此時期見證了音樂從服務神格轉向人本主義,並賦予器樂獨立的生命力。
美學基礎與社會載體:人文主義 (Humanism) 抬頭,強調平衡、清晰與人性的感官愉悅。活字印刷術的發明使音樂從教會與宮廷的壟斷中解放,成為中產階級社交的文化載體。
要素演變:織體發展出高度成熟的模仿式複音 (Imitative Polyphony)。雖然此時期被譽為無伴奏合唱的黃金時代,但樂器開始脫離單純的伴奏角色,出現了專為特定器樂設計的獨立體裁。和聲上,三度音程與三和弦的使用增加,取代了中世紀單薄的五度音程,並出現了用音樂描繪歌詞意境的文字繪寫 (Word Painting) 技術。數字低音 (Basso Continuo) 確立了旋律與低音支撐的層次感。
excerpts
Claudio Monteverdi: Ariadne´s complaint, Madrigals of War and Love
Girolamo Frescobaldi: Fiori musicali
Jean Baptiste Lully: Acis and Galatea
Arcangelo Corelli: La Folia, Concerto grosso in G minor
Johann Pachelbel: Canon
Henry Purcell: Three parts upon a ground
François Couperin: Pièces de clavecin
Antonio Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, Guitar concerto in D major, Violin concerto in A minor, Concerto grosso in C major, Gloria
Georg Philipp Telemann: Suite in B flat major
Jean Philippe Rameau: Pièces de clavecin en concert
excerpts
Georg Friedrich Händel: Music for the Royal Fireworks, Water music, Serse (Xerxes), Concerto grosso op. 6, Messiah
Johann Sebastian Bach: Toccata and fugue in D minor, Brandenburg concertos no. 1 & 3, Preludium in C major, Badinerie, Air from orchestral suite no. 3 in D major, Chaconne from partita in D minor, Cantate BWV 147, Double violin concerto, St. Matthew passion
Domenico Scarlatti: Harpsichord sonata in D major
Giuseppe Tartini: Devil´s Trill sonata
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi: Stabat Mater