The separation of church music and secular music during the Baroque period was the beginning of something new.
Many people had no idea that the instruments they used during the Renaissance period could do more than they had been doing with them. This brought a new meaning of music and life into the world. It was a great change for music, instruments, and even people. Church music, also known as sacred music, was well known in the Renaissance Era, while the secular music will become more known in the Baroque Era.Let’s dive in by first clarifying what exactly was the Baroque Era, then distinguishing what caused the separation of church music and secular music during the Baroque Era.
“The term Baroque era describes the style or period of European music between the years of 1600 and 1750. The term Baroque was derived from a Portuguese word meaning "a pearl of irregular shape. " The word Baroque was initially used to imply strangeness, abnormality and extravagance, applying more to art than music.It is only in the 20th century that this term has been employed to refer to a period in music history” ( Bailey). The power of music was discovered during this time The Baroque period was the beginning of a new era, it is known for its many forms of church music and most of the sacred, or religious, music of the Baroque was written specifically to be performed as part of a church service. Baroque music has become increasingly popular over the last fifty years and I believe that it will continue to do so in the years to come.
There are many differences between this era’s music and today’s modern music. Things such as pitch, timbre, and performance techniques have changed quite a bit over time and are constantly changing as we speak. Differences between loud and soft, solo and ensemble play an important role in many Baroque compositions. The Baroque Era introduced instruments such as violins, flutes, recorders, keyboards, woodwinds, percussions and the list can go on and on.
Many of the musical terms and concepts from this period are still in use today.By the middle of the 18th century, the Baroque period had died down. This period ended over 250 years ago, but has changed music history forever. In modern times, going to a concert is an event. We hear an ad on the radio or see a listing in the newspaper, and we purchase tickets.
In the baroque era, this kind of public concert was rare. Many of the most famous baroque compositions were performed in church services. What influenced music throughout time, do you think? The answer is religion.“Sacred music during the renaissance period was sung in the a cappella choral style that was its trademark.
If instruments were used at all, they simply copied the parts sung by the choirs instead of introducing separate melodies. In the baroque era, however, instruments gained a place of their own in sacred as well as secular music” (Robertson). First, you have to distinguish between what is sacred music and what is secular music. Sacred music is music that pertains to God and it used inside the church. Secular music is that which would pertain to human beings and is used outside the church.
The separation of church music and secular music began during the Baroque era. Just like in today’s society, the composers wanted to satisfy their listeners. The people were saying that they no longer wanted to hear the old fashioned music that they heard during the Renaissance era, so the composers created new works of art that would contribute to their society during that time. The main shared ideal for the period was that music's principal goal was to move the affections (Norton). One of the biggest known secular music was the cantata.A cantata was normally about love poems, dramatic narratives, or soliloquys and it was also performed for small audiences in rooms without stages or scenery.
“Opera, oratorio, and ballet were the three most important types of Baroque musical drama” (Schulenberg). Sacred church music continued throughout the Baroque period, but with a little twist. Church music had a the new style, known as concertato and also had multiple choirs. All in all, the separation of church and secular music only occurred to make the people happy.“The Baroque era was very vast and dynamic, radiant and colorful, dramatic and intense, passionate and ardent, and sensual and overpowered by emotions. ” (Anonymous).
The listeners wanted to hear something new, and that is exactly what they got. The Renaissance era was the period in time that sacred music was at its highest, but people grew tired of hearing only that type of music. Just like today, there was a demand for newer things. I guess you could say that we are kind of living in the Baroque era still. Secular music was and is still at its highest peak.
