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Bach, Vivaldi and Handel are the three great composers of the Baroque era, though there are many other well-known figures, including Albinoni, Pachelbel and Scarlatti. This engaging introduction, interspersed liberally music, shows how the music of these composers graced the courts and churches of Europe from 1600-1750. It is a fascinating story.
Clive Unger-Hamilton: Discover Music of the Baroque Era
Chapter 1: Enter the Players
Individuality
Italy: The Cradle of the Baroque
George Frideric Handel: Concerto Grosso in B minor, Op. 6, No. 12, HWV 330
Concerto Grosso in B minor, Op. 6, No. 12, HWV 330: III. Larghetto, e piano - Variatio
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Instrumental Development and Choral Virtuosity
Johann Sebastian Bach: Violin Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001
Violin Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001: I. Adagio
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This change is especially dramatic…
Domenico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in D minor, K.120/L.215/P.146
Keyboard Sonata in D minor, K. 120/L.215/P.146: Allegrissimo
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Many regard the choral music of J.S. Bach…
Johann Sebastian Bach: Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen!, BWV 51
Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51: Aria: Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen!
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It's time now to go back to the early seventeenth century…
Gregorio Allegri: Il salmo Miserere mei Deus
Il salmo Miserere mei Deus
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Chapter 2: The Beginnings – Italy
Giovanni Gabrieli: Sacrae symphoniae (excerpts) (arr. E. Crees for brass)
Sacrae symphoniae: Sonata pian e forte a 8 (arr. E. Crees for brass)
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The contribution to music of the next great Italian composer…
Claudio Monteverdi: Vespro della Beata Vergine, "composti sopra canti fermi"
Vespers of the Blessed Virgin: Domine ad adiuvandum
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When Monteverdi's patron died in 1612…
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck: Mein junges Leben hat ein End, SwWV 324
Mein junges Leben hat ein End, SwWV 324
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As well as being an outstanding composer…
Pierre Certon: La, la, la, je ne l'ose dire
La, la, la, je ne l'ose dire
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Well now, from the engaging work of a minor composer…
Heinrich Schutz: Psalmen Davids samt etlichen Moteten und Concerten, Op. 2, SWV 22-47
Psalmen Davids sampt etlichen Moteten und Concerten, Op. 2: Jauchzet dem Herren, alle Welt, SWV 36, "Psalm 100"
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In 1625 Schutz was stricken by the death of his wife…
England
William Lawes: Royal Consort in D major for 2 theorbos
Royal Consort in D major for 2 theorbos: V. Ecco
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When civil war broke out in England…
Chapter 3: The Fashion Spreads – Different Styles for Different Lands
Development of Dance Suites
Major, Minor and Modulation
Italy: The Land of Song
Alessandro Scarlatti: O di Betlemme, altera poverta ventu
O di Betlemme, altera poverta: Aria: L'Autor d'ogni mio bene
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The Violin
Alessandro Stradella: Sonata in D major a 8 viole con una tromba
Sonata in D major a 8 viole con una tromba: I. Allegro
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Stradella, incidentally, while not in the first division…
Germany
Dieterich Buxtehude: Membra Jesu nostri, BuxWV 75
Membra Jesu nostri, BuxWV 75: III. Ad manus: Quid sunt plagae istae
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Some years younger than Buxtehude was Johann Pachelbel…
Johann Pachelbel: Toccata in C major
Toccata in C major
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France
Jean-Baptiste Lully: Benedictus
Benedictus: Benedictus
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Less formal in his approach to composition…
Marc-Antoine Charpentier: Un flambeau, Jeanette-Isabelle, H. 460c
Un flambeau, Janette, Isabelle!, H. 460c
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French Keyboard Music
England
Henry Purcell: Hear my prayer, O Lord, Z. 15
Hear my prayer, O Lord, Z. 15
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In 1683 came the first of Purcell's Odes for St Cecilia's Day…
Henry Purcell: Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626
Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626, Act III: When I am laid in earth
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A few years later, at the end of the freezing winter of 1695…
Chapter 4: Full Flower – High Baroque
Italy
Arcangelo Corelli: Concerto Grosso in G minor, Op. 6, No. 8, "Christmas Concerto"
Concerto Grosso in G minor, Op. 6, No. 8, "Christmas Concerto": VI. Pastorale
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Born near Bologna, Corelli began to learn the violin…
Antonio Vivaldi: Flute Concerto in D major, Op. 10, No. 3, RV 428, "Il gardellino"
Flute Concerto in D major, Op. 10, No. 3, RV 428, "Il gardellino": I. Allegro
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It must have been the public thirst for novelty…
Antonio Vivaldi: Beatus vir in C major, RV 597
Beatus vir in C major, RV 597: Beatus vir qui timet Dominum
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It seems as if Vivaldi became restless…
Baroque Concertos Beyond Vivaldi
Domenico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in E major, K.380/L.23/P.483
Keyboard Sonata in E major, K.380/L.23/P.483: Andante comodo
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By contrast, the Sonata in D major, K. 96 is much more rapid…
Domenico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in D major, K.96/L.465/P.210
Keyboard Sonata in D major, K. 96/L.465/P.210: Allegrissimo
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Germany
Johann Sebastian Bach: Prelude and Fugue in G major, BWV 550
Prelude and Fugue in G major, BWV 550
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Although he appeared to have been comfortable enough…
Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, BWV 1047
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, BWV 1047: III. Allegro assai
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At least two of Bach's four Orchestral Suites…
Johann Sebastian Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1, BWV 846-869
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude and Fugue No. 16 in G minor, BWV 861
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One vocal work to emerge from Bach's secular years…
Johann Sebastian Bach: Weichet nur, betrubte Schatten, BWV 202, "Wedding Cantata"
Weichet nur, betrubte Schatten, BWV 202, "Wedding Cantata": Aria: Sich uben im Lieben
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It was on his return from a visit to Karlsbad…
Johann Sebastian Bach: St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Part III: Chorus: Wir setzen uns mit Tranen nieder
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There were consolations in Bach's difficult time in Leipzig…
Johann Sebastian Bach: Concerto in F minor, BWV 1056
Keyboard Concerto in F minor, BWV 1056: II. Largo
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Towards the end of the seventeenth century…
German Opera
Georg Philipp Telemann: Overture (Suite) in D major, TWV 55:D15
Overture (Suite) in D major, TWV 55:D15: VIII. Rejouissance
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Telemann has sometimes been accused of superficiality…
France
Francois Couperin: Pieces de clavecin, Book 1: 1st Ordre in G minor-major
Pieces de clavecin, Book 1: 1st Ordre in G minor-major: Les Sentiments
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Further on in the same suite…
Pieces de clavecin, Book 1: 1st Ordre in G minor-major
Pieces de clavecin, Book 1: 1st Ordre in G minor-major: La Manon
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In 1716, at the height of his fame and success…
Jean-Philippe Rameau: Abaris ou les Boreades
Abaris ou les Boreades: Gavotte pour les Fleures et les Zephirs
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Unfortunately, the opera was never produced…
Jean-Philippe Rameau: Pieces de clavecin: Suite in E minor
VII. Musette en rondeau
VIII. Tambourin
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England
Giacomo Rossi: Rinaldo, HWV 7
Rinaldo, HWV 7, Act II: Aria: Lascia ch'io pianga
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Back in Hanover the following summer…
John Gay: Acis and Galatea, HWV 49
Acis and Galatea, HWV 49, Act II: Aria: O ruddier than the cherry
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Italian opera at this time was all the rage in London…
George Frideric Handel: Keyboard Suite No. 7 (Set I) in G minor, HWV 432
Keyboard Suite No. 7 in G minor, HWV 432: VI. Passacaille
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As the public wearied of temperamental divas and castrati…
George Frideric Handel: Messiah, HWV 56
Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: For unto a child is born
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Strange to say, Messiah was not so well received…
George Frideric Handel: Concerto Grosso in D minor, Op. 6, No. 10, HWV 328
Concerto Grosso in D minor, Op. 6, No. 10, HWV 328: VI. Allegro moderato