Chapter 9: Baroque Instrumental Music- Concerto and Concerto Grosso

An example of Concerto Grosso

Bach's "Brandenburg Concerto" No. 5 1st movement

What is the difference between Concerto and Concerto Grosso?

Concerto is the contrast between between an orchestra and a soloist, Concerto Grosso is the contrast between an orchestra and a small group of soloists.

Why did instrumental music become more significant?

Listeners and musicians started taking instrumental music more seriously due to a technological development in instrument building.

Describe Ritornello form

Ritornello form focus on contrast between two musical ideas, or groups of ideas. One of these ideas belong to the soloist, the other belongs to the orchestra.

How is a melody introduced, then varied in variation form?

Variation form entails the successive interuppted repitition of a melody, with small changes that grab the reader's interest without ever losing touch with the original theme.

Another example of a concerto

Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons"

An example of Ritornello Form

Vivaldi's Concerto in G "La Stravaganza", 1st movement

An example of Variation form

Vivaldi's Concerto in G, "La Stravaganza" 2nd movement

What is a Movement?

A Movement is a self-contained section of music that is part of a larger work.

What is a cadenza?

A cadenza is and improvised solo passage within a larger piece.

How does variaton form use the basso ostinato?

It is a persistant bass line that can be slightly varied, but not enough to lose it's distinctive quality.