European monarchies competed to outdo the others in "pride, pomp and pageantry" (www.ipl.org/exhibit/mushist/#ren). As a result, court composers worked like servants. These composers created new genres of music: concertos, operas, suites, cantatas and oratorios, which were far more complex than the styles prevalent in previous eras.
-Opera - developed in late 16th century by musicians in Florence, Italy who modeled this conglomerate of drama and voice after ancient Greek theater. The purpose was to clarify the voice parts by actions of the singers. The first operas set a single voice line against instrumental accompanyment.
Claudio Monteverdi (1567 - 1643) - first secular compositions included madrigals. He became
famous for his operas after which future works would be modelled. His most famous,
and final work was "The Coronation of Poppea"
(musical selection: "L'incoronazione di Poppea, Act III, Scene 7")
-Concerto - an instrumental work which distinguishes two groups: a larger group (full orchestra, or string section and a harpsichord) and a solo group (one or more instruments from a certain group). Most often, the concerto is composed of three movements: fast and lively first movement, slow and dramatic second movement and a final fast movement.
![vivaldi[1].gif (49049 bytes)](vivaldi1.gif)
Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741) - composed a great number of concertos, most of which were for a
solo group of violins and a larger string orchestra. One of his most famous
compositions was "The Four Seasons" which onsisted of one complete concerto for
each season.
(musical selection: " 'Spring,' from 'The Four Seasons' ")
![bach[1].gif (29846 bytes)](bach1.gif)
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) - The greatest composer of all time? An accomplished organist
and violinist, throughout his career, he composed thousands of works.
(musical selection: "Brandenburg Concerto No. 1, 1st Movement")
-Oratorio - a many-movement work composed largely of choral music, and most often with a Biblical subject, the text in English.
George Frideric
Handel (1685 - 1759) - born on the same year as Bach, he was playing the
harpsichord, organ, oboe and violin by the time he was eleven. Through his
career, he composed operas, suites and concertos. When public interest lagged in
these genres, he invented a new genre - the Oratorio.
(musical selection: from "Messiah")
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