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Claudio Monteverdi was an Italian composer who wrote some of the earliest operas. He also wrote madrigals and an enormous amount of church music. Monteverdi is the bridge from the Renaissance Period to the Baroque. Tim Carter and Geoffrey Chew. "Monteverdi, Claudio." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/44352pg8 (accessed April 19, 2012)
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The Baroque Era is marked by ornamentation and and the use of thouroughbass and basso continuo. The Baroque Era ends with the death of Johanne Sebatian Bach, as he is one of the last composers to compose in the Baroque style. Claude V. Palisca. "Baroque." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/02097 (accessed April 19, 2012).
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L'Orfeo is considered one of the earliest operas ever composed. Tim Carter and Geoffrey Chew. "Monteverdi, Claudio." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/44352pg8 (accessed April 19, 2012)
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This piece was dedicated to Pope Paul V and is a piece that combines old and new styles. Tim Carter and Geoffrey Chew. "Monteverdi, Claudio." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/44352pg8 (accessed April 19, 2012)
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Tim Carter and Geoffrey Chew. "Monteverdi, Claudio." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/44352pg8 (accessed April 19, 2012)
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Jean-Baptiste Lully was of a more modest background than his contemporaries.Though born in Italy, he later moved to Paris to study music. In addition to being a compsoer, Lully was also a dancer. Louis XIV would appoint him to the highest music office that Lully could aspire to. He wrote many ballets but little church music.
Jérôme de La Gorce. "Lully." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/42477pg1 (accessed April 19, 2012). -
Jérôme de La Gorce. "Lully." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/42477pg1 (accessed April 19, 2012).
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Arcangelo Corelli was an Italian and both a composer and extremely talented violinist. Corelli is one of the first to really be strict about cultivating one's violin abilities. He is also one of the first composers to become famous solely for his compositions. He wrote many sonatas and concerto grossi. Michael Talbot. "Corelli, Arcangelo." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/06478 (accessed April 19, 2012).
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Henry Purcell is considered one of the greatest English composers. He was a dedicated church musician for his entire life. Peter Holman, et al. "Purcell." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/41799pg3 (accessed April 24, 2012).
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Francois Couperin was a French composer. He was a composer who used elements of both the French and Italian style of composing. David Fuller, et al. "Couperin." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/40182pg4 (accessed April 19, 2012).
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Peter Holman, et al. "Purcell." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/41799pg3 (accessed April 20, 2012).
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Antonio Vivladi was a highly influential Italian composer. He improved upon the concerto and is known for composing mainly concertos. Michael Talbot. "Vivaldi, Antonio." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/40120 (accessed April 19, 2012).
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Telemann, a German composer, was considered the most prolific composer in his day, He is the bridge between the Baroque and Classical eras. He wrote many works, including operas and oratorios. He wrote over 3000 pieces in his lifetime. Steven Zohn. "Telemann, Georg Philipp." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/27635pg8 (accessed April 19, 2012).
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Jean Philippe Rameau was a French composer and theorist and considered one of France's greatest musical figures. He imporved upon the cantata, motet and keyborad music. He also contributed to pre-Revolutionary French opera. Graham Sadler and Thomas Christensen. "Rameau, Jean-Philippe." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/22832 (accessed April 19, 2012).
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George Friedrich Handel, though born in Germany, spent most of time composing in England. He is famous for his large-scale oratorio Messiah. Handel composed in all of his era's genres, but focused mainly on vocal works. He also invented the English oratorio. Anthony Hicks. "Handel, George Frideric." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/40060pg4 (accessed April 19, 2012).
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Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer and very talented organist. He is considered a master at harmony and counterpoint. His keyboard work is difficult and requires good technique. Christoph Wolff, et al. "Bach." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/40023pg10 (accessed April 19, 2012).
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"DIdo and Aeneas" is Purcell's first major stage work. Peter Holman, et al. "Purcell." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/41799pg3 (accessed April 19, 2012).
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Meaning "organist of the king," when Couperin became organist du roi he gained many more opportunities which would enrich his musical career. David Fuller, et al. "Couperin." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/40182pg4 (accessed April 19, 2012).
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Water Music was composed for King George I for his journey on the Thames River. Anthony Hicks. "Handel, George Frideric." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/40060pg4 (accessed April 19, 2012).
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The Brandeburg Concerto is still considered one of Bach's most famous pieces. Christoph Wolff, et al. "Bach." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/40023pg10 (accessed April 19, 2012).
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"Winter" from the Four Seasons.Michael Talbot. "Vivaldi, Antonio." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/40120pg3 (accessed April 19, 2012).
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This opera is a mixture of two styles, tragédie lyrique and opera seria. Steven Zohn. "Telemann, Georg Philipp." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/27635pg8 (accessed April 19, 2012).
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"Les nations" is a collection of sonatas.
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This piece represents a blurring of genres. It is a cross between a suite and a concerto. Steven Zohn. "Telemann, Georg Philipp." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/27635pg8 (accessed April 19, 2012).
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Rameau's first Opera caused a wide range of reactions. More importantly it was seen as a break from the style of Jean-Baptiste Lully. Graham Sadler and Thomas Christensen. "Rameau, Jean-Philippe." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/22832 (accessed April 19, 2012).
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Excerpt from "Messiah" - His yoke is easy and his burthen is lightAnthony Hicks. "Handel, George Frideric." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/40060pg4 (accessed April 19, 2012).
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This work was composed for Count von Keyserlingk to help him fall asleep at night. It is an example of the form of theme and variation. Christoph Wolff, et al. "Bach." In Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/40023pg10 (accessed April 19, 2012).