How does a bass line 'ground' the music?

How does a bass line 'ground' the music?

Lesson details

Key learning points

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

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10 Questions

Q1.
When was the Baroque Period?
1500-1600
Correct answer: 1600-1750
1700-1850
Q2.
What is the main texture of Pachelbel's Canon in D?
Correct answer: Contrapuntal
Homophonic
Monophonic
Q3.
What are the two sharps in the key of D major?
Correct answer: F# C#
F# D#
F# E#
Q4.
In a scale, what number note is the 'root' note?
Correct answer: 1
3
5
Q5.
Which instrument would we find in the Baroque period?
Clarinet
Correct answer: Harpsichord
Piano
Q6.
What is a canon?
Playing in counterpoint
When a person sings or plays a different part, but comes in later
Correct answer: When a person sings or plays exactly the same part, but comes in later
Q7.
What do we call melodic decorations in music?
Additions
Colour
Correct answer: Ornaments
Q8.
What is this ornament and how do you play it?
A grace note, you play it very quickly before another note
Correct answer: A mordent - you play the note above or below very quickly
A trill - you alternate between two notes very quickly
Q9.
What is a phrase?
A melody
Correct answer: A musical sentence
The number of beats in a bar
Q10.
What is the correct word for getting louder?
Correct answer: Crescendo
Diminuendo
Staccato

10 Questions

Q1.
What does melody mean?
The highest part
The lowest part
Correct answer: The main idea or ideas in a piece of music
Q2.
What does accompaniment mean?
A melody in the bass line
The main melody in a piece of music
Correct answer: The parts that go with the melody e.g. bass line and chords
Q3.
What is a ground bass?
Correct answer: A bass line that repeats over and over again
A bass viol and harpsichord
A melody that repeats over and over again
Q4.
How long are the notes in the ground bass in Pachelbel's canon?
1 beat - crotchets
½ beat - quavers
Correct answer: 2 beats - minim
Q5.
What is the basso continuo?
The chords and melody in Baroque music
Correct answer: The ground bass and chords in Baroque music
The ground bass and melody in Baroque music
Q6.
Who plays the basso continuo?
Correct answer: Harpsichord and cello/bass viol
Harpsichord and violin
Violin and cello/bass viol
Q7.
What part of the basso continuo does the cello/bass viol play?
Chords
Correct answer: Ground bass
Melody
Q8.
What is the bass clef used for?
High pitches above middle C
Correct answer: Low pitches below middle C
Notes in the middle of the piano
Q9.
What are the notes in the spaces in the bass clef?
Correct answer: ACEG
FACE
GBDFA
Q10.
What are the notes on the lines in the bass clef?
ACEG
EGBDF
Correct answer: GBDFA

Lesson appears in

UnitMusic / The Beauty of the Baroque