66
M
onteverdi’s Vespers for
the Blessed Virgin of
1610 is one of the most
influential collections of sacred
works for voices and instruments
of the 17th century. No larger choral
work had been written before, and
none as long nor as innovative
appeared again until J.S. Bach’s
Passions and Handel’s oratorios
in the 18th century.Choral leap
Written for vespers, the early
evening service in the Catholic
Church, in particular vespers
in honor of the Virgin Mary,
Monteverdi’s Vespers marks the
transition from the old polyphonic
(“many voices”) style known as
prima pratica (“first practice”) of the
Renaissance, in which all voices
are equal, to the freer Baroque styleknown as seconda pratica (“second
practice”), with its emphasis on
solo voice. In the latter, harmonies
became more adventurous, with
greater use of monody, in which
a melody was underpinned by an
instrumental “continuo,” or bass
line, in the form of the organ,
harpsichord, or lute. The bass
lines also became more melodic.
Embellishments, which had
previously been improvised by the
performer, were more elaborate and
often fully notated by the composer.
These developments led to the
distinct musical characteristics
of the Baroque period, in which
irregularity and extreme expression
sometimes disturb the smooth
musical flow, compelling the
attention of listeners. Contrasts of
melody, texture, timbre, tempo, and
rhythm abound in Baroque music.
In addition, instruments assumed a
more important role and their music
was more idiomatic, reflecting
greater technique and better-made,
more reliable instruments.BIRTH OF THE BAROQUE
Cremona Cathedral, where the
young Monteverdi is thought to
have studied composition under the
choirmaster Marc’Antonio Ingegneri.IN CONTEXT
FOCUS
Birth of the BaroqueBEFORE
1587 Andrea Gabrieli
publishes Concerti, a collection
of sacred ceremonial music
for voices and instruments,
introducing the cori spezzati
(“separated choirs”) style.1602 Lodovico Viadana
publishes Concerti
ecclesiastici for one to
four voices, the earliest
composition with a basso
continuo—a chordal
instrumental accompaniment.December, 1602 Giulio
Caccini premieres Euridice
based on the same libretto
as Jacopo Peri’s Euridice,
introducing stile recitativo (a
declamatory style between
speaking and singing),
inspired by the dramas
of the Ancient Greeks.1607 Monteverdi composes
his groundbreaking first
opera, L’ O r f e o, based on the
Greek legend of Orpheus.AFTER
1619 Heinrich Schütz, a pupil
of Giovanni Gabrieli, publishes
Psalmen Davids, a collection
of psalm settings. He goes on,
in 1629, to produce three sets
of Symphoniae Sacrae, which
give equal importance to
voices and instruments.US_064-069_Monteverdi.indd 66 26/03/18 1:00 PM