MUSC 612
BAROQUE MUSIC
Catalog Entry
MUSC 612. Baroque Music
Three hours lecture (3).
Pre- or corequisite: MUSC601
Developments in form and style of the Baroque period from Monteverdi through J. S. Bach. Offered every third year.
Detailed Description of Content of Course
1. Comparison of Renaissance and Baroque
2. Early baroque vocal music
a. Forerunners of New Music Dramas--the intermedium and the pastoral drama.
b. Monody: Camerata, Peri and Caccini. Stile rappresentativo. Basso continuo.
c. Monteverdi: Opera--Orfeo, 1607. Madrigal--transformation from renaissance polyphony
to continuo-concertanto.
d. Roman opera: Conservative madrigalism.
e. Venetian opera: Monteverdi, 'Poppea' 1642 and the moving toward our conceptions
of recitative, aria, and chorus.
f. Sacred music: Venice--Gabrieli and the progressive concertato style. Rome--Benevoli
and the conservative "colossal baroque".
3. Vocal music of late 17th and early 18th centuries
a. Neapolitan opera: Scarlatti (A.), Porpora, Pergolesi.
b. Handel: Early days in Germany and Italy. England: Italian opera and English oratorio.
c. Bach: Weimar years. Leipzig years: cantatas, passions.
d. Other significant vocal composers: Vivaldi and Telemann.
4. Instrumental music of the 17th century
a. French overture: Lully
b. Dance suite: Scheidt, Schein
c. Ensemble canzona; Cavalli Solo, trio and quartet sonata: Legrenzi, Vitali
d. Keyboard: Frescobaldi and Sweelinck, Froberger, Buxtehude.
5. Late 17th and early 18th century instrumental music
a. Corelli: Sonatas da camera, concerti grossi
b. Vivaldi: The solo concerto
c. Handel: Concerti grossi using both strings and winds, organ concerti. Chamber sonatas,
trio sonatas.
d. Bach: French and English Suites, Well-Tempered Clavier, Brandenburg Concerti, Orgelbuchlein.
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Reading and listening assignments surveying the baroque from its Florentine beginnings through the achievements of Bach and Handel. Class time is spent summarizing and surveying trends, style movements, and individual creators. On a more active level is musical evaluation and analysis, both from scores and recordings. The material is divided into three units, each with a reading and a listening assignment, and an examination.
1. Early and middle Italian baroque
2. Early and middle baroque in the northern countries and in France
3. The late baroque
Goals and Objectives of the Course
The student will acquire an overall scope of the history, trends and styles of the baroque era, and in addition, an acquaintanceship and knowledge of some of the most significant works.
Students who are teaching oriented will have their outlooks expanded and the stores of knowledge increased. Students who are performance oriented will have their knowledge of the repertory increased.
Assessment Measures
Examinations involve listening identification, analysis or discussion of specific compositions, and general questions of a stylistic nature.
A term paper explores one topic in greater depth, and each student is encouraged to select a topic that would be of interest or future benefit.
Other Course Information
None
Approval and Subsequent Reviews
DATE ACTION REVIEWED BY
March 2001 Reviewed E. Fellin, Chairman