elaborate form. Today it is known to mention something “elaborate”. The style of Baroque created too many artifacts in architecture, sculpture, and music, of course. It appeared just after the Renaissance period and expressed itself dramatically and vividly, characterizing the ornamentation of its forms. Baroque music coincides with the period of Baroque art, but, on the contrary, it is known to capture the later time. The historians consider the Baroque Era to start with the opera around 1600 in Florence, ending with the death of Johann Sebastian Bach in 1750.

There are several features of music at this time. All of them created the beauty and identity of the expression forms. The harmonists are thought to implement ‘idiomatic’ music, flattering music with vocals. They also use:

“basso continuo” with the prominent bass part and figured bass; improvisation as an important discipline of music-making, which played an important role even in realization of figured bass and ornamentation; prominent use of musical sequences (by the middle Baroque period); a clearer distinction between the chamber and orchestral media (by late 1600s); developments in tuning. (HUM 204 MAJOR WORKS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC SPRING 2009 3)

One of the most famous composers of that time was Antonio Vivaldi. He was known to bear the nickname “The Red Priest” to depict his passion and devotion to the characteristic features of the style. His weapon was mainly violin, he aimed to impress and develop creative reasoning about people and nature using his impulsive performance. Being from Venice, he traveled a lot giving his concerti all around the world, especially in 1720-that, when he reached the apogee in his art. His Le Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons) seems to be the symbol of that time and varied four different times of the year, showing the emotional side of each and expressing permanent transitions of motive-to-motive peculiarities of nature. This was not the only work by the musician.

Many of Vivaldi’s compositions reflect a buoyant, almost playful, exuberance which is in direct contrast with the dignified seriousness of much Baroque music in his time. Vivaldi was able to compose non-academic music, particularly meant to be appreciated by the wide public and not only by an intellectual minority. The joyful appearance of his music reveals in this regard a transmissible joy of composing. These are among the causes of the vast popularity of his music. (HUM 204 major works of classical music Spring 2009 8)

As far as one can see, deliberate steps of Vivaldi in life and music helped him to carry grace, beauty, and expression throughout his life until now to embody the cult of beau-ideal despite many problems which caused the decline of his career in the year 1730.

The other equally important musician of the Baroque period was Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). His oeuvre helped to overwhelm the Baroque culture to its “ultimate maturity”. Being known at that period mainly as an organist, he gave music harmonic and properly scaled organization with shades of contemporary at that time French and Italian rhythms and shapes.

In Encyclopedia Britannica Ludwig van Beethoven is noted as “A universal genius widely regarded as the greatest composer who ever lived… He revealed more vividly than any of his predecessors the power of music to convey a philosophy of life without the aid of a spoken text.” (Encyclopedia Britannica 1967) His symphonies excite the auditory of young and old people, those who value the real compatibility of sounds, rhythm, and timbre. A great number of his works still surprises everyone who shares his creative work.

Orchestral music: nine symphonies, eleven overtures and some incidental music to plays, five piano concertos and a concerto for violin; chamber music: sixteen string quartets, nine piano trios, ten sonatas for violin and piano, five sonatas for cello and piano; piano music: thirty-two sonatas, many sets of variations; vocal music: one oratorio one opera two Masses Arias and songs. (HUM 204 major works of classical music Autumn 2008 4)

This overview of Beethoven’s works tends people to think, that there must be more self-efficiency and industriousness in our pains to make the world better. His ‘Ode to Joy’ is now the anthem of the EU. Probably, it is the generator of a huge power of this union to provide people of European countries with a “classical” mindset and approach to the noble and impulsive expression of their opinions and individualities on the whole.

“The “Mozart effect” is the reported phenomenon of increased spatial abilities after listening to that composer’s music.” (Robert P. Markley; Journal of Instructional Psychology, Vol. 34, 2007.) Mozart interests people by his innovative methods of implementing the reasoning of man’s life through “the music of his life.

One should also know that the era of Baroque culture was highly supported and promoted by the aristocracy and members of the royal family in different countries. The constantly growing interest in this music had Czarina Catherine the Great of Russia, Monarch of Austria Joseph II. The first one was known as a “philosopher on the throne”, feeling great passion in arts which targeted to enlighten the humanity and society on various strata. The second one was nicknamed the “musicking”, making Austrian art closer o Germanic orientation in lingual performance and interaction. Other great sovereigns valued classical music and tried to take all possible efforts to provide the spread of the culture not only inside their countries but usually abroad, like Frederick the Great of Prussia, who adored playing on the flute.

To sum up, the beginning of the Baroque Era created several musicians, who contributed great pains into the world of music, establishing a new genre in it with prominent forms of expression of main ideas connected with the antique traditions and culture to obtain everything of impressive significance from all around. The further influence of such music, encompassed with motives of harmony and peace, helped to figure out various contemporary genres of music. People always tried, try, and will try to design their worldview, emotions, and state of mind employing creative disquisition. The universe still has many facets of its picturing. A man has too many things to fancy and think about so that to invent new sources of inspiration.

Classical music will always irritate the minds of people by pictures of its shapes, forms, and silhouettes, for these parameters serve to reconstruct the whole picture of life.

References

Ludwig van Beethoven, 204 major works of classical music Autumn 2008.

Encyclopedia Britannica 1967.

The Classical Era, Classicism, 2007.

Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi: The Baroque Era, HUM 204 major works of classical music Spring 2009.

The Mozart Effect: Musical Phenomenon or Musical Preference? A More Ecologically Valid Reconsideration, Journal article by Hope Daniels Cassity, Tracy B. Henley, Robert P. Markley; Journal of Instructional Psychology, Vol. 34, 2007.

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The Concerto of the Baroque Era and the Classical Period

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