‘Baroque’ probably comes from the Portuguese word ‘barocco’, meaning an irregularly shaped pearl or piece of jewelry. The term first came about in the highly ornamented style of architecture. Musicians later used the word ‘Baroque’ to describe the period of music history. It was during the 17th century that the system of modes disappeared. Composers had become accustom to sharpening or flattening the odd note here or there. The result was that modes lost their individual characters and came to sound like two modes only, Ionian and Aeolian (or Natural minor). From these two modes grew the major and minor scale system we use today.

ELEMENTS OF BAROQUE MUSIC

Melody
· Conjunct and disjunct
· Use of ornamentation
· Use of Sequence
Rhythm
· Free rhythm in recitative (pitch of voice line according to the meaning of the text)
· Clear, steady, driving rhythms in many works
Harmony
· Based on major, minor system
· Greater use of dissonance
· Use of modulation to closely related keys
Texture
· Frequent use of imitation
· Polyphony
· Homophony

Timbre
· Instrumental music much more important
· Small choral groups
· Small orchestra of strings, winds, and continuo
· Soloists important in both instrumental and vocal works
Form
· Binary (AB), ternary (ABA), ritornello (meaning return) and fugue
· Development of multi-movement works

Type of composition
· Mass, motet and anthem
· Opera, overture, cantata and oratorio
· Fugue, suite and choral prelude
· Concerto grosso, solo concerto
· Monody
· Sonata, trio sonata and harpsichord sonata

INSTRUMENTS

The Baroque era saw the continuation of all the instruments used during the Renaissance. Mechanical and technical improvements were made during the Baroque.
Keyboard Instruments
These were used for basso continuo parts and solo music. Keyboard instruments played a big part in instrumental music. Three types existed, the clavichord, the organ and the harpsichord. The clavichord produced sound by a metal wedge striking against a string when a key was pressed. The quality of the sound was weak, but the instrument was able to produce dynamic contrast. It was mainly used in Germany as a solo instrument or in a small ensemble. The Baroque organ was more powerful than its ancestor, the Renaissance organ. Organs were mostly used in churches and used as solo instruments or accompaniment instruments. The harpsichord was very popular and had various names in different parts of Europe. In Italy, it was the Clavicembalo. In England, it was the virginal. In France, it was named the clavecen, and in Germany it was known as the Klavier. The harpsichord usually had two keyboards, one above the other. Its tone was produced by quills that plucked the strings every time a key was pressed. The tone of the harpsichord was much stronger than that of the clavichord, but it could not produce dynamics. The harpsichord was the main instrument used in the basso continuo and it the most distinctive sound of Baroque music.
String Instruments
During the 1600’s, the lute started to become less popular as few pieces of lute music were being produced. At the end of the 1600’s, the Violin family replaced the viols and the orchestra began to take shape, with a strong section of strings as its foundation. The bass viol or contrabass was still used even though the other viols died out.
Wind Instruments
The main wind instruments used were the bassoon, flute, recorder and oboe. The transverse flute started to become a common solo and ensemble instrument. Brass instruments such as horns, trumpets and trombones were used in large ensembles, but rarely as solo instruments.
Percussion Instruments
Timpani (kettledrums) were the only percussion instrument used in the Baroque. They were used sparingly in the orchestra.