Modern pianos did not exist in the baroque period, so most keyboard music was written for harpsichords, clavichords, or organs. The first piano was invented around 1700 by Cristofori; although the baroque period is said to span 1600-1750, the piano did not achieve widespread popularity until the late classical period.
Polyphony was the primary musical texture (multiple melodies at one time), best exemplified by the fugues of J.S. Bach, although homophonic music was also written.
Keyboard music was often grouped into "suites" such as Bach's French Suites, English Suites, or Partitas. These suites usually consisted of traditional dances (such as menuet, gigue, sarabande, etc.) and all the movements are usually in the same key. Other keyboard forms included Bach's encyclopedic collection of preludes and fugues ("The Well-Tempered Clavier") and single-movement forms such as passacaglia, chaconne, fantasy (or fantaisie or fantasia), and toccata (or "touch-piece").
Organ music was much more important than it would be in later eras, and many church services in the Lutheran world (e.g. Northern Germany) included organ performance (such as chorale preludes, based on the melody of the chorale that the entire congregation would later sing).
The greatest composers of baroque keyboard music include J.S. Bach, G.F. Handel, Domenico Scarlatti, and his father Alessandro Scarlatti, Rameau, and Francois Couperin. Others of significance include Buxtehude, Louis Couperin, and Padre Antonio Soler, who spanned the late baroque and early classical eras.
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There were three main keyboard instruments used during this time. The organ was at the church and required an assistant to pump the organ. The households had harpsichords that plucked the strings and did not have a volume control and last the piano-forte which did have volume control. The piano was heavy and not as available as the first two.
Organ, harpsichord, clavichord, virginal and, towards the end of the era, the precursor to the piano, the pianoforte.
That would primarily be the harpsichord and the organ. The pianoforte, the predecessor to the modern piano, had not yet been created.
The Baroque period was famous for its works using polyphonic texture. It is regarded as the last, in fact. No era of music since has used such a complex texture in the majority of works. Much is owed to J.S. Bach, the pinnacle of the Baroque period.
Music from the baroque period was great masterpieces from composers such as J.S. Bach and L. v. Beethoven. One of the major things the differenciates music from the Baroque period to any other is that the majority of music written at the time were composed and performed on a harpsichord, which is like a piano in many respects but it has no dynamic contrast and has two sets of keys (one on top, one on bottom) and pieces were written specificlly for the harpsichord and maybe a small ensemble but not a whole orchestra. Just as Pop music originated from America and reggae originated from Jamaica, Baroque music originated from Central Europe (Germany, Italy, Austria etc) and is still the home of Classical music today. Also, Baroque music usually consists of simple, easy-to-remember melodies because this was sort of the first real genre and composers were at a walking pace when it came to composing so did not want to over-complicate themselves (if that makes any sense at all!) That is all I know about the Baroque period, hope it helps!
AnswerBaroque music is the type of music developed within the historical period of about 1600-1750, lorded over by Bach and Handel. It has dignity, elegant elaboration such as trills, turns, mordants and grace notes; it displays precise craftsmanship. There's a lot more to it, but this may be all you want to know.pearl with an irregular shape
Classical music has a lighter, clearer texturethan Baroque music and is less complex. It is mainly homophonic, using a clear melody line over a subordinate chordal accompaniment,(but counterpoint was by no means forgotten, especially later in the period). Edit by Karen Dunn
1500s During this time period the main music listened to would have been church music or monastic music. Music would have been male dominated and the church would have controlled and defined exactly what music was. The music would have mainly consisted of gregorian chants, an a cappella male ensemble singing in keys of fifths, not like the semitonal keys of today. Other musical instruments would have included early brass and woodwind instruments, percussive instruments such as bells and drums, harps and world instruments like various bagpipes and flutes. 1600s This time period sparked what is known as the Rennaissance. It was this time that music was separated from the control of the church and was able to be expressed by individuals. The Rennaissance evolved into the Baroque period and from then on our modern music slowly, but surely, developed. During this time small instrumental ensembles such as the triad and chamber groups were among the most common forms of instrumental ensembles. Some composers experimented with solo instruments, most notable is Bach's works for Harpsicord, the well tempered clavier. The pipe organ also became popular in this period. Brass evolved during the Baroque period and some woodwind instruments also appeared, strings made the largest change. Prior to the Baroque period the Sting family, especially the violin, was considered a peasant's instrument and was discarded. During the Baroque period however it became a very popular part of instrumental ensemble. The Baroque period evolved into the Classical period which in turn chnged into the Romantic period, eventually leading to Jazz which then in turn branched in to modern day music, even rock!