Baroque music has grown in popularity in recent decades. Almost everyone is familiar with at least one piece of music from the Baroque period--samples of Baroque music have been used in commercials and movies. Vivaldi's The Four Seasons is one example of a Baroque piece that many people can recognize after only a few measures. A recognizable feature of Baroque music is the harpsichord, a piano-like instrument used often during the period along with more familiar instruments such as the violin, trumpet, and flute. This pathfinder is intended as a public library resource for anyone with little or no musical background interested in learning the history and characteristics of this beautiful style of music. The following books, websites, and recordings offer a wide array of information on the period and a few of its most popular composers. General Information
General Information
The following resources provide information on the Baroque period and the characteristics of Baroque music:
Books:
Classical Music
Editor: John Burrows
Published: 2005
Call Number: MT6.C564
Classical Music is an excellent resource as an introduction to the music of the Baroque period. This book from Eyewitness Companions provides snapshots into all periods of classical music. Each period is broken up into short, easy to read sections dedicated to composers, performers, and period instruments. Major works of more well-known composers are examined in more detail. Charts, timelines, and color photographs provide helpful visual aides to give an all-encompassing look into the world of classical music.
Music of the Baroque
Author: David Schulenberg
Published: 2001
Call Number: ML193.S30 2001
Schulenberg begins his book with an introduction to music history to give the reader a basic context for the rest of the text. He not only defines the word “baroque” with regard to the historical period and the musical style, but also gives some background into the state of Western Europe at the time, including the role and place of music. Musical forms of the period make up the chapters, which are then divided into more specific styles, composers, or locations where that form was particularly prominent. Schulenberg also includes printed examples of music as well as lyrics when relevant to enhance his descriptions of noteworthy pieces or styles. Details abound, but are highlighted with charts and outlines along with the musical examples to aid in the reader’s understanding of the subject.
Baroque Music
Author: John Walter Hill
Published: 2005
Call Number: ML193.H54 2005
Hill’s account of the Baroque period and its music is rather long, but therefore provides a vast amount of interesting detail. He has divided the book into chapters based on the style of music and the country in which it was prominent at the time. Within the chapters are shorter sub-sections that focus on specific pieces, composers, and musical forms and styles. Visual aides are also widely used, including charts, maps, illustrations, and printed examples of music.
Music in the Western World
Selected and Annotated by: Piero Weiss and Richard Taruskin
Published: 2008
Call Number: ML160.M87 2008
All periods of Western music are covered in this book, and what makes it especially interesting is the use of historical documents to enhance what would otherwise be a straight history of each musical period. Each section of the chapter begins with a short introduction to the topic at hand, the document chosen to illustrate that topic, and how the document and its author are connected to Baroque music. Examples of the documents used include excerpts from longer works, lyrics with translation, and descriptions of musical styles written in the Baroque period.
Websites:
Music of the Baroque
URL: http://www.baroque.org/index.shtml
Music of the Baroque is a Chicago-based ensemble that performs Baroque and early Classical period music. Besides providing information on the ensemble’s history and performances, this website is a good reference for anyone seeking basic information about the Baroque period. A section of the website includes questions about the period followed by short answers ranging from one to two paragraphs in length. Topics covered include the characteristics of Baroque music (instrumentation, musical forms and performance technique), the period’s place in history, and the influence of the period on today’s musical world. There are also short biographies of prominent Baroque composers. The site is easy to navigate and the factual information is clearly written.
Early Music Chicago
URL: http://earlymusichicago.org
This website is an easy to use resource that focuses on Baroque and other forms of early music. After clicking on a genre (Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and "other"), the user is directed to a page divided into link lists of vocal, choral, and instrumental music of the period, history and culture of the period, and composers and performers of that period. Other links connect the user to blogs, other websites, and images regarding Baroque music, as well as to purchasing sites for sheet music and recordings.
Books:
Classical Music
Editor: John Burrows
Published: 2005
Call Number: MT6.C564
Classical Music is an excellent resource as an introduction to the music of the Baroque period. This book from Eyewitness Companions provides snapshots into all periods of classical music. Each period is broken up into short, easy to read sections dedicated to composers, performers, and period instruments. Major works of more well-known composers are examined in more detail. Charts, timelines, and color photographs provide helpful visual aides to give an all-encompassing look into the world of classical music.
Music of the Baroque
Author: David Schulenberg
Published: 2001
Call Number: ML193.S30 2001
Schulenberg begins his book with an introduction to music history to give the reader a basic context for the rest of the text. He not only defines the word “baroque” with regard to the historical period and the musical style, but also gives some background into the state of Western Europe at the time, including the role and place of music. Musical forms of the period make up the chapters, which are then divided into more specific styles, composers, or locations where that form was particularly prominent. Schulenberg also includes printed examples of music as well as lyrics when relevant to enhance his descriptions of noteworthy pieces or styles. Details abound, but are highlighted with charts and outlines along with the musical examples to aid in the reader’s understanding of the subject.
Baroque Music
Author: John Walter Hill
Published: 2005
Call Number: ML193.H54 2005
Hill’s account of the Baroque period and its music is rather long, but therefore provides a vast amount of interesting detail. He has divided the book into chapters based on the style of music and the country in which it was prominent at the time. Within the chapters are shorter sub-sections that focus on specific pieces, composers, and musical forms and styles. Visual aides are also widely used, including charts, maps, illustrations, and printed examples of music.
Music in the Western World
Selected and Annotated by: Piero Weiss and Richard Taruskin
Published: 2008
Call Number: ML160.M87 2008
All periods of Western music are covered in this book, and what makes it especially interesting is the use of historical documents to enhance what would otherwise be a straight history of each musical period. Each section of the chapter begins with a short introduction to the topic at hand, the document chosen to illustrate that topic, and how the document and its author are connected to Baroque music. Examples of the documents used include excerpts from longer works, lyrics with translation, and descriptions of musical styles written in the Baroque period.
Websites:
Music of the Baroque
URL: http://www.baroque.org/index.shtml
Music of the Baroque is a Chicago-based ensemble that performs Baroque and early Classical period music. Besides providing information on the ensemble’s history and performances, this website is a good reference for anyone seeking basic information about the Baroque period. A section of the website includes questions about the period followed by short answers ranging from one to two paragraphs in length. Topics covered include the characteristics of Baroque music (instrumentation, musical forms and performance technique), the period’s place in history, and the influence of the period on today’s musical world. There are also short biographies of prominent Baroque composers. The site is easy to navigate and the factual information is clearly written.
Early Music Chicago
URL: http://earlymusichicago.org
This website is an easy to use resource that focuses on Baroque and other forms of early music. After clicking on a genre (Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and "other"), the user is directed to a page divided into link lists of vocal, choral, and instrumental music of the period, history and culture of the period, and composers and performers of that period. Other links connect the user to blogs, other websites, and images regarding Baroque music, as well as to purchasing sites for sheet music and recordings.
Composers
The following sources provide information on the lives and musical careers of several Baroque composers:
Italian Baroque Masters
Authors: Denis Arnold, Anthony Newcomb, Thomas Walker, Michael Talbot, Donald Grout, and Joel Sheveloff
Published: 1984
Call Number: ML390.N48 1984
This book is a collection of essays by several authors, each one a biography of a major Italian Baroque composer. The authors cover the composers’ life, theory on music, and their reputation and influence. Each chapter also includes a comprehensive list of works for each composer, organized by musical form. While lengthy, the book does not get too technical and is rather easy to read, and is a good resource for someone with some previous musical knowledge. It would not, though, be unmanageable for someone with no previous knowledge.
Johann Sebastian Bach and the Art of Baroque Music
Authors: Donna Getzinger and Daniel Felsenfeld
Published: 2004
Call Number: ML3930.B2G47 2004
Getzinger and Felsenfeld’s book reads much like a novel rather than a history book. In it, they cover the major aspects of Bach’s musical career, as well as his personal life. As one of the most prominent of the Baroque composers, Bach’s life cannot easily be condensed, but the authors provide a scaled-down yet helpful account. Most of the book is centered on Bach himself, but there is some information regarding the Baroque period in general. The differences between Italian and German Baroque music are touched on, as well as brief mentions of period instruments and musical form, and short discussions of Bach’s more well-known works; such information is most often inserted as an aside to the main subject of the chapter. This book is a quick insight into one of the period’s most famous composers.
Vivaldi: Voice of the Baroque
Author: H.C. Robbins Landon
Published: 1993
Call Number: 780.92 Viv
Landon’s book begins with a short prologue introducing what he refers to as “the rediscovery of Vivaldi”. The chapter titles highlight the cities, people, and musical forms most important to Vivaldi’s life and musical career. One chapter is dedicated solely to The Four Seasons, and includes the sonnets that were originally written with the music. This chapter goes into great detail about the form and interpretations of each of the four concerti. A number of letters written by Vivaldi to people of power and influence add an interesting dimension to the book.
Handel: The Orchestral Music
Author: Alfred Mann
Published: 1996
Call Number: ML410.H13M36 1996
Handel’s music is the exclusive subject of this book; it is not meant to be a biography. Before discussing Handel’s orchestral music, Mann dedicates a chapter to Handel’s relationship to the orchestra as an entity, and the different orchestral forms of the time. An extremely detailed account of the development and form of Handel’s music, the book also includes samples of the scores of some of the pieces featured. Mann has picked apart each specific piece or opus he wished to discuss. This book would best be used after acquiring some general knowledge of music and the Baroque period.
Italian Baroque Masters
Authors: Denis Arnold, Anthony Newcomb, Thomas Walker, Michael Talbot, Donald Grout, and Joel Sheveloff
Published: 1984
Call Number: ML390.N48 1984
This book is a collection of essays by several authors, each one a biography of a major Italian Baroque composer. The authors cover the composers’ life, theory on music, and their reputation and influence. Each chapter also includes a comprehensive list of works for each composer, organized by musical form. While lengthy, the book does not get too technical and is rather easy to read, and is a good resource for someone with some previous musical knowledge. It would not, though, be unmanageable for someone with no previous knowledge.
Johann Sebastian Bach and the Art of Baroque Music
Authors: Donna Getzinger and Daniel Felsenfeld
Published: 2004
Call Number: ML3930.B2G47 2004
Getzinger and Felsenfeld’s book reads much like a novel rather than a history book. In it, they cover the major aspects of Bach’s musical career, as well as his personal life. As one of the most prominent of the Baroque composers, Bach’s life cannot easily be condensed, but the authors provide a scaled-down yet helpful account. Most of the book is centered on Bach himself, but there is some information regarding the Baroque period in general. The differences between Italian and German Baroque music are touched on, as well as brief mentions of period instruments and musical form, and short discussions of Bach’s more well-known works; such information is most often inserted as an aside to the main subject of the chapter. This book is a quick insight into one of the period’s most famous composers.
Vivaldi: Voice of the Baroque
Author: H.C. Robbins Landon
Published: 1993
Call Number: 780.92 Viv
Landon’s book begins with a short prologue introducing what he refers to as “the rediscovery of Vivaldi”. The chapter titles highlight the cities, people, and musical forms most important to Vivaldi’s life and musical career. One chapter is dedicated solely to The Four Seasons, and includes the sonnets that were originally written with the music. This chapter goes into great detail about the form and interpretations of each of the four concerti. A number of letters written by Vivaldi to people of power and influence add an interesting dimension to the book.
Handel: The Orchestral Music
Author: Alfred Mann
Published: 1996
Call Number: ML410.H13M36 1996
Handel’s music is the exclusive subject of this book; it is not meant to be a biography. Before discussing Handel’s orchestral music, Mann dedicates a chapter to Handel’s relationship to the orchestra as an entity, and the different orchestral forms of the time. An extremely detailed account of the development and form of Handel’s music, the book also includes samples of the scores of some of the pieces featured. Mann has picked apart each specific piece or opus he wished to discuss. This book would best be used after acquiring some general knowledge of music and the Baroque period.
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