Understanding Rococo Art and Music
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ScribdTranslationsUnderstanding Rococo Art and Music
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ScribdTranslationsPERDIORO ROCOCO
Context
El rococó es un estilo artístico que surgió en FranceIn the 18th century with the reign of Louis XV. It emerged
as a reaction to the classical baroque and at the same time gave rise to the culmination of the baroque.
More than a style, it was afashioncourtesan.
The word rococo, which is a composition of 'rocaille' (stone) and 'coquille' (seashell), put
that in the early designs of the new style, irregular shapes inspired by sea rocks appeared,
algae and shells.
Predominates thenaturethemythologythe beauty of naked bodies.
It reflects what is pleasant, refined, exotic, and sensual.
Between 1730 and 1745 it became established as aartaristocratic and refined, is characterized by opulence,
the elegance and for theemploymentofcolorslively ones, which contrast with the pessimism and darkness of the
baroque.
It was a style that was directed towards individuals within that society and not towards their monarchs or gods.
If itBaroquewas at the service of absolute power, the Rococo is at the service of thearistocracyy
[Link] artist begins to work with more freedom and the art market expands. The rococo becomes
presents itself as an art serving comfort, luxury, and celebration.
It spreads to other countries such as:
Germany
Australia
Music
The Rococo in the history of musiche was also called "Thegallant style”This genre is situated
between thebaroque musicand theclassical music.
Themusicrococo develops inEuropein much of the 18th century. Its origins can be found in
the aristocratic environment particularly in France. It is considered as an intimate music. The greatest
part of this music was composed for the entertainment of the court and the nobility and had their favorite forms
the divertimento (light music in the form of a suite) and the serenade.
A little later, the expressive style emerged and was mainly associated with German composers.
this style is often and literally referred to as the sensitive or sentient style. This encompasses a field
broader in emotional contrasts than the gallant style, which tended to be elegant or pleasant. The
German composers generally wrote longer works than the French.
Like all courtly art, musical rococo had its sources and foundations in the decorative and not
It aimed to disturb the audience with exciting descriptions of moods or with drama.
passionate.
The instrument that best represents the rococo is the harpsichord.
It is a musical instrument withkeyboardand plucked strings, such as the harp and the guitar.
Main representatives
In France, this new movement is represented by the composer Francois Couperin.
Among the leading exponents of this movement, we can mentionJean Philippe RameauyCarl Philipp
Emanuel Bach, Johann Christian BachyGeorg Philipp Telemann.
The end of the Rococo begins around 1760, when figures like Voltaire and Jacques-François
BlondelThey extend the criticism on the superficiality and degeneration of art.
In1780eRococo falls out of fashion in France and is replaced by the order and seriousness of
styleNeoclassicaldriven byJacques-Louis David.
However, it remained popular outside the major capitals and in Italy until the second phase of
Neoclassical, when the so-calledEmpire styleit is enforced thanks to the government's pushNapoleonic.