Johann Sebastian Bach
By: Laura
1. Dates of life: 1685-1750
2. Where born/died:
-Born in Eisenach, Germany
-Died in Leipzig, Germany
3. Life:
J.S. Bach was born into a family of musicians. His father played violin, and other relatives were music copyists, town pipers, fiddlers, and played the oboe or organ. His father taught him to play the harpsichord and violin and was introduced to the organ by his uncle who was famous organist. Bach lived with his oldest brother, Cristoph, after his parents died when he was 10. His brother taught him to play the harpsichord and organ. As a boy, he was admired for his soprano voice as he sang in the Mettenchor (Mattins Choir) in Lüneburg. After his voice changed, he studied violin, but then became interested in the organ and decided to pursue church music. He became an organist at the church of Arnstadt and began composing when he was 18. At the age of 22, Bach moved to Mühlhausen and married Maria Barbara Bach. He had seven children. He was known as an outstanding church musician and excellent organist and was appointed to the Duke of Weimar. During his nine years in Weimar, Bach composed some of his greatest organ music, including Toccata and Fugue in D minor as well as church cantatas and keyboard suites. In 1717, when he was 32, Bach accepted the post of master of music to Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen, where he composed much of his orchestral music, including his six popular Brandenburg Concertos and works for the clavichord and harpsichord. After his wife, Maria, died in 1720, he remarried in 1721 to Anna Magdalena Wülken, who was also a musician. He had 13 more children with her and taught most of his children to play a musical instrument. Several of Bach’s sons grew up to be respected composers and performers as well. In 1723, Bach accepted the post of music director of St. Thomas’s School in Leipzig, where he composed many of his most famous choral works, including Christmas Oratorio and the St. Matthew Passion. Bach was very religious and a devoted family man. He signed his music with “S.D.G” (Sol Deo Gloria), which means “to the glory of God.” He boasted that he could form a vocal and instrumental ensemble just from his family alone. In 1749, Bach became blind and died in Leipzig in 1750.
4. Mentors: Dieterich Buxtehude, who inspired Bach with his improvisatory preludes and use of counterpoint
5. Main influences:
In Lüneburg, Bach was influenced in his musical composition and performance by the French style. In Weimar, he came into contact with Italian instrumental music. Since Bach also stayed in Germany his entire life, he was influenced by German music as well. These French and Italian influences were mainly brought out through texture and rhythm. He often made arrangements of other composers’ works. For example, he could take an Italian ensemble composition, such as a violin concerto, and turn it into a single piece for harpsichord.
6. Types of compositions known for:
-Preludes and Fugues (Well-Tempered Clavier- a prelude and fugue in each of the 24 major and minor keys)
-Inventions and Sinfonias (Two- and three-part contrapuntal works)
-Cantatas
-Canons
-Concertos (Brandenburg Concertos)
-Fantasias
-Masses
-Toccatas
Bach wrote music in a wide variety of other “forms” as well, including sonatas, dance suites, oratorios, etc.
7. Great works:
Harpsichord: Little Book for the Keyboard, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Books 1 and 2
Organ: Toccata and Fugue in D minor
Orchestra: Brandenburg Concertos
Choral: Christmas Oratorio, St. Matthew Passion
8. Compositional Techniques:
Bach is seen as the supreme master of counterpoint, but also embodies the entire Baroque era in his music.
9. Interesting facts:
-Bach is considered the father of Baroque. Bach had 20 children and composed the Little Book for the Keyboard for his nine-year-old son, Wilhelm Friedemann.
- Georg Philipp Telemann was the first choice to be cantor of St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, but turned down the position, forcing the administration to choose a "mediocre" second choice, J.S. Bach.
-The Beatles were influenced by Bach in their music.
Antonio Vivaldi
By: Laura
1. Dates of life: 1678-1741
2. Where born/died:
-Born in Venice, Italy
-Died in Vienna, Austria
3. Life:
Antonio Vivaldi’s father was a violinist, who taught Vivaldi how to play the instrument. He became a priest in 1703, but did not celebrate mass after a year due to pain in his chest. Vivaldi was employed for the majority of his working life by the Ospedale della Pietá, an orphanage, where he was the maestro di violino (master of violin). He also worked for the Teatro Sant’ Angelo, an opera theater, where he staged and produced operas. His first opera was Ottone in villain 1713. He moved to Mantua at the end of 1713 where he composed operas and cantatas as Chamber Capellmeister. Between 1725 and 1728, eight operas were premiered in Venice and Florence. His concertos, such as the Four Seasons, became extremely popular during this time as well. Vivaldi traveled to Prague in 1730, and after he returned he concentrated mainly on operas. He wrote instrumental music only for the Ospedale della Pietá. In 1738, Vivaldi traveled to Amsterdam, where he conducted a festive opening concert for the 100th Anniversary of the Schouwburg Theater. He moved to Vienna in 1741, but died shortly after he moved there.
4. Mentors: Vivaldi’s father
5. Main influences:
6. Types of compositions known for:
-Concertos (The Four Seasons, composed over 500 concertos primarily for solo violin and group ensembles)
-Operas (46 operas)
Vivaldi also composed sonatas, sinfonias, chamber and sacred music.
7. Great works:
The Four Seasons is by far Vivaldi’s most famous work.
8. Compositional Techniques:
Vivaldi had a more playful energy in his music compared to the serious tone set by Baroque music. His concerti had a fast, slow, fast form with a ritornello form.
Alessandro Scarlatti
By: Laura
1. Dates of life: 1660-1725
2. Where born/died:
-Born in Trapani or Palermo, Sicily (Italian)
-Died in Naples, Italy
3. Life:
Alessandro Scarlatti trained in Rome. In 1678, he got married and was later appointed Maestro di Cappella of San Giacomo degli Incurabili. Here at only 19 years old, he performed his first large-scale oratorio-operatic work. In 1684, Scarlatti moved to Naples, and was appointed Maestro di Cappella at the vice-regal court of Naples. In Naples, Scarlatti produced over 40 operas, which were first performed in Viceregal Palazzo Reale and then at S. Bartolomeo, a public theater. Here he was employed as a director. In 1703, Scarlatti moved back to Rome after staying in Florence for a year. Here he was Maestro di Cappella at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he was required to compose motets and Masses in strict concertato and Papal styles. As another source of income, Scarlatti also started to compose oratorios, cantatas, and celebratory serenatas. Later on, Scarlatti experimented with orchestral writing, where he expanded the Sinfonia concept with his twelve Sinfonie di concerto grosso. Scarlatti’s final years were spent in Naples, teaching, composing cantatas, a Serenata, and a set of Sonatas for Flute and Strings. He died in Naples in 1725.
4. Mentors: None found
5. Main influences: Early Baroque Italian voice styles, which mainly rooted from Florence, Venice, and Rome
6. Types of compositions known for:
-Operas
-Cantatas (over 600, mostly for soprano and continuo)
-Oratorios
-Concertos
-Sinfonias
7. Great works:
Opera: La Griselda
8. Compositional Techniques:
From 1695, Scarlatti’s operas and “musical dramas” had three movement (fast, slow, fast) sinfonias (opera overtures), which eventually became the standard for all Italian operas. He also differentiated the singing styles of aria and recitative. In his later operas and overtures, he experimented with a more modern style of instrumentation.
Domenico Scarlatti
By: Laura
1. Dates of life: 1685-1757
2. Where born/died:
-Born in Naples, Italy
-Died in Madrid, Spain
3. Life:
Domenico Scarlatti was the son of Alessandro Scarlatti. He was taught at first by his father and took after him as well, as he began composing operas. At age 18, his first operas, Ottavia ristituita al trono and Giustino, were performed. In 1705, he moved to Venice to study with Francesco Gasparini who was the musical director at the Ospedale della pieta. In Venice he met George Frideric Handel and they became good friends. Scarlatti really established himself in Rome. He composed chamber music and operas for the miniature opera theater of Queen Maria Casimira. He became music director of St. Peter’s in Rome in 1715. Scarlatti became court harpsichordist in Libson to the King of Portugal and teacher of Princess Maria Barbara in 1720. For her, he composed keyboard music that ended up as Scarlatti’s greatest contribution to music literature. In 1725, he returned to Naples, and at this time his father died. Scarlatti spent the rest of his life in Maria Barbara’s service in Spain after she married the Spanish crown prince, who became King of Spain. In 1738, his 30 Essercizi per Gravicembalo were published in London and became widely used.
4. Mentors:
-His father, Alessandro Scarlatti
-Francesco Gasparini, the musical director at the Ospedale della pieta
5. Main influences:
Spanish folk music and dances, where Scarlatti was influenced by the vivid colors and rhythms used in it
6. Types of compositions known for:
-Sonatas (over 500 single-movement keyboard sonatas)
-Sinfonias (17)
-Concerti grossi (orchestra)
-Cantatas
-Oratorios
-Operas
-Compositions that foreshadowed the sonata form
7. Great works:
-30 Essercizi per Gravicembalo (Studies for Harpsichord)
-“The Cat’s Fugue” K. 30, L. 499
8. Compositional Techniques:
Scarlatti’s harpsichord playing exhibited much freedom. He introduced new techniques, such as crossing the hands, fast repeated notes, wide leaps, glissandi, and double-note passages. In his keyboard sonatas, he generally used binary form.
9. Interesting facts:
-Scarlatti’s cat was the inspiration for one of his sonatas-“The Cat’s Fugue” K. 30, L. 499. His cat walked over the keyboard striking notes that Scarlatti used for the subject of the fugue.
-Scarlatti and Handel participated in a keyboard tournament that ended in a tie.
Francesco Geminiani
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Lucca, in Tuscany, (Italian)
-
played the violin in the Town Orchestra for three years
-
moved to Naples in 1711 to take up the position as Leader of the Opera Orchestra
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Music historian Dr. Burney put it, "his unexpected accelerations and relaxations of measure".
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Moved to England and became a brilliant violin player
-
invited to play the violin before George I
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Published "The Art of Playing the Violin" (1731) along with Rules for Playing in a True Taste ''A Treatise of Good Taste in the Art of Musick, a Guida harmonica with supplement (c.l754), The Art of Accompaniment (c.l754) compositions and his theoretical treatisesSigismundus, on a text by Postel)Collegium Musicum with which he gave public concerts (and which Bach was later to direct)Il trionfo di CamillaAstarto opened the second season at the King's Theatre in the Haymarket late in 1720, outshining Handel's own operasL'odio e l'amore followed a month later at the Haymarket TheatreAlmira (1705), Rinaldo (1711), Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar, 1724) and Orlando (1733) Esther (1718), Alexander's Feast (1736), Israel in Egypt (1739), Messiah (1742), Sampson (1743), Belshazzar (1745), Judas Maccabaeus (1747), Solomon (1749) and Jephtha (1752); other sacred vocal music, including Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne (c.1713), Acis and Galatea (masque, 1718), Ode for St. Cecilia's Day (1739), Utrech Te Deum (1713), anthems and Latin church music Water Music (1717) and Music for the Royal Fireworks (1749); concerti for oboe, organ, horn Costanza e Fortezza, Il trionfo di CamillaAstarto opened the second season at the King's Theatre in the Haymarket late in 1720, outshining Handel's own operas
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Geminiani based his earliest published Concertos on Corelli's Sonatas for Violin and Continuo, Op.5
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Magdeburg (German)
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As a child he showed considerable musical talent, mastering the violin, flute, zither and keyboard by the age of ten and composing an opera (
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Attended Leipzig University in 1701
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within a year of his arrival he founded the student
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Telemann wrote operatic works for the Leipzig Theater, and in 1703 became musical director of the Leipzig Opera and was appointed organist at the Neue Kirche in 1704
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1705 he accepted an appointment as Kapellmeister to the cosmopolitan court of Count Erdmann II of Promnitz at Sorau
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His association with the Sorau Kantor and theorist Wolfgang Caspar Printz and the reformist poet Erdmann Neumeister as well as the proximity to Berlin and contact with Polish folk music all proved stimulating
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invasion by the Swedish army, causing the Court to be hurriedly disbanded
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he went to the free imperial city of Frankfurt-am-Main to take up duties as Director of Municipal Music and also as Kapellmeister of the Barfüßerkirche
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He composed occasional music for civic ceremonies, five year-long cycles of church cantatas, oratorios, orchestral music and a wealth of chamber music, much of which was published; only the opportunity to produce opera was lacking
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in 1721, the coveted post of Kantor of the Hamburg Johanneum, a post that traditionally carried with it teaching responsibilities and the directorship of Hamburg's five principal churches, became vacant, and Telemann was invited to succeed Joachim Gerstenbüttel
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was required to compose two cantatas a week, annually to produce a new Passion, and to provide occasional works for church and civil ceremonies
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George Frideric Handel
- English composer, but German by birth and was most famous for his Operas and Oratorios.
- He composed for the general public.
- At a young age, he composed with an Italian style. His first Opera, Almira, was a big success.
- While he was in England, he maintained an Italian style in his Operas. But, he later developed into a light and ballad opera.
- Around 1728, the Italian style had faded so he started writing Oratorios. His most famous was Messiah in 1742.
- He was an amazing organist.
His Works Include:
- Over 40 operas, including
- Oratorios, including
- Secular vocal music, including solo and duo cantatas; arias
- Orchestral music, including
- Chamber music, including solo and trio sonatas
- Keyboard music, including harpsichord suites, fugues, preludes, airs and dances
Claudio Monteverdi
Dates of Life: 1567-1643Place of Birth: Cremona Place of Death: Venice :
NationalityItalian :
LifeBegan his career as a chorister at the cathedral in Cremona. At the age of 16 he had already published his volume of three-part motets and a book of sacred madrigals. In 1601 he became maestro di cappela at the Mantuan court. In 1607 he wrote his first opera L’Orfeo. The tragic death of his wife and close friend made him suffer a complete collapse. During this time he wrote Vespro della beata vergine (Vespers of the Blessed Virgin 1610). He wrote many ballets and operas for the Mantuan court, but many of his scores were destroyed when Austrian troops sacked the palace in 1630 in Venice. His madrigal collections show his moving with the times, from typically Renaissance polyphony pieces to highly expressive dramatic works for solo voices with instrumental accompaniment. :
MentorsNone found :
InfluencesThe death of his wife and his close friend were influences when he composed the Vespers of the Blessed Virgin, which date from this unhappy period. :
CompositionsOperas, Madrigals, Motets
Great Works:Vespro Della beata vegine, Vespers of the Blessed Virgin, (1610) a glorious setting for voices and instruments, L’Orfeo (1607) an opera. :
Unique StyleHe was a master of producing precisely styled motets that extended forms of Marenzio and Giaces de Wert. He used idiomatic writing, virtuoso flourishes and a thorough going use of new techniques. :
Other FactsHe bridged the worlds of the High Renaissance and the Baroque Era. He could re-invent and adapt his musical styles according to changing tastes. All of his music, early or late, is characterized by qualities of emotional intensity, depth of expression and understanding of human nature comparable with those that inform the works of Shakespeare.
Johann Joseph Fux
By: Connor
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