From Baroque to Classical: What Does It Mean?

Johann Sebastian Bach. Those three words are arguably the best definition of baroque music you will ever come across. I researched many books and articles to find a more suitable one. It doesn’t exist. So influential was he that when he died in 1750 it was considered the end of the baroque period. I could only dream of being so vital to my craft that when I perish it is said that the style died with me. When people hear the name Bach some probably think of elevator music or the stuff you hear while you’re on hold with a law firm. The truth is Baroque music, and specifically Bach’s music, gives a feeling that you must pay attention. The music requires the listener to be involved, to try to understand more than just the notes they are hearing.   The depth to baroque music makes it feel like once you’ve heard an entire piece that you have accomplished something and you are more intelligent for having listened to it. This style, the depth and polyphonic texture is considered to be more of the late baroque period. Early baroque style was quite the opposite in fact, leaning heavily to the homophonic side with one main melody and accompanying chords for support. Bach’s “Little” Fugue in G Minor (Kamien 1) is a great representation of the idea that music desires intelligence. Starting with a single instrument and a simple rhythm, it builds quickly instrument by instrument, all introduced by playing the same tune as the first instrument. A Youtube video of a performance by The University of Illinois Turbo Brass Quintet (Turbo), with brass instruments instead of the more traditional instruments for this piece such as strings or woodwinds, to me has more personality for precisely that reason. The bass part in particular played in this instance by the tuba has a much richer feel than would a piano or even a stringed instrument. This piece in particular caught my attention and hit close to home for me as I have played the trumpet for over fifteen years and I have also learned to... [continues]

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