World History
A short backround of what was happening around the world durring the Baroque period
Italy
Center of the Musical Universe
Available <http://www.worldflags101.com/>. 5 November 2007
- Music flourished among the rich of Italy, who had money to be patrons for musicians.
- Certain music styles were developed in different cities.
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Florence: Musical and Theatrical innovations.
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Rome: Innovations in sacred music.
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For example, the addition of instrumental music in sacred music.
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Venice: Great advances in opera and the center of opera in the 17th century.
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Naples became the center of opera in the 18th century.
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Bologna: Innovations in instrumental music.
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France
Available <http://www.worldflags101.com/>. 5 November 2007
- Developed and maintained its own distinctive national idiom, but could not escape the influence of Italy.
Germany
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- The 30 Years' War weakened the musical culture.
- Generally, Germans used the Italian style of composition and performance.
The United Kingdom
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- English musical glory declined throughout the Civil War.
- Adopted the Italian style.
Wold Wide Politics
- Politics were varied from democracy on one side to autocracy on the other.
- This led to conflicts, and debates about politics between countries.
- Some religious conflicts were resolved in France; the English-Spanish resolved; the Netherlands gained independence.
- The autocratic power grew, which encouraged the monarchs to compete amongst themselves to have the best music.
- Capitalism encouraged people to gain more money, which, in turn, allowed them to spend more on music lessons, performances, and compositions.
Innovations in Science and the Arts Around the World
- Writers and artists flourished
- Scientists grew to think for themselves, rather than accept the age-old theories
- The world came to be seen through math, logic, and reasoning
- Kepler discovered that the planets revolve around the sun, elliptically.
- Galileo: laws of motion and telescopes
- Newton, laws of gravity