What is the essence of baroque music? Baroque music expresses order, the fundamental order of the universe. Yet it is always lively and tuneful. Music reflects the mood of the times, then as now as always. Follow the development of music through this brief outline, from the earliest times to the present day, with baroque music in historical context.
BAROQUE MUSIC DEFINED

Music and its performance has its fashions, like everything else. There are currently two schools of thought in the performance of baroque music: the modern and the authentic though both names are misleading. A little knowledge of these alternatives will guide you in your subsequent choice of recordings.
BAROQUE MUSIC PERFORMANCE

Why not delve yet further into the world of baroque performance? Read about one of Bach's favorite keyboard instruments, custom-built to his own specifications, yet now almost impossible to hear on record. Or discover the difference between the Italian violin bow which we know today, and the German baroque bow which is never seen nor heard today, though popular in baroque Germany (check the accompanying illustration from 1732). The vital difference: the German bow can play chords - which makes Bach's pieces for solo violin infinitely more interesting, not to mention accurate!

Get to know the major baroque composers better through their portraits.
BAROQUE COMPOSERS' PORTRAIT GALLERY

Over two hours of baroque music for you to listen to. Examples of the works of major baroque composers, and of course, Johann Sebastian Bach.
A BAROQUE MUSIC BANQUET

Biographical notes on some of the better-known baroque composers - Albinoni, JS Bach, Corelli, Geminiani, Handel, Scarlatti, Telemann and others - plus notes on influential musical centers and developments in different countries, illustrating the origins of baroque, and the breadth of baroque musical globalisation!
BAROQUE COMPOSERS & MUSICIANS an overall survey.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Contemporary with, and a personal friend of JS Bach was one of the two leading baroque organ-builders: Gottfried Silbermann. There are still some 30 of Silbermann's organs extant in Saxony, southern Germany, many in near-original condition, from the small village organs in which he excelled, to the 3-Manual, 44-Stop organ in Freiberg Cathedral. This site offers a group of pages, together giving you an illustrated tour and all the information you need for a visit! We prepared this site for, and in conjunction with the Silbermann Museum in Frauenstein, Saxony.
GOTTFRIED SILBERMANN:
Master Organ-Builder of the German Baroque.

Musician Biographies:

Attention Music Majors!
Here's a brand new forum for all Music Majors - discuss, trade information, contribute... at
MusicMajors.org
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BACH & FRIENDS - DVD
The editors of the BAROQUE MUSIC have been recording, producing, researching and writing about Bach and Baroque since the 1960s, and we have no hesitation in recommending the 2-DVD set "BACH & friends" as essential viewing/listening for all Bach-lovers and music students. Please, check our review - you won't regret it! |
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In this on-going series, Lyrichord Discs CEO Nick Fritsch interviews baroque music specialist performers on subjects ranging through: the counter-tenor voice, the lute, recorder, the wooden transverse flute, the history and development of keyboard instruments, and the exploration of Baroque Music from all over Europe.
Check Lyrichord Podcast Listing.
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Selected by the Teachers Learning Program of Hong Kong University
for inclusion in their MusicWeb Resource CDROM.
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Included in the Britannica Internet Guide
"for quality, accuracy, and presentation"
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