MUS 048 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Passacaglia, Ostinato, Program Music
5 Oct 2017
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Document Summary
Concerto and concerto grosso (plural: concerti grossi) are most important orchestral genres of baroque era. Basic idea underlying these genres is contrast between orchestra and soloist (in concerto) or a small group of soloists (in concerto grosso). Word concerto comes from latin concertare (to contend) - origin that accurately indicates sort of contest between solo and orchestra. Contest pits brilliance of soloists or soloists against relative power ad stability of orchestra. Concertos and concerti grossi exemplify large-scale approach to instrumental composition that was new in baroque. Composers wanted large-scale forms because audience were impressed by extended compositions than by short ones. Wanted them also because they could afford opportunity to portray several different emotions or affects. One way extend a composition was to lay it out in several movements (or joining together several movements as single composite work). Movement - self-contained section of music that is part of a larger work; Can be compared to chapters in a book.
