MUSIC 120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 30: Lutheran Chorale, Bassoon, Hymn Tune
1
THE BAROQUE
FRANCE & GERMANY
Until the early 18th century, Italian composers
dominated musical trends
By the beginning of the 18th century, both France
and Germany had found their own paths. The
differences between them were largely owing to
political & religious currents.
France was a Catholic nation, but it was the king
who employed Jean Baptiste Lully & others to
produce music for the affairs of both church & state
Baroque-era Germany—divided by religion &
not yet a nation state— represents a much
different picture from that of its neighbor
France:
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2
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
(1685—1750)
The music of J.S. Bach represents the
culmination of the Baroque period
Bach synthesized French, Italian, and German
music & drew upon both Catholic & Protestant
musical traditions
Although Bach never composed an opera,
he borrowed operatic forms & stylistic idioms to use
in his religious works
As Kapellmeister (music director) for
St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Bach was expected to
write music for services as well as to educate
students
In his time J.S. Bach was NOT regarded as a great
composer, but rather was renown for his mastery
of the baroque organ
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3
(The 19th-century “Bach Revival” established Bach as
one of the greatest composers of all time)
GERMANY
The Protestant Reformation started by
Martin Luther (1483-1546) (1685, Bach ist geboren)
The prayers of the Lutheran service were to be said
in the vernacular tongue, German, for all to
understand.
Music was to play a special role in church services
The German Protestant strophic hymn or
chorale became a principal resource of German
religious music for centuries and J.S. Bach
Originally, the chorale was a monophonic hymn
sung in unison
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Document Summary
Until the early 18th century, italian composers dominated musical trends. By the beginning of the 18th century, both france and germany had found their own paths. The differences between them were largely owing to political & religious currents. France was a catholic nation, but it was the king who employed jean baptiste lully & others to produce music for the affairs of both church & state. Baroque-era germany divided by religion & not yet a nation state represents a much different picture from that of its neighbor. Bach represents the culmination of the baroque period. Bach synthesized french, italian, and german music & drew upon both catholic & protestant musical traditions. Although bach never composed an opera, he borrowed operatic forms & stylistic idioms to use in his religious works. St. thomas church in leipzig, bach was expected to write music for services as well as to educate students.
