Basso continuo facts for kids
Basso continuo (say: BAH-so kon-TIN-yoo-oh) is a special way of playing music that was very popular during the Baroque period. This time in music history lasted from about 1600 to 1750. The words "basso continuo" are Italian and mean "continuous bass."
This musical style provided the main support or "backbone" for many Baroque pieces. It was like the rhythm section in a modern band. It made sure the music had a strong foundation and the right harmonies.
Basso continuo was usually played by at least two different instruments. One instrument would play the bass line, which is the lowest part of the music. This could be a cello, a violone (an old type of bass instrument), or a bassoon.
The other instrument would play chords. This was often a harpsichord, which is a keyboard instrument that looks a bit like a piano but sounds different. Sometimes, a small organ was used instead. A plucked string instrument, like a lute, could also play the chords.
Composers usually did not write out every single note for the chord-playing instrument. Instead, they wrote the bass line and then put numbers underneath it. These numbers were like a secret code or "shorthand" that told the player which chords to play. This system is called figured bass.
What is Figured Bass?
Figured bass was a clever way for composers to save time. Imagine writing out every single note for every chord in a long piece of music! Instead, they just wrote the bass note and small numbers below it.
These numbers told the player how far above the bass note the other notes of the chord should be. For example, a "6" might mean to play a note six steps above the bass note. If there were no numbers, the player knew to play a standard three-note chord, called a triad.
This system gave the player some freedom. They could choose how to play the chords, as long as they followed the numbers. This meant that the music could sound a little different each time it was played, depending on the musician.
Why was Basso Continuo Important?
Basso continuo was very important in Baroque music for several reasons:
- It provided a strong harmonic foundation, making the music sound full and rich.
- It helped keep the rhythm steady.
- It allowed composers to write music more quickly, as they didn't have to write out every note.
- It gave musicians a chance to be creative and add their own style to the chords.
Many famous Baroque composers, like Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, and Antonio Vivaldi, used basso continuo in their works. It was a key part of the sound of their music.
Images for kids
-
A harpsichordist and a bassist play continuo for a small group of singers.
-
See also
