Monday, September 6, 2010: Music of the Baroque Era

Music of the Baroque Era, displays several reasons as to why it is in a realm of its own. The meaning of Baroque is stated to be an irregularly shaped pearl, which leads to different distinguishing ideas. However what has definitively shaped this era is its overall complexity, expression of being over the top. It has a very ornate and grandiose expression. These are all characteristics that have been described in class. They are confirmed further when I went to the performance on Sunday, August, 29, 2010, including Professor Purdy, Music of the Baroque Era.
A musician that I followed from the recital was Quentin Kuyper. He played the Baroque recorder, and one of the more interesting instruments, the rackett. So special about this instrument was its design, and the method of having to play. Different from the paintings of this time, the exterior wasn’t the most provocative, it had a uniqueness to it, but its interworking is amazing. Kuyper told us that aside from instruments that came latter to the baroque era like the bassoon that potentially replaced it playing flats and sharps were so much easier than on the rackett. His finger placement looked so awkward and just seems so descriptive as something as simple as sharping a note would take such an uncomfortable finger position.

The design and ability of the rackett really relates to several pieces of this era. One work of art that I can immediately reference is the Saint Teresa in Ecstasy, in the Cornaro Chapel, by Gianlorenzo Bernini. When you initially you see it and recognize it uniform color, but like the rackett that inside which appears to be a plain wooden cylinder with holes drilled, however it contains a more intricate design. In this wooden cylinder is a single brass tube, that is ten times longer that than the instrument alone coiled within and has holes drilled within to perform its necessary tune. These holes must be drilled within appropriately otherwise the expected sound will not be produced. Similar, this sculpture promoted with deep recesses in the carved robe St. Teresa is wearing. It looks simple but when you completely investigate it you see its supreme complexity such as Saint Teresa’s face, which is said to be orgasmic and highly defined. If you thought that the rackett was a simple instrument, remember it’s a part of the Baroque Period, nothing is that simple.

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