Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.)
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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!
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
It's time now to go back to the early seventeenth century…
Gregorio Allegri: Il salmo Miserere mei Deus
Il salmo Miserere mei Deus
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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)
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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"
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
Some years younger than Buxtehude was Johann Pachelbel…
Johann Pachelbel: Toccata in C major
Toccata in C major
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
France
Jean-Baptiste Lully: Benedictus
Benedictus: Benedictus
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
Less formal in his approach to composition…
Marc-Antoine Charpentier: Un flambeau, Jeanette-Isabelle, H. 460c
Un flambeau, Janette, Isabelle!, H. 460c
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
French Keyboard Music
England
Henry Purcell: Hear my prayer, O Lord, Z. 15
Hear my prayer, O Lord, Z. 15
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
Germany
Johann Sebastian Bach: Prelude and Fugue in G major, BWV 550
Prelude and Fugue in G major, BWV 550
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
Unfortunately, the opera was never produced…
Jean-Philippe Rameau: Pieces de clavecin: Suite in E minor
VII. Musette en rondeau
VIII. Tambourin
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
England
Giacomo Rossi: Rinaldo, HWV 7
Rinaldo, HWV 7, Act II: Aria: Lascia ch'io pianga
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Discover Music of the Baroque Era
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
Chapter 1: Enter the Players