Baroque music

Baroque music was something to imitate the idea of Baroque art. Painters like Bernini, Rubens and Rembrandt sought to create totally structured worlds. The Baroque style was influenced by many different groups of people. The aristocracy, the church as well as the middle class. Baroque art is a mixture of nationalism, sensuality and, materialism. Other events also took place during the Baroque era, the development of the scientific method and other advances in science for example medicine; mining and navigational advances were made. These changes allowed for more freedom of expression within society. No longer was life controlled by the church, people were now free to do what they really wanted to do. Since the church didnt have to support all forms of music now, secular music was able to develop more. The Scientific Revolution brought a new way of questioning ideas and principles. The revolution effected many areas of life including government, religion, as well as music. The music of the Baroque period contained a certain dramatic flair. The melodic lines imitated rhythms of speech. During the early Baroque period composers favored homophonic texture to that of polyphonic. They used only one main melody with chordal accompaniment. But homophonic texture is only characteristic of the early Baroque period. In the Late Baroque period polyphonic texture returned to favor. Also used heavily during the Baroque period was dissonance. Never before were such unstable chords so prominent. New ways of showing contrasts between timbres was shown, voice against orchestra, solo vocalist against chorus. In Early Baroque melodic lines were written for instruments to accompany voices. By 1680 major and minor scales had become the tonal basis for most pieces of music. The Late Baroque period began in 1680 and ended in 1750 with Bachs death. For the first time in musical history instrumental music was just as important if not mor...