Exploring Baroque ground basses and understanding bass clef notation

In this lesson, you will learn about the role of the basso continuo and ground bass in Baroque music. You will explore how to play the ground bass stylistically in a virtual Baroque ensemble!

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Quiz:

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Before we start this lesson, let’s see what you can remember from this topic. Here’s a quick quiz!

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Q1.When was the Baroque Period?

1500-1600 1600-1750 1700-1850

1/10

Q2.What is the main texture of Pachelbel's Canon in D?

Monophonic Homophonic Contrapuntal

2/10

Q3.What are the two sharps in the key of D major?

F# D# F# C# F# E#

3/10

Q4.In a scale, what number note is the 'root' note?

1 3 5

4/10

Q5.Which instrument would we find in the Baroque period?

Piano Clarinet Harpsichord

5/10

Q6.What is a canon?

Playing in counterpoint When a person sings or plays a different part, but comes in later When a person sings or plays exactly the same part, but comes in later

6/10

Q7.What do we call melodic decorations in music?

Colour Additions Ornaments

7/10

Q8.What is this ornament and how do you play it?

A mordent - you play the note above or below very quickly A trill - you alternate between two notes very quickly A grace note, you play it very quickly before another note

8/10

Q9.What is a phrase?

The number of beats in a bar A melody A musical sentence

9/10

Q10.What is the correct word for getting louder?

Crescendo Diminuendo Staccato

10/10

This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Quiz:

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Before we start this lesson, let’s see what you can remember from this topic. Here’s a quick quiz!

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Q1.When was the Baroque Period?

1500-1600 1600-1750 1700-1850

1/10

Q2.What is the main texture of Pachelbel's Canon in D?

Monophonic Homophonic Contrapuntal

2/10

Q3.What are the two sharps in the key of D major?

F# D# F# C# F# E#

3/10

Q4.In a scale, what number note is the 'root' note?

1 3 5

4/10

Q5.Which instrument would we find in the Baroque period?

Piano Clarinet Harpsichord

5/10

Q6.What is a canon?

Playing in counterpoint When a person sings or plays a different part, but comes in later When a person sings or plays exactly the same part, but comes in later

6/10

Q7.What do we call melodic decorations in music?

Colour Additions Ornaments

7/10

Q8.What is this ornament and how do you play it?

A mordent - you play the note above or below very quickly A trill - you alternate between two notes very quickly A grace note, you play it very quickly before another note

8/10

Q9.What is a phrase?

The number of beats in a bar A melody A musical sentence

9/10

Q10.What is the correct word for getting louder?

Crescendo Diminuendo Staccato

10/10

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This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Quiz:

How does a bass line 'ground' the music?

Don’t worry if you get a question wrong! Forgetting is an important step in learning. We will recap next lesson.

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Q1.What does melody mean?

The main idea or ideas in a piece of music The lowest part The highest part

1/10

Q2.What does accompaniment mean?

The main melody in a piece of music The parts that go with the melody e.g. bass line and chords A melody in the bass line

2/10

Q3.What is a ground bass?

A bass viol and harpsichord A bass line that repeats over and over again A melody that repeats over and over again

3/10

Q4.How long are the notes in the ground bass in Pachelbel's canon?

½ beat - quavers 1 beat - crotchets 2 beats - minim

4/10

Q5.What is the basso continuo?

The chords and melody in Baroque music The ground bass and melody in Baroque music The ground bass and chords in Baroque music

5/10

Q6.Who plays the basso continuo?

Harpsichord and violin Harpsichord and cello/bass viol Violin and cello/bass viol

6/10

Q7.What part of the basso continuo does the cello/bass viol play?

Chords Ground bass Melody

7/10

Q8.What is the bass clef used for?

Low pitches below middle C High pitches above middle C Notes in the middle of the piano

8/10

Q9.What are the notes in the spaces in the bass clef?

FACE ACEG GBDFA

9/10

Q10.What are the notes on the lines in the bass clef?

EGBDF ACEG GBDFA

10/10

This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Quiz:

How does a bass line 'ground' the music?

Don’t worry if you get a question wrong! Forgetting is an important step in learning. We will recap next lesson.

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Q1.What does melody mean?

The main idea or ideas in a piece of music The lowest part The highest part

1/10

Q2.What does accompaniment mean?

The main melody in a piece of music The parts that go with the melody e.g. bass line and chords A melody in the bass line

2/10

Q3.What is a ground bass?

A bass viol and harpsichord A bass line that repeats over and over again A melody that repeats over and over again

3/10

Q4.How long are the notes in the ground bass in Pachelbel's canon?

½ beat - quavers 1 beat - crotchets 2 beats - minim

4/10

Q5.What is the basso continuo?

The chords and melody in Baroque music The ground bass and melody in Baroque music The ground bass and chords in Baroque music

5/10

Q6.Who plays the basso continuo?

Harpsichord and violin Harpsichord and cello/bass viol Violin and cello/bass viol

6/10

Q7.What part of the basso continuo does the cello/bass viol play?

Chords Ground bass Melody

7/10

Q8.What is the bass clef used for?

Low pitches below middle C High pitches above middle C Notes in the middle of the piano

8/10

Q9.What are the notes in the spaces in the bass clef?

FACE ACEG GBDFA

9/10

Q10.What are the notes on the lines in the bass clef?

EGBDF ACEG GBDFA

10/10

Lesson summary: Exploring Baroque ground basses and understanding bass clef notation

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The next lesson in The Beauty of the Baroque is "Exploring the relationship between a bassline and chords"

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