The Baroque Era 1600-1750
Baroque literally means an uneven pearl. It came
from the Portuguese word barocoo. Now it
means art that is bizarre, flamboyant and
elaborately ornamented. The Baroque Palace of
Versailles near Paris, was built and decorated as
a magnificent setting for King Louis XIV of France.
Early in the 1600’s, a new style lavished
buildings with complex shapes,
extravagant ornaments, opulent paintings
and bold contrasts.
The baroque age is also known as the
age of absolutism or the divine right of kings. A monarch
had absolute power over the state.
King Louis XIV,
The Sun King
Baroque Clothing
The clothing worn by royalty was often brightly colored, made of silk or
velvet, and trimmed with lace, ribbon, or braid.
Baroque Hairstyles Louis XIV started the fashion trend of wigs for men because he was
going bald. Some women also wore spectacular wigs, powdered,
starched, and piled high in curls.
The Baroque period is also considered the age of scientific discoveries.
Galileo proposed a sun centered universe as opposed to an earth
centered universe. He also perfected the
telescope.
Sir Isaac Newton identified gravity and formulated
principles of physics and mathematics.
Baroque Science
Baroque Instruments
Many of the instruments played during the
Baroque period are the same ones play today.
String instruments, trumpet, flute, bassoon and oboe were all used. Keyboard instruments included the organ and harpsichord. Although the first pianos were
invented at the end of the Baroque period, they did not become
popular for many years.
Opera Opera became very
popular during the Baroque Era. It
combined elaborate sets and costumes
with musical performances by
skilled singers. The dramatic productions of the opera had their origins in the music
dramas of the Church. Opera was attended
by all the classes from peasants to royalty.
1750 marked the
end of the Baroque
Era. This was the
same year as the
death of Johann
Sebastian Bach,
one of the great
composers from the
Baroque Era.
