Music of the Baroque period: how its styles and techniques changed music

Abstract

This paper explores the music of the Baroque era and how its unique traits made it diverge from the music that preceded it, as well as pave the way for music styles to come. The Baroque period, which is generally agreed to range from around 1600 to 1750, was a time of great advancement not only in arts and sciences, but in music as well. The overabundance of ornamentation sprinkled throughout the pieces composed in this era is an attribute that was uncommon in the past, and helped distinguish the Baroque style of music. A composer of the Baroque period that this paper will analyze in greater depth is Arcangelo Corelli. Corelli’s contributions to the Baroque music style have impacted how the violin is perceived and played to this day.