Baroque instruments

Musical instruments used in Baroque music were partly used already before, partly are still in use today, but with no technology.[1] The movement to perform music in a historically informed way, trying to recreate the sound of the period, led to the use of historic instruments of the period and to the reconstruction of instruments.

The following table lists instruments, classified as brass instruments, woodwinds, strings, and basso continuo. The continuous bass is played by a group of instruments, depending on the given situation. Many instruments have an Italian or French name which is used as a common name also in English. The use of instruments by composers is shown in examples mostly by Johann Sebastian Bach.

Table of instruments
Common nameBaroque era nameTypePluralBaroque era pluralExample of use by BachNotes
trumpettrombaitbrass, trumpettrumpetstrombeCantata No. 172see also Baroque trumpet
tromba da tirarsitromba da tirarsiitbrass, trumpettrombe da tirarsi
high trumpetclarionitbrass, trumpetclarini
Trombonetromboneitbrass, trombonetrombonestromboni
horncornoitbrass, hornhornscorni
corno da cacciacorno da cacciaitbrass, horncorni da caccia
corno da tirarsicorno da tirarsiitbrass, horncorni da tirarsi
lituuslituoitbrass, lituuslituuseslitui
timpanitimpaniitpercussionChristmas Oratorioused with trumpets
recorderflauto (dolce)itwoodwind, recorderrecordersflauti (dolci)Cantata No. 39
descant recorderflauto piccoloitwoodwind, recorderflauti piccoliCantatas No. 96 and No. 103
fluteflauto traversoitwoodwind, Wooden, Single Keytransverse flutesflauti traversi
oboeoboeitwoodwind, oboeoboesoboi
oboe d'amoreoboe d'amoreitwoodwind, oboeoboes d'amoreoboi d'amore
tenor oboetaillefrwoodwind, oboetailles
oboe da cacciaoboe da cacciaitwoodwind, oboeoboes da cacciaoboi da caccia
bassoonfagottoitwoodwind, bassoonbassoonsfagotti
violinviolinoitstring, Baroque violinviolinsviolini
violin piccoloviolino piccoloitstring, violinviolini piccoliBrandenburg Concerto No. 1main violin
violaviolaitstring, violaviolasviole
cellovioloncelloitstring, cellocellivioloncelli
violoncello piccolovioloncello piccoloitstring, cellovioloncelli piccoli
viola d'amoreviola d'amoreitstring, violaviole d'amore
viola da gambaviola da gambaitstring, violviole da gambaSt John Passion Aria "Es ist vollbracht!"Basso continuo, but sometimes solo
violettaviolettaitstring, violaviolette
violonevioloneitstring, violviolono
organorganoitkey, organorgansorgani
carilloncarillonitkey, pitched percussioncarillonscarillon
harpsichordcembaloitkey, harpsichordharpsichordscembali
luteliutoitstring, lutelutesliuti
continuobasso continuoitbass group

Baroque instrumentation

The typical orchestra of the Baroque period is based on string instruments (violin, viola) and continuo.[2] A continuous bass is the rule in Baroque music; its absence is worth mentioning and has a reason, such as describing fragility.

The specific character of a movement is often defined by wind instruments, such as oboe, oboe da caccia, oboe d'amore, flauto traverso, recorder, trumpet, horn, trombone, and timpani.

For Bach, some instruments carry symbolic meaning such as a trumpet, the royal instrument of the Baroque, for secular and divine majesty: three trumpets for the Trinity. In arias, Bach often uses obbligato instruments, which correspond with the singer as an equal partner. In his early compositions he used instruments that had become old-fashioned, such as viola da gamba and violone.

Continuo

The basso continuo, or short: continuo, the typical bass group of the period, consists of a group of instruments, depending upon the other instruments playing and the performance location. A group may consist of cello, double bass (an octave lower) and organ. A bassoon is typically playing when other wind instruments are called for. While an organ will be played in church, a harpsichord will be used in secular surroundings.

Trumpet

The trumpet is the royal instrument of the Baroque, representing secular and divine majesty. Three trumpets symbolize the Trinity in an aria of Bach's BWV 172, addressing the "Heiligste Dreifaltigkeit" (Most holy Trinity), where the bass voice is accompanied only by three trumpets and timpani.

Recorder
Recorders in different sizes, flauto piccolo (sopranino) on the left

Recorders (flauti dolci) are sometimes used to express humility or poverty, such as in Bach's cantata Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot, BWV 39.

Flauto piccolo

Bach used a flauto piccolo (what flauto?), a high recorder in F ("descant recorder" or "sopranino recorder"), to express for example the sparkling of the morning star in Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn, BWV 96.

References
  1. From Renaissance to Baroque : change in instruments and instrumental music in the seventeenth century : proceedings of the National Early Music Association Conference held, in association with the Department of Music, University of York and the York Early Music Festival, at the University College of Ripon and York St. John, York, 2-4 July 1999. Jonathan P. Wainwright, Peter Holman, University of York. Department of Music, York Musical Festival. London: Routledge. 2016. ISBN 978-1-351-56626-1. OCLC 993761721.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. Donington, Robert (1973). "The Choice of Instruments in Baroque Music". Early Music. 1 (3): 131–138. ISSN 0306-1078.
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