Baroque Era 1600-1750
Baroque origially meant deformed or strange pearl but over the years has switched to mean highly complex art, architecture and music.
Composers
Antonio Vivaldi: composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher and priest. Best known for violin concertos, sacred choral works and operas. His best-known work is a series of violin concertos known as The Four Seasons.
Johann Sebastian Bach (J.S.): German composer and organist. Known for hundreds of cantatas.
George Frederic Handel: Born in Germany but spent most of his career in London. Well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos.
Music Forms/ Styles
Sonata: Large piece with 3-6 movements for 2 or more instruments
Opera: Dramas with singers in costume with an instrumental accompaniament
I know this sample is from the wrong era...but I was simply looking fora piece that would grab their attention
Fugue: Short melody for phrase (the subject) is introduced by one instrument and taken up by others and developed by interweaving the parts.
Each entry was a 10 minute mini-lesson with two days of review and a quiz. The quiz went well! Advanced students earning an average of 81.3% and Beginners earning an average of 82.1%! The fugue has become a hit and students have asked for it to be played as they enter the class. Sadly the Lakme duet did not engage students as much as I had hoped!
Mandatory state testing is going to delay my efforts to teach the Classical era...but we will somehow get through it!
