In baroque music, ornaments were

Used with great frequency often noted in the same score all the above often improvised by the musicians

1 answer

In Baroque music, ornaments were indeed used with great frequency and were an essential aspect of performance practice. Musicians often wrote ornaments directly in the score, or they may have been expected to improvise ornaments based on the stylistic conventions of the time. This improvisational element allowed performers to personalize their interpretations and add expressiveness to the music.

To elaborate:

  1. Used with great frequency: Ornaments such as trills, mordents, turns, and appoggiaturas were commonly employed to embellish melodies and add interest.

  2. Noted in the same score: Composers sometimes indicated specific ornaments in the sheet music, guiding performers on how to embellish a given passage.

  3. Improvised by the musicians: It was customary for performers, especially instrumentalists and vocalists, to improvise additional ornaments, showcasing their skill and individual style.

In summary, ornaments played a vital role in Baroque music, serving both as a means of embellishment and as a form of personal expression by the performer.