Discover published sets by community

Passacaglia is a Baroque musical form based on a short repeated bass line or harmonic progression, over which continuous variations or melodic lines are constructed.

Church Modes in Baroque music, rooted in Gregorian chant, are scales that include patterns of whole and half steps different from the major-minor system but were still in use for variety and affect.

Sonata in the Baroque era refers to instrumental compositions in several movements, often with contrasting tempos and characters.

Modulation is the process of changing from one key to another within a piece. In Baroque music, modulation was used to express different affects or emotional states.

Ritornello form is a structure in Baroque music where the orchestra plays a recurring theme (ritornello) alternated with episodes of contrasting material by soloists.

Stile Antico, meaning 'old style,' is the use of Renaissance polyphonic techniques in Baroque music, often associated with sacred works and a strict counterpoint approach.

Concerto Grosso is a Baroque form where a small group of solo instruments (the concertino) contrasts with the full orchestra (the ripieno or tutti).

Terraced Dynamics in Baroque music refer to sudden changes in volume rather than gradual, creating a stepped or terraced effect.

Basso Continuo, or thorough bass, is the continuous bass line typical of Baroque music, often played by a keyboard instrument and a low-pitched string instrument. It provides harmonic support and a foundation for the melody.

Binary form in Baroque music is a two-part structure (A-B) marked by a clear contrast between the sections and often used in dance movements.

Ornamentation in Baroque music refers to decorative musical flourishes that embellish the main melody, such as trills, mordents, and appoggiaturas.

A Da Capo Aria is a musical form typical of Baroque opera and cantatas featuring an A-B-A structure, where the singer is expected to embellish the returning A section.

Affections in Baroque music theory are emotional states or moods that music is intended to evoke, such as joy, anger, or sorrow, each associated with specific musical figures.

Ground Bass in Baroque music is a repeating bass line or pattern that serves as the basis for the musical structure, similar to a Passacaglia.

Unity of Mood in Baroque compositions refers to a piece maintaining a single affect or mood throughout, unlike the dynamic emotional contrasts found in later periods.

Figured Bass is a musical notation system used in Baroque music that indicates intervals above the bass note, guiding the keyboard player in improvising a harmonic accompaniment.

Contrapuntal texture, also known as counterpoint, is a texture where two or more independent melodic lines are played simultaneously, a common characteristic in Baroque music.

Harmonic rhythm in Baroque music is the rate at which chords change. It often features regular and frequent changes to heighten musical tension.

Chaconne is a musical form similar to passacaglia, featuring variations over a repeated short harmonic progression or bass part, typically in triple meter.

Homophonic Texture in Baroque music is a texture with a primary melodic line accompanied by chords, which became more prominent toward the end of the Baroque period.

Coloratura refers to elaborate ornamentation and embellishment in vocal music, characterized by rapid runs, trills, and leaps. It's typically featured in soprano roles.

Polyphonic Texture in Baroque music is a texture where multiple independent melody lines (voices) are interwoven, with no single melody dominating.

The French Overture is a musical form used in operas, ballets, and suites in the Baroque period, characterized by a slow introduction with dotted rhythms followed by a fast fugal section.

Recitative in Baroque opera and oratorios is a style of vocal writing that mimics speech and moves the plot forward, usually with sparse accompaniment.

A Fugue is a polyphonic composition based on a principal theme (subject) that is introduced at the beginning in one voice, and then imitated by others voices in succession.