Chapter 8: Prelude: The Late Baroque Period

Key Terms
baroque absolutism Age of Science theatricality

Late Baroque Timeline

Late Baroque Period (c. 17001750)

Age of Absolutism
decreasing power of church rise of absolute monarchs (Louis XIV) pomp and splendor (Versailles)

Age of Science
development of scientific methods and technology new theories about the natural world advent of empiricism

Art and Absolutism

royal patronage of arts
courts throughout Europe imitated France rules vied with each other through art

arts political function

to reflect and symbolize the majesty of the state to stupefy with its grandeur

The Music of Absolutism

music required for court life
to pay homage to nobles to play for ceremonies to entertain at banquets and balls

opera closely associated with courts

expensive, spectacular entertainment allegorical tributes to noble patrons

A Golden Age of Theatre

Baroque obsession with emotional extremes all arts take on a dramatic quality
theatre: Shakespeare, Corneille, Racine art: Tiepolo, Guercino, Rembrandt music: invention of opera

Sciences Impact on the Arts

painting
scientific observation detail and perspective optics attention to light

architecture
symmetry and geometry grandeur and scale of Versailles regulation of nature formal gardens

theater
mathematics and machinery Bibienas set designs

Sciences Impact on Music

scales tempered more precisely more systematic use of harmony new regularity in rhythm orderly formal schemes emotions (affects) analyzed and classified

Musical Life in the Late Baroque Period

composer as artisan
producing a made-to-order craft for patrons music often anonymous in character

three main institutions for music

church court opera house

Church Composers
composed or improvised new music for worship played and led performances provided elaborate works for special occasions trained choirboys responded to increasing desire for keyboard, chamber, even orchestral works

Court Composers
employee of the court, producing music to order had to be prolific enjoyed secure existence could travel and encounter new trends

Opera House Musicians

supported by the public (paid admission) solo singers were the stars composers wrote and rewrote music to show off singers talents composers often conducted their operas from the harpsichord