CONCERTO GROSSO

Concerto Grosso in the Baroque Period

Concerto Grosso in the Baroque Period

Introduction

Baroque music style possesses certain similarities with the Western Classical Music style. Major portion of classical music cannon correlates with this form which is learned, performed and listened (Strunk, 1952). Due to the expanded size, range and complexities, baroque music establishes opera as a new music genre. Composition of music in the mid baroque is different from early baroque compositions. Increasing harmonic focus and creation of traditional music teaching system is the main idea behind the new theory of music (George, 2006).

Discussion

In the late- early baroque period as sonatas and chamber music emerged, a new type of genre evolved called concerto grosso (Schulenberg, 2001). In this style, a small ensemble of instrumentalist would solo as an orchestra accompanies them. The meter and melodies were radical as they could speed up and slow down to give the piece an incredible effect of evoking emotion by contrasting. It is similar to narrating a story without any use of vocalist or text. These passages in musical form are termed as overtures (Bennett, 1995).

Arcangelo Corelli is one of the most influential violinists who structured violin techniques and pedagogy (Allsop, 1999). His work and achievements are on the other side of musical techniques. Concerto grosso is his development in purely instrumental for. Corelli has the privilege of performing music all over Europe as a composer. His work depicts his passion for music and art (Corelli, 2007). Arcangelo Corelli developed the concerto grosso. Corelli's arrangements for solo violin, trio sonatas, concertos and small orchestral instrumental music contained practical solutions for intense movement and counterpoint (Boyden, et al, 1972). Trio sonatas and concertos were becoming popular, but when Corelli arrived on the scene, the music just got better (www.britannica.com). His influence and background from the Bologna school ...