Top 10 Baroque composers

According to the The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. the term baroque music refers to a style of Western music composed from 1600 to 1750, just after the Renaissance and before the Classic era. This period is known for several milestones: the concept of “basso continuo” (basically a harmonic improvisation of chords on lute or harpsichords based on a figured bass which was played with an instrument such as viola da gamba or cello) was created. Instrumental and improvisational virtuosity became a basic requirement for musicians, and the pieces became more complex and dense, with multiple independent melody lines performed simultaneously in the same instrument. Last but not least, this period saw the creation of tonality, a musical system that arranges pitches and chords to create a hierarchy of perceived relations, stabilities, tensions and attractions, something that is still in use in most western pop music.

As this period spans for about 150 years, lots of composers should be mentioned, but there are 10 that you should definitely listen to at least once:

1. Johann Sebastian Bach 
   

Living in the last part of the Baroque period, Bach was probably the most important composer of this era. This keyboard virtuoso and a prolific composer wrote mostly religious pieces during his stay in Leipzig. Many of his pieces were lost, but many survived to our times. Among the most important compositions of this German genius we can mention Brandenburg Concertos, the Goldberg Variations, the Mass in B minor, St. Matthew's Passion, and his 209 cantatas.

2. Antonio Vivaldi
   

This virtuoso violinist, teacher, opera impresario and cleric was born in Venice. He is recognized as one of the most important Baroque composers, having written more than forty operas, concertos for several solo instruments and orchestra and a big number of sacred choral works. His most renowned piece is the series of violin concertos called The Four Seasons. Among his famous operas we can mention La costanza Trionfante and Farnace 

3. George Frideric Handel 
   

Born in Germany, but becoming a naturalised British subject, and living most of his working life in London, Handel is known for his operas, anthems, oratorios and organ concertos. Handel's composed 42 operas, about 120 cantatas, 29 oratorios trios and duets, arias, chamber music, ecumenical pieces, odes and serenatas, and 16 organ concerti. His best known pieces are Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks and Messiah.

4. Alessandro Scarlatti
   

Scarlatti was born in Palermo, Italy. He was a especially famous for his operas and chamber cantatas. He is sometimes considered the founder of the Neapolitan school of opera. He is also known for his chamber cantatas.It is also said that he was one of the first composers to use horns in the orchestra. Some of his greatest work are Mitridate Eupatore and St. Cecilia Mass.

5. Johann Pachelbel
   

This German composer and organist became famous primarily for his organ music. He is also known for contributing to the development of the chorale prelude and fugue. His Canon in D has become very popular as a church song, specially in weddings. Other pieces worth mentioning are his Ciaconas, the Ricercares, and the Magnificat fugues.

6. George Philipp Telemann
   

Telemann was a German autodidact composer and multi-instrumentalist who became musician against his family’s wishes. With more than 3,000 compositions (of which about the half was unfortunately lost), he is one of the most prolific composers in history.Viola Concerto, Trio and Sonata for Viola da Gamba are some of his most important pieces.

7. Henry Purcell
   

Being considered one of the most important English composers of all times, Purcell wrote operas (even the first opera in English), incidental music, suites, sonatas, other chamber music and over 100 songs. His most popular piece is probably the opera Dido and Aeneas.

8. Jean-Philippe Rameau
   

This French composer is known for his harpsichord pieces, such as Gavotte and Variations and his operas, especially Hippolyte et Aricie, Pigmalion, and Dardanu. He was not only a composer, but also a music theorist, and wrote several books about music, of which Traité de l'harmonie (Treatise on Harmony) is the most important.

9. Girolamo Frescobaldi
   

Born in Ferrara, Italy, this musician is considered as one of the most important composers of keyboard music of the late Renaissance and early Baroque. His work influenced later composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach and Henry Purcell. Also, his famous collection of church organ music Fiori Musicali was used as models of counterpoint until 20th century. Other famous pieces by the composer are Toccate e partite d'intavolatura.

10. Claudio Monteverdi
    

Considered a transitional figure between the Renaissance and the Baroque periods because of his madrigal tradition mixed with the development of the melody and the use of the basso continuo technique, this Cremonesi composer wrote over 300 pieces. He is known for writing one of the earliest operas: L’Orfeo. Based on the Greek legend of Orpheus, this piece is the oldest surviving opera still regularly performed.