Baroque Terms

Continuo: This is the practise of Creating an accompaniment from a composed Bass part whilst then Improvising a harmony above them.The part played by a harpsichord. Bass and chord part.
Figured bass:This link is to a page that explains the figured bass really well!
 Concerto grosso: Grosso is the smaller group of instruments within the orchestra. For example in this video we see the two violinists and a cellist. They play a different part in the piece of music, but it still intertwines. 

Oratorio:An oratorio is like an opera - but less. There is singing and a storyline but not much else. No staging and no costuming.


How to tell an opera from an oratorio:

• Oratorios have sacred text - stories based on the religious books.
  "Oratorio" literally means "hall for prayer".
• Oratorios have more work for the chorus than operas.
  The chorus is the people who aren't a character and all sing together.
• Oratorios have a lot of recitative.
  Recitative is the part of operas that most people make fun of. Its where a person will sing-talk lines, usually on one note, and usually pretty rapidly. Its used to get text to the audience. 

 String quartet: A string quartet is the group of instruments that include : First and second violin, viola and cello. There is NO DOUBLE BASS!