The typical orchestra of the Baroque period was based on string instruments (
violin,
viola) and
continuo. A continuous bass was 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 carried 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 used
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, consisted 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 (
flauti dolci) are sometimes used to express humility or poverty, such as in Bach's cantata .
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 ==