Baroque ornamentation is not consistent across editions of the same piece

What is the ornamentation of Baroque music?

In the Baroque period, composers expected musicians to add ornamentation, including trills, mordents, turns, appoggiaturas, grace notes, passing tones, etc. Use of vibrato was also considered an ornament. In addition to adding ornamentations, performers were expected to improvise, especially on cadences.

Why is ornamentation used in Baroque music?

Add Extra Notes



Performers of Baroque music would have been expected to not only add ornaments, but also extra notes to add detail to the music. This is quite different from modern music where we are expected to accurately perform what is written in the music without adding other notes to it.

How did Bach use ornamentation?

The turn (which Bach in his ornament table calls “cadence“) embellishes a main note with both its upper and lower auxiliaries. Most commonly in Bach’s music the turn starts diatonically above the main note, descends to the main note, and then to the lower auxiliary, and finally returns up to the main note.

What is ornamentation in the classical period?

One of the most commonly used ornaments in Classical period music was the trill, particularly cadential trills, which immediately preceded a cadence. Trills typically began on the upper note, thus creating greater harmonic suspension. It was common practice to conclude cadence points with a turn.

Is Baroque music highly ornamented?

Baroque music is a heavily ornamented style of music that came out of the Renaissance. While it is often considered to be part of the era of Classical music, it is important to note that Baroque predated the Classical period: the Baroque period lasted from 1600 until 1750, while the Classical period spanned 1750-1820.

What are 5 characteristics of Baroque music?

Baroque music has some very distinct characteristics.



Features of the Baroque period in Music for a While

  • use of basso continuo.
  • Baroque instruments, such as the harpsichord and the bass viol.
  • frequent ornamentation.
  • limited dynamics or expression written in the score.


What are some characteristics of Baroque style decorations?

Some of the qualities most frequently associated with the Baroque are grandeur, sensuous richness, drama, dynamism, movement, tension, emotional exuberance, and a tendency to blur distinctions between the various arts.

What is the purpose of ornamentation?

Ornament is decoration or embellishment. It is any additional detail added to an object, interior or architectural structure which serves no other purpose than to make it more interesting, arresting or beautiful to us.

What is ornamentation structure?



ornamentation, in architecture, applied embellishment in various styles that is a distinguishing characteristic of buildings, furniture, and household items. Ornamentation often occurs on entablatures, columns, and the tops of buildings and around entryways and windows, especially in the form of moldings.

What kind of ornamentation was used for Baroque chairs?

Chairs and stools with exaggerated scrolled arms and legs, and handsome walnut and ebony cabinets and cupboards with carved decoration on the pediments, friezes, and corners and sometimes inlaid with marble or pietra dura set in molded panels, typify the Italian furniture of the later Baroque phase.

What was ornamentation?

: something that ornaments : embellishment. : the act or process of ornamenting : the state of being ornamented.

What are some characteristics of Baroque style decorations?

Some of the qualities most frequently associated with the Baroque are grandeur, sensuous richness, drama, dynamism, movement, tension, emotional exuberance, and a tendency to blur distinctions between the various arts.