9-22 Reading

pp. 13-15 - entries on Form, Movement

pp. 17-18 – entry on Tempo

pp. 95-98 - entries on Baroque Era and Basso Continuo

pp. 102-103 - entry on Figured Bass

pp. 110-111 - entry on Ground Bass

pp. 113-114 - entry on Walking Bass

Form

The way music is laid out

• AB (binary) or ABA (ternary

Movement

A movement is a self-contained portion of music within a larger piece. Each movement sounds like a complete piece of music. Don't clap between movements

Tempo

Tempo is the speed of music

Baroque Era (1600 -1750)

• Focus shifted to instrumental music that is meant to be listened to, not just an accompaniment.
• Most instruments we know today are from the Baroque Era (but simpler)
• Super high quality instruments
• Keyboard instrument was harpsichord
  • By around 1700, the piano was gaining popularity
• Opera became more popular - so did opera houses.

Basso Continuo

• A performance technique in which improvised chords are added to the bass line
• Played on a keyboard or guitar
• Provided the same bass line as other instruments and improvises based on that

Figured bass

A set of symbols written above/below the bass line to help the keyboardists realize the bass line.

Ground bass

Rhythm of the bass line repeats over and over again. (Ex: Canon in D)

Walking bass

Each note in the bass line has the same duration. Pitch can differ.