Music of the Baroque

Book excerpt: An era of continuous and far-reaching musical evolution, the Baroque period witnessed the invention of opera and oratorio and the emergence of such instrumental genres as the sonata, suite, and concerto, which continue to engage composers today. An ideal instructional package for courses in music history and literature, Music of the Baroque, Second Edition, and its accompanying anthology of scores offer a vivid introduction to European music from 1600 through 1750. Integrating historical and cultural context with composer biography, music analysis, and performance practice, the text surveys Baroque music while analyzing in depth more than forty works from the principal traditions of the period. An opening chapter on late-Renaissance vocal music and a closing chapter on galant instrumental music provide bridges to earlier and later European music. Thoroughly revised and updated to reflect current scholarship, this second edition of Music of the Baroque offers expanded coverage of instrumental music, with new sections on French lute music and the Italian trumpet sinfonia, along with enhanced discussion of chamber music from Salomone Rossi to Biber and Corelli. French sacred music also receives renewed attention. Offering models for musical criticism and analysis in a variety of compositional styles, author David Schulenberg analyzes familiar works like Monteverdi's Orfeo and a Bach cantata as well as lesser-known compositions, including works by Barbara Strozzi and Elizabeth-Claude Jacquet de La Guerre. Additional Features: * Incorporates a wealth of pedagogical resources including synopses of operatic works; biographical timelines for major composers; numerous illustrations, musical examples, and analytical tables; highlighting and explanations of technical terms upon first appearance; and carefully formulated definitions of each new concept * Revised to incorporate the latest in Baroque music scholarship, including an updated bibliography and many new music examples and illustrations * Accompanied by a companion anthology that contains more than fifty pieces for analysis * Supplemented by the author's website, www.wagner.edu/faculty/dschulenberg/oupcont.html, which provides a discography for pieces included in the anthology Designed for undergraduate and graduate students, Music of the Baroque, Second Edition, is also essential reading for anyone who desires an up-to-date introduction to the serious study of Baroque music.