Definitions Of Baroque Forms

Suite

A piece in several movements, unified by key. Usually preceded by a prelude or overture as an introduction to the work. Aalso known as Suite de danses, Ordre, Partita and ouverture.

Partita

Originally the name for a single-instrumental piece of music in the 16th and 17th centuries, later used interchangeably with suite

Variations

Where a main theme is repeated in altered form, involving harmony, melody, counterpoint, rhythm, timbre, orchestration or any combination thereof.

Fugue

A musical technique used in contrapuntal writing of two or more voices, where a main theme is introduced at the beginning of the piece, and is imitated at a different pitch. It then recurs frequently throughout the work.

Cantata

A vocal composition, often involving a choir, with instrumental accompaniment. Can be sacred or secular, and were sometimes written for special occasions such as Christmas.

Concerto

An instrumental composition, where a solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra. Developed alongside the baroque era concerto-grosso, which contrasted a small group of instruments against the orchestra, but the popularity of which reclined after this era. The solo concerto however has remained an important musical form to the present day.

Sonata da camera

Translates as 'chamber sonata'. A type of trio sonata of the baroque era, intended for secular performance, and set into three or four movements. Began with a prelude or small sonata which acts as an introduction for the following movements.

Sonata chiesa

Translates as 'church sonata'. Similar to Sonata da camera, although originally thought appropriate for church, although not specifically composed as such.

Oratorio

A large concert piece for orchestra, choir and soloists. Similar to an opera in that it features different characters and arias, but unlike an opera is not musical theatre. There is little interaction between the characters, and no elaborate costumes or props. The text of the music is often sacred, making it suitable for performance in church.

Mass

A form of choral sacred musical composition, that sets portions of the liturgy to music. A mass can be either accompanied, or not, by musical instruments, up to and including a full orchestra.

Chaconne

A composition usually in slow triple time comprising of a series of varying sections, usually over a short repeated bass theme. A less rigid form of the very similar passacaglia, can sometimes be in time other than triple, and the ground bass can move to other voices.

Concerto Grosso

Similar to concerto, comprises of a group of solo instruments contrasting with the orchestra, rather than one solo instrument. Popular in the baroque era, but fell into decline thereafter.

Canzona

A type of lyrical contrapuntal music, usually for keyboard, lute, or instrumental ensemble.

Passion

A type of sacred composition, usually at least partly choral, based on the gospel texts covering the passion of Jesus and his crucifixion.

Motet

A short piece of sacred choral music, typically polyphonic and unaccompanied. Later versions were longer, often divided into several sections and had instrumental accompaniment.

Passacaglia

A style very similar to chaconne, often used interchangeably. In a passacaglia the music is always in triple time and the ground bass is never varied.