Barstow Community College Baroque Era Music Theory Paper

1. Instrument technology took a large leap forward in the Baroque Era. How did this help to create and popularize instrumental virtuosity? Choose one instrumental work featured in this module (from the list below) and discuss it, addressing the following: The work’s instrumentation, texture, and melody. Finally, do you hear any instrumental virtuosity in your work? How so? Do you feel that virtuosity is necessary for music to be enjoyable? Why or why not? 

Make Sure to Address The Following:

• How did the technological development of instruments in the Baroque Era popularize instrumental virtuosity?
• Choose one instrumental work from the list below.
  • Discuss your choice’s instrumentation, texture and melody.
    • What instrument plays the melody?
• Do you hear any virtuosity in your choice? Why or why not? If so, where? 
• Do you feel that virtuosity is necessary for instrumental music to be enjoyable? Why or why not? 

Below are the instrumental listening examples referenced in this week’s module:

• Handel: Suite in D Major from Water Music, Alla hornpipe
• Vivaldi: Spring, from The Four Seasons, I
• Bach: Contrapunctus 1, from The Art of Fugue