Baroque

This is music composed c.1600-1750, which often (but not always) features the sound of the Harpsichord (eg. Track 2). Like Baroque art and architecture, it tends to be quite ornate, with lots of ORNAMENTS such as TRILLS and GRACE NOTES.

This playlist offers a selection of Baroque tracks for general listening but within it, several styles/forms and concepts can be heard, eg:

- Tracks 3 and 5 are RECITATIVEs, both taken from ORATORIOS

- Track 4 is an ARIA taken from an OPERA, while Track 14 which also comes from an OPERA features a RECITATIVE followed by an ARIA. Listen out for the GROUND BASS in the ARIA.

- Track 6 is a CHORUS taken from a PASSION, and Track 7 is a CHORALE from the same PASSION

Oratorio

Usually a story from the Bible set to music for soloists, chorus and orchestra. Listen out for religious words, such as God, Jesus, Christ, Lord, Hallelujah etc. - it will be in English.

It may include recitatives, arias, duets and chorus.  It is performed without acting or stage design. This playlist includes a RECITATIVE a CHORUS and two ARIAS.

A CANTATA is a small-scale ORATORIO (I don't think you will be asked to distinguish between the two in your exam - the only way you could tell would be to hear the whole of the work, not just a short extract.)

Passion

This is a kind of ORATORIO which tells the Christian story of Jesus Christ's crucifixion. It is sung in German.

It features CHORALE (Tracks 4-8 in this Playlist), a type of German HYMN TUNE sung by a CHOIR/CHORUS. The texture is normally HOMOPHONIC.

Chorale

A German hymn tune, sung by choirs and Homophonic in texture. Heard in Passions and Cantatas, especially those by J.S.Bach.

Chorale Prelude

Based on Chorale melodies (see next playlist), often (but not always) contrapuntal and always written for the pipe organ

Concerto Grosso

A type of concerto in which a group of soloists (CONCERTINO) is combined and contrasted with a larger group (RIPIENO). Often features a repeated theme known as a RITORNELLO.

Recitative

In this playlist, there are six examples of the form of 'sung speech' known as recitative. The first four, as is most common, are accompanied by Basso Continuo, and come respectively from an Opera, an Oratorio, a Passion and a Cantata. The last two come from an Opera and an Oratorio respectively and are accompanied by orchestra - this is less common but not unusual.

Fugue

There are several concepts associated with Fugue:

SUBJECT - this is the main theme, the first thing you hear played/sung by the first instrument/voice to enter.

REAL ANSWER/TONAL ANSWER - this is the subject as played by the second instrument/voice to enter, in a related key. If the intervals between the notes are the same, it's a Real Answer, if one or two intervals have to be changed to make it fit, it's a Tonal Answer

COUNTERSUBJECT - after the subject or answer is played, the continuation of that same instrument or voice is called the countersubject.

EPISODE - a modulating link between entries of the subject, often based on fragments from the subject or Counter subject.

EXPOSITION - the first part of the fugue, in which each of the voice/instrument parts has stated the Subject or Answer once.

STRETTO - when each part enters quickly one after the other. Used to add tension/excitement, usually towards the end of the Fugue.

Although they developed in the Baroque era, fugues have been written ever since; this playlist starts with three Baroque fugues, then one Classical, one Romantic and two Twentieth Century fugues.