Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How did vocal-instrumental concertos use voices and instruments together?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
concerto
Caricature of Antonio Vivaldi, pen and ink on paper by Pier Leone Ghezzi, 1723; in the Codex Ottoboni, Vatican Library, Rome. The inscription below the drawing reads, âIl Prete rosso Compositore di Musica che fece L'opera a Capranica del 1723â (âThe red priest, composer of music who made the opera at Capranica [College in Rome] of 1723â).
The vocal-instrumental concerto, a genre prominent in the early Baroque era, utilized voices and instruments through the principle of contrast, often referred to as the concertato style. This approach relied on the interaction and alternation between heterogeneous groups of performers to create harmonious yet dynamic effects.12
Compositions generally fell into two categories that frequently overlapped:
- Multivoice concertos: These works employed multiple choirs, often contrasting high and low groups, accompanied by instruments such as the organ or an orchestra. This style emphasized massive, imposing sounds and antiphonal effects, where blocks of sound were alternated between different groups of singers and instrumentalists.123
- Few-voice concertos: These settings featured one or more solo voices supported by basso continuo. This format allowed for greater textual clarity and subjective intensity, often utilizing virtuosic vocal lines alongside obbligato instruments.13
By the late 17th century, these types fused, leading to works that combined the massive opposition of larger groups with the intimacy of soloists. This interplay between vocal and instrumental forces laid the foundation for the later German cantata.13