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A Brief History of Western Music
Baroque Era
The term "Baroque" comes from the Portuguese word barroco, meaning "a deformed pearl". It was originally used as a derogatory term for overly ornate music or art. Now, "Baroque" refers to music and art from the 16th, 17th, and early 18th centuries. Famous composers such as J.S. Bach and Antonio Vivaldi lived during the Baroque era.
Composers of the Baroque era embraced the philosophy of the "Affections". This was the belief that every piece should have its own "affect", or emotional state. A single "affect" was projected throughout a specific piece or movement.
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Johann Sebastian Bach, the most significant composer of the Baroque era
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