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The use of rich chromatc harmonies - this gives ambiguity to the key and more emotional impact to the piece. Examples of chromatic chords that could be used to achieve this are: Diminished 7th, Augmented 6th...

Continuo - an accompaniying part of the baroque ochestra that provides the bass line. This is played by either a keyborad instrument (harpsichord/ organ), or a low string instrument (cello/ double bass). It ...

Recitatives and Arias serve two contrasting functions in the Baroque Opera. A recitative, also known by the Italian name 'recitativo', acts as a dialogue and allows the characters to move the story onwards t...

Sonata form is the most important form of the Classical period (roughly 1750-1830). It is the most common form for the first movements of, for example, symphonies and sonatas (which usually have three or fou...

Baroque composers such as Bach and used a variety of techniques in their work. A commonly used feature was the Ground Bass. This was a pattern, used in the bassline of a piece of music, that was repeated for...