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Baroque period

Baroque music 1610 - 1750

Important composers from the Baroque period

Monteverdi 1567 - 1643Purcell 1659 - 1695Bach 1685 - 1750Handel 1685 - 1759
Monteverdi_aPurcellJ S BAchHandel
Harpsichord

Baroque music takes its name from a very florid and decorated style of architecture and art of the 17th century. In music the term is used to describe the period from around 1610 to 1750 in which new styles of composition began to appear:

  • opera

  • the suite

  • oratorio

  • concerto 

  • sonata.

These new styles related to just the Baroque period are covered on the pages below.

Choral music - Oratorio, Mass and cantata
Concerto - Two styles of concerto, concerto grosso and solo concerto
Simple forms - Binary, ternary and Da Capo aria
Fugue and canon - Listen to examples of fugue and canon
Opera - Listen to examples of opera
Chamber and instrumental music - Discover a range of chamber and instrumental music
Baroque quiz - Test your knowledge and understanding of this period.

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Updated on: 19 March 2008 The LTS Online Service is funded by the Scottish Government.