The word Baroque denotes a style of European architecture, music, and art existing from about 1600 to 1750. The Baroque falls into Europe's Early Modern period and encompasses the Spanish Golden Age and the French Grand Siècle. The eastern United States was a British colony, coffee was all the rage, and it was the heyday of mathematician Sir Isaac Newton, 1642-1727, and composer Johann Sebastian Bach, 1685-1750. Milestones include Spain's annihilation of the Mayan civilization in 1697, and discovery of Alaska by Vitus Bering in 1740.
Mezzetin | Antoine Watteau, 1684–1721 | Mezzetin playing a five-course guitar. | Metropolitan Museum of Art
Before we delve too far into the details of the Baroque, let's partake of a short musical sample. Listen to a tarantella (Italian), a flashy "spider" dance written for five-course Baroque guitar by the Spanish composer Santiago de Murcia. Rolf Lislevand plays it on an actual—not a copy—1679 Stradivari guitar. The Baroque guitar is closer in sound and size to a baritone ukulele than a modern guitar.
Tarantella | Santiago de Murcia, 1673-1739 | Baroque guitar (2:41)
Origin of the Baroque Style
The Baroque began c. 1600 in Italy and characterized by ornate detail, clear emotions, mannerism and exuberance. Within a generation these stylistic traits spread across Europe and became a vital part of both sacred and secular art.
Music, like art, literature and architecture, is closely linked to the civilization that created it. Thus, music is best understood within the context of its time and culture. We'll take a look at important cultural, religious and political milestones of this era.
Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the Catholic Church's reaction to the Protestant Reformation. After suffering losses in political influence and followers, reforms were initiated to recapture and retain parishioners. The Council of Trent (1545–63) decided art and music should express Christianity directly and connect with the average worshiper emotionally. In other words, music should be attractive and understandable to the faithful. Thus, aspects of the Baroque style were encouraged by the Catholic Church, hastening it's spread.
Miracle of the Chains | Giovanni Battista Parodi, 1674–1730 | Ceiling fresco in San Pietro in Vincoli (Saint Peter in Chains), Rome, Italy | Peter Kun Frary
Baroque Art
European aristocracy used Baroque art and architecture to symbolize their opulence and power. Palaces were built around grand entrances: gardens, courts, staircases, and reception rooms of spectacular luxury. Hence, the word Baroque was originally a scornful term to describe excessively emotional, decorative and dramatic art and architecture. Of course, seventeenth century critics were comparing Baroque style to Classically inspired Renaissance art. Modern use of the word Baroque is not derogatory: it is simply the name of the era.
Tuscan Colonnades | Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1598-1680, designed Saint Peter's Square and the Tuscan Colonnades. | Peter Kun Frary
Baroque Multimedia
Finally, Baroque arts were often merged into multimedia presentations. Churches integrated architecture, painting and sculpture. The lofty space and ornate art created an indelible impression of vastness and splendor. During mass, this visual magnificence mingled with the music of Italian composers, creating a rich multimedia experience. In the secular world, performances of opera and ballet combined music, literature, dance, painting, architecture and acting.
Chiesa di San Agnese in Agone (c. 1652, Rome) | Baroque churches merged painting, architecture and sculpture. | Peter Kun Frary
Social Backdrop of the Baroque
The 30 Years War, a power struggle between Catholics and Protestants, dominated the first half of the seventeenth century and delayed arrival of the Baroque style by a generation in Germany. The church was still an important patron of the arts, but the best jobs for musicians were at the royal courts. As in the prior era, the trend towards increased production of secular music continued.
New Nations
The disintegrating Holy Roman Empire gave rise to new nations. In Germany there were as many as three hundred territories, each ruled separately. Rulers displayed their status with lavish courts and entertainment. Music was often the highlight of court social activities and ceremonies. A large court typically employed an opera company, orchestra, chapel choir and music director. International competition for the best musicians was fierce between royal courts.
Royal Artists
Besides enjoying lavish entertainment, many rulers were skilled performers and composers: Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, was a virtuoso flutist and composer as well as a great general. Louis XIV of France was an acclaimed ballet dancer and accomplished musician. Musical skills were an essential social grace and signaled both social class and level of education.
Louis XIV | Hyacinthe Rigaud, 1659–1743 | Louis XIV, 1638–1715, was called the Sun King due to his roles in ballet productions. | Musée du Louvre
Colonization and the Middle Class
Intensive colonization and resultant trade created a large and wealthy merchant or middle class in commerce centers such as Venice, London and Hamburg. They aped the nobility in consumption of arts and entertainment. Opera houses, concert halls and theaters, once entertainment for nobles, made entertainment available to anyone with a ticket. Concert halls and theaters allowed musicians to freelance and not depend wholly on church and noble patronage.
The merchant class saw music skills as an essential social skill and were involved with amateur performance of keyboard, lute and chamber music. Sheet music demand gave rise to publishers and an increasing revenue stream for musicians.
Minuet in G | Christian Petzold, 1677-1733 | Frary Ukulele Band
This minuet is one of the best known works of the Baroque era. In 1970 it was discovered that Christian Petzold, 1677-1733, was the composer and not Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach was given credit because he included Petzold's Minuet in his book, Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook, (1725), a collection of easy to intermediate level keyboard pieces he created for his second wife, Anna Magdalena.
Concert Singer and Theorbo Player (c. 1657) | Gerard ter Borch | Music making was common in households during the Baroque. | Louvre Museum
Rise of Science and Education
The Baroque was a time of scientific innovation. As the Church's influence in Europe diminished, science and education came to the fore. For example, Galileo and Descartes conceptualized a way of thinking about nature based on reason and analysis of physical laws, rather than Church tenets or Greek philosophy.
Music benefited from changes in science and society: Musicians applied scholarly inquiry to the techniques and materials of music. This systematic approach to music was reflected in the creation of music degree programs and a profusion of books on technique and theory. Thus, there is significant surviving information on the theory and practice of Baroque music. It is now common to hear Baroque music performed using replica instruments and period correct technique.
Corrente Prima | Hiéromymus Kapsberger, 1580-1651 | This dance is played on a lute known as the tiorbino—small theorbo. (1:29)
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Baroque Art
Social Backdrop of the Baroque
Rise of Science and Education
