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1567
Claudio Monteverdi (1567 - 1643)
Monteverdi was trained in the Renaissance style, also adept at composing “modern” music. Was the transitional figure from the Renaissance to the Baroque. -
Francesca Caccini (1587 - 1641)
Francesca Caccini was a soprano and the daughter of Giulio Caccini. Caccini was the first woman to compose operas, and was also a young prodigy. She and her entire family worked for the Medici Family. -
Dafne
The first opera, composed by Giulio Caccini and Jacopo Peri -
Euridice
The first extant opera, written. by Giulio Caccini and Jacopo Peri. -
Barbara Strozzi (1619 - 1677)
Strozzi studied under Francesco Cavalli at the Accademia degli Unisoni, which was founded by Giuilo Strozzi for her. She published eight sets of songs starting in 1644, and did not write opera. -
First Public Opera Theater (Teatro de San Cassiano)
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Louis the 14th of France (1638 - 1715)
King of France, Louis was unimaginably wealthy, often referred to as 'The Sun King." Louis XIV loved dancing: was an excellent dancer from age 13, and believed that ballet demonstrated important qualities of a society: discipline, order, refinement, and restraint. -
The Coronation of Poppea
Composed at the age of 75, this was the final opera by prolific composer Claudio Monteverdi. -
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704)
Was a Bohemian-Austrian composer and violinist who lived in Salzburg. Was one of the most important composers for the violin, especially in the instrument’s early years, and composed catholic sacred music, violin sonatas, and ensemble music -
Cantatas (1650s)
From the Mid-Baroque period, Cantatas are usually composed for 1 to 2 singles with basso continuo. They are in Italian and usually feature secular lyrics. -
L’astratto (The Distracted One, c. 1650)
A cantata written by Barbara Strozzi. -
Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713)
The master of the Trio Sonata, Corelli made clear distinctions between the different types of sonatas; He was the master of the Trio Sonata. -
Henry Purcell (1659 - 1695)
Singer, organist, composer of instrumental and vocal music who worked in the court of Charles II when stage plays were again allowed. -
Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725)
The father of composer Domenico Scarlatti, A. Scarlatti was a teacher in Naples; many of his students helped create the new classical style. His death marks the end of the Baroque period. -
Opera reaches England (1670s)
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Biber: Sonata No. 1
A Mid-Baroque violin sonata. The opening Praeludium is for violin and basso continuo; the violin part uses a virtuosic style similar to that of solo vocal singing. -
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Nicknamed "The Red Priest" for his red hair, Vivaldi composed many operas, much sacred music, and many instrumental works. Vivaldi was the music director at the Pieta, an orphanage for girls in Venice, and was very popular during the height of his career (1720s). The greatest master of the Baroque concerto. -
Georg Philip Telemann (1681-1767)
Georg Philip Telemann was a German composer who was incredibly prolific. Telemann helped establish the French-style orchestral suite in Germany, and was fiends with J. S. Bach and the godfather of Bach’s eldest son, Carl Philipp Emanuel. -
Jean-Joseph Mouret (1682-1738)
One representative composer from this French court: served the son of King Louis XIV. Mouret Composed operas, suites, and “grand divertissements. -
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
Scarlatti was a keyboard virtuoso who served Portuguese and Spanish royal families. He wrote over 500 sonatas for harpsichord, operas, cantatas, and keyboard exercises, and had a progressive style. -
George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759)
Was a German composer living in England writing Italian music. -
Johann Sebastian Bach
Bach, undisputedly the greatest master of the fugue, was one of the most skilled musicians in the Baroque. Bach wrote in all operas except for opera. -
Music for Royal Fireworks (Water Music)
Composed by G. F. Handel, Water music was performed for a royal party on the Thames River in London on July 17, 1717. -
Six Brandenburg Concerti
Concerto Grosso written for the Margrave of Brandenburg by J.S. Bach. We do not know if the Margrave even looked at the works, were published well after the death of Bach, and yet are among his most famous pieces for orchestra. -
Esther
Oratorio composed by Handel. -
Well-Tempered Clavier Volume 1
Written by composer J.S. Bach, the Well-Tempered Clavier vol 1 is a collection of preludes and fugues. There are 24 in total, one for each major and minor key. -
St. John Passion
Passion written by Bach. -
Le Quattro stagioni
'Le Quattro stagioni" or "The Four Seasons" was a cycle of four violin concertos composed by Antonio Vivaldi. -
The Beggar's Opera
Opera by Joy Gay written in English. -
Suite de symphonies
Composed by Jean-Joseph Mouret, the piece was a Rondeau and was written for trumpets, violins, oboes, timpani, basses, bassoons, and organ: today the work is often performed as a trumpet solo with organ. -
Cantata No. 140
Cantata No. 140: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Awake, A Voice Calls us”) Movements 1, 3, and 7, was based off of a lutheran hymn by Philipp Nicolai. -
St. Mark Passion
Passion written by Bach. -
Israel in Egypt
Oratorio composed by Handel. -
Well-Tempered Clavier Volume 2
Written by composer J.S. Bach, the Well-Tempered Clavier vol 2 is a collection of preludes and fugues. There are 24 in total, one for each major and minor key. -
Messiah
Oratorio composed by Handel. -
Judas Maccabaeus
Oratorio composed by Handel. -
Jephtha
Oratorio composed by Handel.