Lesson 5: Baroque Composers

Baroque Composers

While many of the names of Baroque composers are relatively unknown today, there are a few, such as Handel and Bach, whose music has continued to be popular into contemporary times. Some lesser-known composers still had a great impact on the development and direction of Baroque music.

Born in 1567, Claudio Monteverdi's work serves as the point where Renaissance music ends and Baroque music begins. He was a transitional figure between the two eras, using characteristics of both musical time periods in his work. Monteverdi also wrote one of the earliest operas.

Monteverdi was born in northern Italy and his early learning in music came about through his participation in a cathedral choir. Some of his earliest work includes sacred madrigals, and by 1587, he had composed and published a book of this musical form. In all, he would write nine books featuring sacred madrigals. The Ottavo Libro, his eighth madrigal publication, is regarded by some to be the perfect example of this form of music. The work is divided into parts, which focus on the themes of love and war.

For many years, Monteverdi served in the court of Mantua. In the beginning, he served as a musician and singer, before moving up to become the court conductor. In 1613, he moved to San Marco, serving as the conductor there. Monteverdi eventually became a priest later in his life, although he continued to compose. He died in 1643.

Antonio Vivaldi is regarded by many to be one of the greatest composers during the Baroque period. His influence spread across Europe and he was well known for his instrumental concertos. The best known of these was the violin concerto The Four Seasons.

Vivaldi was born in 1678 in Italy. Although he was often an ill child, he learned to play the violin and began to study for the priesthood at the age of fifteen. He was ordained as a priest in 1703, when he was twenty-five years old. This along with his auburn hair earned him the nickname 'The Red Priest.'

Vivaldi: Four Seasons, Spring