Introduction

Why is it called baroque?
The beginnings...
The end...

World View

The passions of man
Overabundance and extremes
An ordered world-view
Human passions are systemized
Empiricism and critical views abound
Music symbolizes cosmic order

The Creative Process

Man pushes the boundaries of Nature
Taking a more critical view
Individualism and earthly pleasures arise

The Socio-Political Situation

An hierarchical State persists
The important Musical Institutions

Cultural-Historic Foundations

National Styles emerge
A symbolic 'world-theatre' is created
'Stylized' emotions are portrayed

Musical Concepts and Classifications

The Harmony of the Spheres
The Harmony of the World
The Science of Music
Music becomes a Fine Art

Introduction

Note Symbolisim
The Musical Alphabet
Extra-Musical Meanings

Musica Poetica

The Rhetoric of Music
Musical 'figures'

The Theory of the Affections

Expressing 'Affections' through Music
Musical 'Figures'

Musical Instruments

Instruments to Express the Affections
Instruments in art and folk music

Introduction

Basso Continuo is fundamental
Individualism and the 'Concertante' Principal
The New Music

Modern Notation

Tempo within a piece of music is always proportional
The hierachy of the beats within the bar becomes important
A lot is left over to the performer