Question 1: Describe two common characteristics of Baroque music that distinguish it from earlier musical periods.

Answer: Baroque music often features ornamentation and the use of basso continuo, with a focus on contrast and expressive melodies.

Question 2: Identify the typical texture of a Baroque fugue and explain its main features.

Answer: A Baroque fugue has a polyphonic texture, where a main theme (the subject) is introduced and then developed through overlapping voices with imitation.

Question 3: Listen carefully to a piece of music from the Baroque period. Describe the role of the basso continuo in the piece.

Answer: The basso continuo provides the harmonic foundation, typically played by a keyboard instrument and a bass instrument, underpinning the melody.

Question 4: Draw a simple musical staff and indicate how a typical Baroque ornament, such as a trill, would be notated above a note.

Answer: A correct sketch would show a note with a small squiggly line or 'tr' abbreviation above it, indicating a trill ornament.

Question 5: Name two famous Baroque composers and one well-known work from each.

Answer: Johann Sebastian Bach – 'Brandenburg Concerto No. 5'; George Frideric Handel – 'Messiah'.

Question 6: Explain what a 'basso continuo' is and how it was used in Baroque compositions.

Answer: Basso continuo is a continuous bass line played by keyboard and bass instruments, providing harmonic structure and support for the melody.

Question 7: Describe the typical tempo and mood of a Baroque dance suite.

Answer: Baroque dance suites generally have lively, moderate tempos, with a cheerful or regal mood, structured around dance movements.

Question 8: Identify and describe the difference between a da capo aria and a sung recitative in Baroque opera.

Answer: A da capo aria is a song with ternary form (ABA), allowing for repetition and ornamentation, while a recitative is speech-like, used to advance the plot with free rhythm.

Question 9: Listen to a snippet of a Baroque concerto. What is the main feature of the orchestra's interplay during the movement?

Answer: The orchestra features contrast between the soloist and the ensemble, with intricate interplay and call-and-response passages.

Question 10: Sketch a simple outline of a typical Baroque musical phrase, showing how ornamentation might be added.

Answer: A correct sketch would show a smooth melodic line with small symbols (like trills or mordents) added above certain notes to indicate ornamentation.