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Baroque Solo Concerto, Vivaldi “Spring”

Listen to all three movements of the Vivaldi “Spring” Violin Concerto and pay particular attention to the programmatic elements of each line of the sonnet. (The poems can be found here

http://www.baroquemusic.org/vivaldiseasons.html

)

Question 1: In your listening response, pick at least one of the movements, and at least three lines of text, and describe in your own words how Vivaldi creates the images through his music. Be as specific as you can with instrumentation.

Baroque Instrumental  Suite

Watch the following video performance of the Bach Orchestral Suite No. 3 (movements I-V).

Question 2: Do all of the same instruments play in each movement, or do some movements use the “Basic Baroque orchestra of strings and harpsichord, and others use “Festive Baroque orchestra” of strings, winds, timpani? How do the different tempos and character of each movement work to keep your interest throughout this multi-movement piece?

Baroque Oratorio

The Baroque oratorio was usually based upon a religious subject, but, in contrast to the cantata, was not intended to be performed liturgically (as part of a church service). It was performed on stage, but not like an opera (with acting, costumes, scenery, etc.). The most famous Baroque oratorio is Handel’s Messiah. Please watch and respond to the following prompt.

Question 3: Take a word or passage from one of the videos below and discuss how Handel “paints” the text.  Specifically describe what he does musically to achieve the “affect” of the words.