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Baroque Period
Introduced Opera, terraced dynamics and many more innovations. -
L'Orfeo
One of the first operas, written by Claudio Monteverdi for the Duke of Mantua. -
First Public Concerts in England
Public concerts became a practice in England after 1670. Eventually spread across the European continent by the 1740s. -
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Organist, Violinist and Violist. Worked as organist in Weimar, Cothen and Leipzig. The most notable composer of the Baroque era. Wrote countless cantatas, works for keyboard and works for ensemble. Most famous works include the Well-Tempered Clavier, Mass in B minor, St. Matthew Passion, 6 Brandenburg Concertos, and the Goldberg Variations. -
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George Frederic Handel
Notable Baroque Composer. Trained in Germany, briefly in Italy, but settled in England. Works include the opera Giulio Cesare, The Beggar's Opera, and most notably Messiah. -
Dido and Aeneas
Example of English Opera. Written by Henry Purcell. Orchestra scored for only strings and basso continuo. Was lost, but eventually revived in the late 19th century. Only one hour in length, unusually short for an opera. -
L'estro Armonico
Set of 12 concertos by Antonio Vivaldi for stringed instruments, initially published in Amsterdam in 1711. -
6 Brandenburg Concertos
6 Concertos for Baroque orchestra submitted as a job application for employment in Brandenburg. Most likely written in Weimar and Cothen. The most famous of the concertos are No. 2 and No. 3. -
Traite de l'harmonie
Treatise of Harmony written by Jean-Phillipe Rameau. Basis of teaching functional harmony. Codified practices of his contemporaries, such as Torelli. -
Well-Tempered Clavier (Volume 1)
24 preludes and fugues, one in every major and minor key, written for solo keyboard. Introduced the equal temperament system to the world, a system that allowed all keys to work within the same mathematical formula. -
Handel's Messiah
Completed in 1741, premiered in Dublin in 1742. Oratorio describing the prophecies, life, resurrection and second coming of Jesus Christ. Includes the famous Hallelujah chorus. Most famous of Handel's works.