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General characteristics of harmony and tonality in the Baroque period

• Music throughout the early to mid-Baroque was composed using modes. The move to establishing a system of 12 major and minor keys took place within the mid- to late Baroque period. By the end of the Baroque, moving into the early Classical period, composers were writing music in keys not modes.
• Chords were usually diatonic - major or minor - with the occasional use of chromaticisms to give added ‘colour’ to chords.
• The use of ground bass was common in many compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frederick Handel.

Tonality

The development of equal temperament enabled the 12 major and minor keys to be established. This was the most significant thing to happen to the tonality of Baroque music.

Harmony

The chords used in major and minor tonalities were also major or minor - or diatonic.

Ground bass

The use of ground bass was common in the Baroque period. Composers would use a ground bass to structure their music. They made the harmonies above the ground bass change, and the placement of the phrases also varied. One of the most well-known examples of a ground bass is in “Dido’s Lament”, from Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas.

Henry Purcell’s Music for a while also contains a ground bass.

Passacaglia

The passacaglia is a type of composition which contains a ground bass. Bach wrote many such pieces, particularly for organ.

Listen to this musical extract:

Listen to this musical extract: