Baroque Era Music Instruments
Many Baroque era music instruments were played during the Baroque era as instrumental music rose in popularity. The harpsichord was in fashion. Wind instruments were less complicated than wind instruments of today, and woodwinds were really made of wood! Stringed instruments were smaller than they are today, and strings were made of animal gut instead of metal. These differences gave the Baroque era a unique sound.
Baroque era music instruments play an important role in the history of traditional classical music. If it wasn’t for the inventiveness of this era, musical instruments may not have adapted to the instruments we play today.
Critical Thinking Questions
- How were Baroque instruments different than instruments today?
- Which European string instrument was invented first?
The Organ
The pipe organ is a fascinating musical instrument with a rich history that has shaped music as we know it today. Its origins can be traced back to ancient Greece, where a water-powered organ called the hydraulis was used for public events and religious ceremonies.
During the medieval period, the pipe organ became widely used in churches and monasteries as it gained popularity for its versatility and ability to produce a wide range of sounds. It was the “king of instruments” and played an important role in religious music during that time.
Throughout the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical periods, famous composers such as Bach and Handel wrote music specifically for the pipe organ, which continued to evolve with advances in technology.
The pipe organ’s most significant change during the medieval period was the introduction of the bellows, which replaced the hydraulis’ water-powered system. This allowed for the development of different types of pipes, each with their unique sound and increased control over the instrument.
Harpsichord
the harpsichord was a popular keyboard instrument in European music from the 16th through the first half of the 18th century. It has two sets of strings that produce different tones and are an octave apart in pitch. It makes a softer sound than the modern piano because it uses quills to pluck the strings instead of hammers. The harpsichord doesn’t have varying dynamics, so it was replaced by the pianoforte and later, the piano, in popularity.
Pianoforte
Bartolomeo Cristofori invented the pianoforte in Italy around 1700. It used hammers and dampers and had a range of four octaves. The pianoforte was special because it could create piano (soft) and forte (loud) dynamics, greatly influencing the music to come.
Violin
String instruments have been around for hundreds of years. There are many different stringed instruments from all around the world. Some people think the direct ancestor to European stringed instruments is the Arabic rebab from the 9th century. Some also think the vielle and the lira da braccio also influenced its development. The violin came from Northern Italy around 1530 and had three strings at first. During the Baroque era, Stradivari was a famous instrument maker who specialized in creating stringed instruments. He produced over 1,000 instruments. These instruments are still considered some of the finest instruments ever made. Towards the end of the 18th century, violins were made with a longer neck and heavier strings.
Viola
The viola has a lower and deeper sound than the violin and is a little bigger in size than the violin. Baroque violas had a shorter fingerboard. There were actually two types of violas during the Baroque period, a smaller alto instrument and a larger tenor instrument. The viola was invented before the violin, cello, or stringed bass. It has been mainly used as a supportive instrument and didn’t have as many solos written for it as the violin.
Brass
The trumpet and the trombone were the most common brass instruments during the Baroque era. Baroque trumpets did not have any valves and were longer than modern-day trumpets. The trombone was called the “sackbut.” It had a softer sound than those played today.
Timpani
The timpani is also known as a “kettledrum.” The timpani was the only percussion instrument used for serious religious music during the Baroque era. It became popular in concert settings during the early 18th century. Baroque timpani were made from copper bowls and calfskin. They were tuned to the tonic and the dominant notes of the key.
