HyperMusic -- History of Classical Music: Baroque

Vocal Music

(Baroque 3)

The Baroque period saw the birth of a new form of music called opera. Opera combined music, acting, scenery, costumes, and props. Actors and actresses sing the script, or libretto. Some Operas are serious (opera seria), and some are funny (opera buffa). The first opera was Orfeo, by Claudio Monteverdi.

Similar to the opera is the cantata. The Cantata, like the opera, is a series of arias and recitatives. However, the cantata is not staged or acted.

Sample Works:

From L'Orfeo:

Toccata (

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Lasciate i monti (

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Ecco pur, ch'a voi ritorno (

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Credits:

L'Orfeo, MIDI sequences by A. Bender
from Classical MIDI Connection

Extras:

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