Visiting the Baroque concert has made an important impact on me as a listener and as a learner. First of all, Baroque music is incredibly complex and multidimensional by nature. Secondly, it is an excellent representation of its period of history. This music reflects the social changes and main movements of its time.
The Baroque period in our history is said to be stretched through the 1600s and 1750s, but Buelow mentions that such massive social and cultural change has been slowly developing decades before that (9). The term “baroque” derives from the Portuguese language and means “a pearl of an odd shape” (About the Baroque Period par.1). In music, it is used specifically to refer to the works of the Western European musicians of that time. Listening to the baroque music concert that incorporated the works of Bach, Fasch, La Barre, and Pelligrini among others, I realized why the critics of that time referred to the art of the Baroque period likening it to a pearl of a bizarre shape. First of all, comparing the architecture and the music of the time one may see the prevalence of advanced ornamentation and a variety of decorative elements (The Baroque Period par. 2). The masterpieces included in the concert had a very complex structure, with a lot of turns and trills, the contrast of the level of volume within the melodic lines referred to as terraced dynamics and the presence of harpsichord continuo – all of these characteristics are known as the main features of the Baroque music (Baroque orchestral music par. 1).
Listening to the Baroque music at the concert I noticed the high tension and vibrant rhythm of the masterpieces of Bach, the sequence of more than two melodic lines in the work of Fasch, flowing structure of Sicut Cervus by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. In general, Baroque music is considered one of the most diverse musical styles and is known for its polyphonic texture and complex rhythms (Thornburgh par. 9).
The complexity of the Baroque melodies is a reflection of the process that unraveled in the Western European society of the 1600s – 1750s. In history, this time is known for the first leaps of technological progress leading to major advancements in all areas of science. Art was affected by the technological progress as well; the majority of musical instruments used during the Baroque period are still employed in the modern classical music, and the Baroque style of music is transcendent because the masterpieces that revolved during that period are still widely recognized and admired in the contemporary society (Thornburgh par. 3). Visiting the concert of learned to view the music as not only a product of inspiration and talent but also as a demonstration of technological and scientific development of the time when it was composed. The society of the Baroque period was proud of and keen on its advancement, this is why every product of the Baroque style screams about the versatility of techniques and opportunities the masters could access.
In conclusion, emotionally, Baroque music is overwhelmingly diverse, and it guides the audience through a range of feelings and experiences. I felt like this music physically affected me speeding up my heartbeat, causing goosebumps on my skin, giving me shivers and tingling sensation in my hands. I felt that this music was something material I could touch or inhale, and I did not want to stop interacting with this music. For me, the music turned addictive in a positive way.
Works Cited
About the Baroque Period. Baroque.org. 2014. Web.
Baroque orchestral music. BBC. 2014. Web.
Buelow, Geore, J. A History of Baroque Music. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press, 2004. Print.
The Baroque Period. Mostlywind. 2011. Web.
Thornburgh, Elaine. Baroque Music – Part One. n. d. Web. 2015.