Main Characteristics Baroque Concerto

Soloists – the concerto grosso is a work for two or Grosso more soloists. 1600 - 1750

Orchestra – split into two sections; the ripieno (the RIPIENO (MAIN ORCHESTRA) main orchestra) and the concertino (soloists).

Instruments – harpsichord, cello, violin, violas, oboe, recorder, bassoon.

Continuo – harpsichord plays chordal harmony with cello or bassoon playing the bass line.

Terraced Dynamics – the volume changes suddenly between loud and soft. CONCERTINO (SOLOISTS) Texture – melody & accompaniment, polyphonic, homophonic, contrapuntal. Can be quite complex.

Ornamentation – melodies are embellished with trills and turns. These sound quite ‘busy’.

Venue – small spaces, for example, a chamber or room.

Composer –

Bach BACH – BRANDENBURG CONCERTOS

CORELLI – OPUS 6 NO.4 IN D MAJOR Main Characteristics Baroque Solo

Soloist – this is work for just one soloist and Concerto orchestra. 1600 - 1750

Orchestra – slightly larger orchestra than the MAIN ORCHESTRA concerto grosso.

Instruments – Harpsichord, cello, violin, violas, oboe, recorder, bassoon.

Continuo – harpsichord plays chordal harmony with cello or bassoon playing the bass line.

Terraced Dynamics – the volume changes suddenly between loud and soft.

Texture – melody & accompaniment, polyphonic, SOLOIST homophonic, contrapuntal. Can be quite complex.

Ornamentation – melodies are embellished with trills and turns. These sound quite ‘busy’. (OR ANY OTHER BAROQUE ERA SOLO INSTRUMENT) Venue – small spaces, for example, a chamber or room.

Composer –

Vivaldi VIVALDI – CONCERTO IN A MINOR FOR VIOLIN HANDEL – CONCERTO NO.1 FOR OBOE IN Bb MAJOR Main Characteristics Classical Solo

Soloist – this is work for just one soloist and Concerto orchestra. 1750 - 1820

Orchestra – much larger orchestra than the MAIN ORCHESTRA Baroque era.

Instruments – the piano and clarinet were invented in this era. Brass and woodwind feature prominently.

Cadenza – this is the name given to the passages where the soloist plays unaccompanied and really SOLOIST shows off their technical skill. Usually improvised in this era.

Gradual Dynamics – crescendos and diminuendos feature. Volumes fall and rise gradually and smoothly. (OR TRUMPET, FLUTE, HORN, CLARINET, VIOLIN, CELLO Venue – slightly larger space than the Baroque era AND ANY OTHER CLASSICAL ERA INSTRUMENT) due to size or orchestra. A recital hall would have been a suitable venue.

Composer – HAYDN – PIANO CONCERTO NO.11 IN D MAJOR Haydn MOZART – CLARINET CONCERTO IN A MAJOR Main Characteristics Romantic Solo

Mood – concertos in this era become much more Concerto dramatic sounding and emotive. 1820 - 1900

Orchestra and soloist – the interactions between MAIN ORCHESTRA these two become much more complex. The orchestra has now expanded in size greatly.

Instruments – developments in instrument making quality resulted in musicians being able to play very technically challenging music. New additions included the tuba, trombone, and piccolo.

Cadenza – these were now very technically demanding and were often composed rather than SOLOIST improvised.

Harmony and melody – this era made lots of use of chromatic scales and dissonant, clashing notes.

Venue – a large concert hall due to the size of the (OR TRUMPET, FLUTE, HORN, PIANO, VIOLIN, CELLO AND ANY OTHER ROMANTIC ERA INSTRUMENT) orchestra.

Composer – Beethoven BEETHOVEN – PIANO CONCERTO NO.5 IN Eb ELGAR – CELLO CONCERTO IN E MINOR OPUS 85