AoS2 Concerto Through Time revision

Summary

This video explores the evolution of the concerto, tracing its development from the Baroque period to the Romantic period. It discusses the structure, orchestration, and key features of concertos, highlighting the role of the soloist and orchestra. In the Baroque era, concertos showcased virtuosity, with composers like Vivaldi and Bach, while the Classical period, represented by Mozart and Beethoven, introduced new instruments and greater dynamic subtleties. The Romantic period emphasized dramatic orchestration and virtuosic solo performances. The evolution of textures, phrasing, dynamics, and instruments offers a deep look into how concertos became a defining genre of classical music.

Takeaways

• 😀 A concerto is a musical piece featuring a solo instrument or small group of solo instruments, often accompanied by an orchestra. It typically consists of three movements: a fast first and third movement, and a slower second movement.
• 😀 The soloist in a concerto is meant to showcase their virtuosity, with the relationship between the soloist and the orchestra being crucial. The orchestra may take on both supporting and prominent roles during different sections.
• 😀 Baroque concertos were often written for small orchestras, with a strong emphasis on strings and continuo (a bass line usually played by a cello and chordal accompaniment by a harpsichord).
• 😀 Vivaldi, JS Bach, and Arcangelo Corelli were major composers of Baroque concertos, and the concerto grosso (a small group of soloists accompanied by a larger orchestra) was a popular form during this period.
• 😀 Baroque music features distinctive ornaments such as trills and mordents, and performers were expected to add these flourishes themselves, rather than being indicated by the composer.
• 😀 The Baroque period also featured terraced dynamics, where volume changes are abrupt rather than gradual, and polyphonic textures, where multiple independent melodies are heard simultaneously.
• 😀 In the Classical period, which followed the Baroque, concertos often featured a single solo instrument and used sonata form for the first movement. Composers like Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven were prominent during this period.
• 😀 Classical concertos are typically longer than Baroque ones and emphasize melody-dominated homophony. The phrasing in Classical music tends to be balanced, with phrases of equal length and often structured as question-answer pairs.
• 😀 A key feature of Classical concertos is the cadenza, a section near the end of a movement where the soloist performs a virtuosic improvisation or pre-written solo, signaling the orchestra to re-enter.
• 😀 The Romantic period, which began around 1810, saw larger orchestras and the use of chromatic harmony, creating lush, dramatic effects. Romantic concertos were often virtuosic, with composers like Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Liszt writing for solo instruments like piano, violin, and cello.
• 😀 In the Romantic period, composers were often freelance, relying on commissions, and famous virtuoso performers frequently commissioned new works. Concertos from this period emphasized technical skill, large dynamic contrasts, and dramatic use of brass and percussion.

Q & A

What is a concerto, and how is it typically structured?

A concerto is a musical composition for a solo instrument or a small group of solo instruments, accompanied by an orchestra. It typically has three movements: the first and third are fast, and the second is slow. The soloist is often featured, showcasing their virtuosity, with the orchestra providing either accompaniment or sharing the melody.

What role does the orchestra play in a concerto?

In a concerto, the orchestra can play the main melody or provide an accompanying role. When the orchestra plays together, it is called a tutti section. The composer must ensure the soloist is not overwhelmed by the orchestra's sound, requiring careful attention to texture and dynamics.

What is the continuo in Baroque music?

The continuo, or basso continuo, is not a single instrument but a combination of a chordal part (typically played on a harpsichord) and a bass line (usually played on a cello). It is a defining feature of Baroque orchestration, providing harmonic support and driving the rhythm.

What is a concerto grosso in the Baroque period?

A concerto grosso is a type of Baroque concerto that features a small group of solo instruments, called the concertino, which contrasts with the larger accompanying orchestra, known as the ripieno. This format was common in the works of composers like Corelli and Vivaldi.

How does texture in Baroque music differ from that in Classical and Romantic periods?

In the Baroque period, music often features polyphonic (counterpoint) textures, where multiple independent melodies are heard simultaneously. In contrast, the Classical period favored melody-dominated homophony, where one melody is supported by harmonies, and the Romantic period employed more complex orchestration and dramatic shifts in texture.

What are some characteristics of Baroque music ornamentation?

Baroque music often features ornamentation such as trills and mordents, which are not always written in the score but were expected to be added by performers. This gives the music a decorative and expressive quality. A mordent is a short ornament, usually a rapid alternation between two notes.

What is the cadenza in a Classical concerto?

The cadenza is a section towards the end of a movement in a Classical concerto where the orchestra stops playing, and the soloist has the opportunity to improvise or perform a highly virtuosic passage. It highlights the soloist's skill and ends with a signal (often a trill) for the orchestra to resume.

How did the role of composers and performers change in the Classical period?

In the Classical period, composers began to work more independently, often as freelance musicians. This shift was accompanied by the rise of public concerts, where middle-class audiences could enjoy performances in concert halls. While composers still worked for wealthy patrons, they gained more freedom in their compositions and performances.

What is the significance of dynamic changes in Romantic concertos?

In Romantic concertos, dynamic changes are often dramatic, with large contrasts between loud and soft sections. The use of brass and percussion instruments is more prominent, adding to the intensity of the music. Composers like Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Liszt used these dynamic shifts to create a lush and emotional sound.

How did the orchestra evolve from the Baroque to the Romantic period?

The orchestra evolved significantly between the Baroque and Romantic periods. In the Baroque period, orchestras were smaller, dominated by strings, and featured the continuo. By the Romantic period, orchestras had expanded with more brass, woodwinds, and percussion, allowing for more dramatic and varied sound textures. The Romantic period also saw the rise of virtuoso soloists and a greater emphasis on the expressive power of orchestral music.