What characteristic marked the baroque era as a turning point in western music?

Answer 1

The Baroque era marked a turning point in Western music due to its emphasis on expressive, elaborate, and dramatic compositions. It was characterized by the use of ornamentation, contrasting textures and volumes, and the invention of new forms of music such as opera, cantatas, and oratorio. Additionally, it saw the development of functional harmony and the expansion of instrumental music, including the concerto, sonata, and suite. Composers like Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, and Antonio Vivaldi contributed to this period's development, which ultimately laid the foundation for the Classical and Romantic eras in music that followed.