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Famous Music from the Baroque Period: 1
c. 1600ā1750
Canon in D
by J. Pachelbel (1653ā1706)
Pachelbelās Canon, also knownĀ as Canon in D, P 37, is a famous pieces of the Baroque era, composed by the German musician Johann Pachelbel.Ā
The exact date and story behind its creation remain unknown, but it is believed to have been composed between 1680 and 1706, with the oldest surviving manuscript dating from the early 19th century.Ā
Like much of Pachelbelās music, the Canon fell into obscurity for centuries, only to gain worldwide fame after a 1968 arrangement by the Jean-FranƧois Paillard chamber orchestra.Ā
Its simple and elegant chord progression has inspired pop songs, wedding playlists and movie scores, making it instantly recognizable to modern audiences.Ā
Today, the piece remains a favorite in joyful celebrations and solemn ceremonies, demonstrating its timeless charm and universal appeal.
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor
J.S. Bach (1685ā1750)
The Toccata and Fugue in D Minor is a famous Baroque composition by German composer Johann Sebastian Bach and one of the most recognizable works in the organ repertoire.
Its exact date of composition is unknown, but scholars estimate it was written between 1704 and the 1740s.
The piece was largely forgotten until it appeared in a manuscript by Johannes Ringk and was later published in 1833 during the early Bach Revival, thanks to composer Felix Mendelssohn, who also performed it in 1840.
The work gained worldwide fame in the 20th century, especially after being featured in Walt Disneyās 1940 film Fantasia, with Leopold Stokowskiās orchestral transcription.
Known for its dramatic and powerful opening, it is celebrated as a masterpiece of absolute music.
Spring (Four Seasons)
by A. Vivaldi (1678ā1741)
The Four Seasons is a set of four violin concertos by the Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi, each one representing a season of the year. He wrote them around 1718ā1723 while working in Mantua, and they were published in 1725 in Amsterdam.
These pieces are Vivaldiās most famous works and were revolutionary for their time. Instead of just music, Vivaldi painted pictures with sound. You can hear flowing streams, singing birds, barking dogs, buzzing flies, storms, hunting parties, and even warm winter firesāall brought to life through the instruments.
The Four Seasons is an early example of program music, meaning it tells a story or paints a scene through sound, something Vivaldi did masterfully.
Water Music
by G.F. Handel (1685ā1759)
Water Music is a famous set of orchestral suites by German-British Baroque composer George Frideric Handel. It was written to be performed outdoors on the Thames River for King George I and his guests.
The first performance took place on 17 July 1717, when the king and some nobles boarded a royal barge at Whitehall Palace for a trip up the river toward Chelsea. The tide carried the barge upstream, while another barge held about 50 musicians playing Handelās music. Many Londoners followed along in their own boats, and the newspaper of the time, The Daily Courant, said that āthe whole River in a manner was coveredā with boats. The king enjoying the music so much that he asked for it to be played three times on the way there and back.
Water Music is still celebrated today for its joyful tunes and grand, celebratory style, making it one of the most popular pieces of Baroque music.
Sonata in D Minor, K. 32
by D. Scarlatti (1685ā1757)
Italian composer Domenico Scarlatti wrote 555 solo keyboard sonatas during his career. Although these works werenāt widely known in his lifetime, they are now recognized as a major contribution to music.
In Scarlattiās time, the sonatas were mostly performed on the harpsichord, but the Spanish royal court, where he worked, also had early versions of the piano (called the fortepiano), invented by Cristofori during Scarlattiās lifetime.
Today, performers can choose to play his sonatas on the harpsichord, fortepiano, or modern piano.