The works of Antonio Vivaldi, George Frideric Handel and Johann Sebastian Bach are considered the pinnacle of the Baroque period. The term ' baroque' comes from the Portuguese word barroco, meaning ' misshapen pearl'. Baroque music forms a major portion of the ' classical music' canon, and is widely studied, performed, and listened to. Overlapping in time, they are conventionally dated from 1580 to 1650, from 1630 to 1700, and from 1680 to 1750.
The Baroque period is divided into three major phases: early, middle, and late.
The Baroque style followed the Renaissance period, and was followed in turn by the Classical period after a short transition (the galant style).
Baroque music ( UK: / b ə ˈ r ɒ k/ or US: / b ə ˈ r oʊ k/) refers to the period or dominant style of Western classical music composed from about 1600 to 1750.
