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All periods of Western music are covered in this book, and what makes it especially interesting is the use of historical documents to enhance what would otherwise be a straight history of each musical period.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.
