In your exam, you might be asked to identify the period of composition for an extract of Music.  You need to know how to identify the period of composition you are listening to (Baroque, Classical or Romantic).  Here are a few tell tale signs you are listening to a piece from the Baroque period.

TOP TIP: If you are asked to identify the period of composition for an extract, the follow up question usually asks you to give reasons for your answer.  The features listed below are ideal answers for this type of question.  You will not have to explain them - single worded answers for this type of question are fine!

Harpsichord

The harpsichord is an early version of the Piano.  It was only used in the Baroque period.  It works in a similar way to a Piano, but the strings inside are plucked instead of struck which gives it a unique sound.  Because the strings were plucked you could vary the volume of the Harpsichord, meaning it is not capable of playing crescendos or diminuendos.  It had two sets of keys; one for playing quiet and one for playing loud.  Click here to see and hear a Harpsichord.  If you hear a Harpsichord in the extract in your exam, the music is definitely from the Baroque period.

Terraced Dynamics

Terraced dynamics is a sudden change in volume (dynamic).  When the orchestra are all playing together in the Baroque Period, they could not use crescendos or diminuendos; this was because of the limitations of the Harpsichord.  Instead, the orchestra would often repeat phrases at different volumes.  E.g. a phrase would be performed using a  loud dynamic, then repeated using a quiet dynamic.  Click here to listen to an example.  Can you hear the phrases being repeated at different volumes?

Simple Diatonic Harmony

Baroque concertos were not usually musically complicated.  Whilst the part written for the soloist could be technically demanding, the main musical structure of the piece was often quite simple.  A diatonic harmony means it only uses notes and chords from the musical key the piece is written in.

Continuo Section

This is a section of the orchestra responsible for performing the chords and the bass line to help fill out the texture.  It would usually consist of a chordal instrument (like the Harpsichord or lute) and cello or double bass.  The chordal instrument would play the chords whilst the cello or double bass would play the bass line.  This is unique to the Baroque period; the Classical and Romantic periods did not have a Continuo section.

Mainly Strings Instruments

Whilst other instruments were used in the Baroque period (see the instrument section below), the Baroque orchestra was heavily string based.  This is another obvious thing to listen out for when trying to identify the period of composition of an extract of music in your exam.

Use of Ornamentation

Ornaments are used in music to make a melody sound more fancy than it actually is.  They are often not difficult to perform, but they add an extra element to the melody; they make it sound fancier.  You need to know about three different types of Ornaments for you exam.  Click Here to find out about ornamentation.

Balanced Phrasing

A phrase in music is like a musical sentence.  It is a melodic idea.  Phrasing in the Baroque period was usually done in four or eight bars with question and answer phrases.

Small Orchestra

The Baroque orchestra was quite small.  Read more about the instruments used in the Baroque orchestra further down this page.

Modulates to related keys

Modulation is the correct musical term for a key change.  Baroque concertos would often change key to related keys.  This means the key the piece is modulating to has something in common with the key it is modulating from.  E.g. the relative minor of a major key.  Whilst this is a key feature of Baroque music I would only list this as a feature in the exam if you hear a key change in the extract.

You will NEVER be asked to identify the person who composed the extract used in an exam.  But, you will most likely be asked to identify a suitable composer.  For this type of question you can identify any composer, as long as they are from the correct period of composition.

For the Baroque period, remember one of the following composers...

• Vivaldi

• Bach

If you are asked to identify a suitable composer for the Baroque period and you put one of these composers, you will get the mark no matter who composed the extract of music in the exam.

Concertos are normally written in three movements (a movement is like a section of a song) - each movement can be quite long!  There is normally a fast movement, then a slow movement, followed by another fast movement (fast-slow-fast).  In your exam you will never hear an entire movement!  The extract you will listen to will normally be no longer than about 90 seconds.

Each movement of a Baroque concerto will normally contain the following sections...

Tutti

This comes from the Italian word meaning 'all together.'  During this part a Concerto, everybody in the orchestra will be performing together.  In the Baroque period phrases performed during the Tutti section would often be repeated at different volumes (e.g. loud then quiet - Terraced Dynamics).

Solo

During this section, the spotlight is very much on the soloist (the Virtuoso).  It is their opportunity to shine!  During the section, the soloist would play a technically demanding part; the correct way of describing this is saying they are performing virtuosically.  Note:  the orchestra still plays during the solo section; the orchestra accompanies the soloist.

This is another unique aspect of the Baroque concerto; there is more than one type of Concerto.  You might get asked to identify what type of Baroque concerto you are listening to in your exam, so it is important you know what they are and how to identify them.

Baroque Solo Concerto

This is a Baroque concerto that has been composed for one solo instrument and an orchestra.

Baroque Concerto Grosso

This is a Baroque concerto that has been composed for more than one soloist and an orchestra.  A Baroque Concerto Grosso may have up to three soloists (e.g. three violin soloist or two violins and a cello etc).

Note: The Concerto Grosso is unique to the Baroque period.  The Classical and Romantic periods do not have more than one soloist.

A Concerto will usually have a homophonic texture.  This means it will have a main melody with accompaniment.  However, the Baroque concerto (especially the Concerto Grosso) would often have sections that are contrapuntal.  Contrapuntal is very similar to a Polyphonic texture where multiple melodies are being performed at the same time in way where they interleave with one another.  Contrapuntal means the different melodies being performed are independent of one another - they are not just repeating the same melody in a way that overlaps.  Click here to listen to Spring by Vivaldi; can you hear the interleaving melodies being performed during the solo section (from 0:31 in the video)?

This is a good way of simplifying it...

Polyphonic - the same melody being repeated in a way that overlaps.

Contrapuntal - different melodies being performed at the same time

The YouTube videos below are good examples of Baroque concertos.  Can you identify the solo instrument?  Can you identify if it is a Solo Concerto or a Concerto Grosso?  Can you hear any of the features we have spoken about above?