Question 1: Describe the typical characteristics of Baroque melody. What features distinguish it from melodies in other periods?

Answer: Baroque melodies are often elaborate and ornamented, with frequent use of trills and turns. They tend to have a distinctive ornamentation, a strong sense of expression, and often feature sequences or repeated motifs.

Question 2: Identify and explain the role of basso continuo in Baroque music.

Answer: The basso continuo provides harmonic support by playing a continuous bass line, usually performed by a keyboard instrument like a harpsichord or organ, combined with a bass instrument such as a cello or bassoon. It forms the harmonic foundation of the piece.

Question 3: Listen carefully to a piece of Baroque music. Describe the typical texture you would expect to hear and justify your answer.

Answer: The texture is likely to be polyphonic, with multiple independent melodic lines interweaving, or homophonic with a clear melody supported by accompaniment. Polyphony was common, especially in fugues.

Question 4: Sketch a simple outline of how a fugue is structured, indicating the main sections and their order.

Answer: A fugue begins with a single main subject introduced at the start, followed by entries of the subject in different voices. The structure includes the exposition, middle entries (development), and final entries, often ending with a conclusion or coda. The sketch should show the subject appearing multiple times across different voices.

Question 5: Explain the significance of the term 'terraced dynamics' in Baroque music and give an example of how it might sound.

Answer: Terraced dynamics refer to abrupt shifts between loud and soft passages, without gradual crescendo or decrescendo. It creates a stark contrast in volume, often used to emphasize changes or sections.

Question 6: Identify three common instruments used in Baroque ensembles and describe their typical role.

Answer: The harpsichord provides harmonic support and often plays the basso continuo; the violin carries melodic lines with agility and ornamentation; the flute and recorder add melodic and decorative elements, contributing to the texture.

Question 7: Describe the concept of 'ornamentation' in Baroque music. Provide two examples of ornaments used.

Answer: Ornamentation involves adding decorative notes or embellishments to the main melody to enhance expressiveness. Examples include trills (rapid alternation between two notes) and mordents (a rapid alternation between a note and the note above or below).

Question 8: Listen to a hypothetical excerpt of a Baroque piece. What features would you expect to identify that confirm its period?

Answer: Features include ornamented melodies, terraced dynamics, basso continuo accompaniment, polyphonic texture (such as fugues), and the use of period instruments like the harpsichord or violin.

Question 9: Draw a simple harmonic progression typical of a Baroque chord sequence, indicating the root notes and the function of each chord (e.g., tonic, dominant).

Answer: A common progression might start on the tonic (I), move to the dominant (V), then to the subdominant (IV), before returning to the tonic (I). The sketch should show these chords in sequence with labels indicating their harmonic function.

Question 10: What is a 'ritornello' and how does it function within Baroque concerto grosso movements? Explain briefly.

Answer: A ritornello is a recurring instrumental passage played by the full ensemble that alternates with solo sections. It helps structure the movement and provides contrast between the tutti and solo episodes.