An Outline of The History of Western Music Grout ... - The Reel Score

e) Canzona-sonata
(1) 17th century conazona-sonata movements increased in length with the order
of the movements becoming standardized by the end of the century
(2) by late 17th century complete thematic independence of the various
movements became the rule
3. Works for Larger Ensembles
a) The instrumental ensemble sonata - especially the suite had a long life in
Germany
b) The German musical tradition had a familiar, direct quality and composers
preferred relatively large ensembles - and liked the sound of wind instruments
4. Orchestral Music
a) Background
(1) Toward the end of the 17th century a generally recognized distinction arose
between chamber and orchestral music
i) chamber music - ensemble music with only one instrument to a part
ii) orchestral music with multiple players per part
(2) Prior to this composers did not express a preference and the choice
depended on circumstances
(3) Outside of the basso continuo and the predominance of string instruments no
common standard regulated either the makeup of an ensemble or the
number of instruments to a part
(4) Opera houses maintained orchestras - and these were written specifically for
orchestral performance
b) Orchestral Suite
(1) Lully's German disciples introduced French standards of playing along with
the French musical style
(2) Resulted in the new orchestral suite (flourishing in Germany from about
1690-1740)
(3) Dances did not appear in any standard order but since always introduced by
a pair of movements in the form of the French overture the term "overture"
soon came to designate the suite itself
c) Concerto
(1) Soon became the most important type of Baroque orchestral music
i) the practice of contrasting solo instruments against a full orchestra preceded
the earliest instrumental concertos
a- concerto like instrumentation animated canzonas and other instrumental
works
b- solo instruments and tutti tossed short phrases back and forth in
orchestral suites, church cantatas, chamber sonatas, & sinfonias
(2) Charateristics
i) the large group was almost always a string orchestra usually divided into 1st
& 2nd Violins, violas, cellos, and bass viols - with bass continuo -
designated tutti or ripieno (full)
ii) solo instruments were also usually strings - violin for the solo concerto, most
often 2 violins w/continuo in the concerto grosso (other instruments might be
added or substituted