Cover of Barbara Strozzi (Text in Large print for classroom projection) Intro to Baroque Music Composers: Handel, Purcell, Corelli, Vivaldi, Monteverdi Three periods of Baroque Early period Italian composers created the form of opera. Essentially opera involves a dramatic play entirely sung. It can be sung in a variety of languages. Often operas had lavish sets and costumes. Review this version of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas : http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=23802943 And review this version of Monteverdi's Orfeo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb2TURdBeEQ Early Baroque Composers wrote more in homophonic style than polyphonic style of the Renaissance. However, the later Baroque found a return to strong polyphony. Early Baroque composers used homophony to help the audience better understand the text spoken. Early Baroque Characteristics Homophonic More dissonance Contrast Importance of text Monteverdi Monteverdi enjoyed financial support for...