Basso Continuo

Basso Continuo

A Basso Continuo is a common feature in Baroque music.
This features heavily in Baroque Music
It is normally played by cello along with a chordal instrument
The chordal instrument will be either:

• Harpsichord
• Organ
• Lute

Recitative Secco (in the Baroque era) will be accompanied by Basso Continuo.

As a general rule, when you are listening to Baroque music (vocal or instrumental music) and you can hear a Harpsichord or an Organ, it will be playing a Basso Continuo.

Often the harpsichord player would act as the "conductor" in the Baroque era and so it was important that they played continuously throughout the piece so the other players didn't lose the pulse.

A Basso Continuo will be present in Baroque recitatives, arias, da capo arias, concerti grossi and indeed any other instrumental compositions from the Baroque era.

This video is from a Concerto Grosso by JS Bach. Can you see the basso continuo being played throughout?

Do you also see how all the players are centred around the harpsichordist- but there is no conductor waving a baton? Can you appreciate then why the basso continuo was important to the performers of the baroque period?

When you listen to music from the baroque era please make an effort to listen out for the basso continuo. Remember it is a key feature of the musical period, and features heavily in just about every piece of music from the time.