Last
March we spent the month counting down to Johann Sebastian Bach’s birthday on
March 21. After thinking about what to write this month, I thought, “why not
focus on Bach again?” There’s always more to talk about when it comes to this
infamous composer. Before we dive into different topics connected to Bach
however, I wanted to talk briefly about the time period during which he lived
and worked.
Have
you heard the term “Baroque”? This word is a French term that comes from the
Portuguese barroco and means a
misshapen pearl or something abnormal, or exaggerated. It originally referred
to ornate architecture but was later used by 18th-century critics
when discussing the musical time period lasting from 1600–1750. While critics
of the late 18th century may have looked down on such a style as
they looked to new and simple forms, the 19th century favored the
ornate and looked positively upon the Baroque era. Did you know that some
scholars say that the Baroque period ended when Bach died (1750)? That
illustrates the impact he had in music history.
With
the Baroque period came a rebellion from the Renaissance era in the prior
century. Renaissance music often used what we call polyphony (music that
contains multiple independent voices) while Baroque composers tended to compose
a melody line and a bass accompaniment, leaving it up to the performers to fill
in the harmonies. Many performers would add ornamented notes, sticking with the
standard style of the time. You may compare this performance practice to modern-day
jazz in which musicians will improvise or take up a solo based on a given
harmony.
Baroque
music often contained forward motion and contrasts, whether it be between loud
and soft dynamics, fast or slow tempos, or between a soloist and ensemble in performance.
These characteristics also map themselves onto visual art of the time. Early
art often portrayed people or objects in still life. Baroque, on the other
hand, often showed motion (like the music!) Art also exhibited contrasts such
as light verses dark in coloring. A great example of Baroque art is on display
in Cincinnati’s very own Taft Museum of Art: Rembrandt’s Portrait of a Man Rising from His Chair.
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| Courtesy of wikimedia.org |
Notice
the contrasts between light and dark. Also note that the man is rising from his
chair. Rembrandt shows motion in his painting.
If you would like to hear me chat with Sunday
Baroque host Suzanne Bona on the topic of “Baroque,” you can listen to our
discussion on 91.7 WVXU’s Cincinnati Edition from January 23, 2015.
