The Baroque Period in music history is generally conceded to have begun circa the year 1600. Music by composers of this era contributed to the development of clearly defined types of music, such as the suite, the sonata, pieces based on a theme followed by a set of variations, early opera, the concerto, cantata, and oratorio. Some of the characteristics of Baroque music in general are: contrapuntal style, ornamentation, four measure phrases, contrasting effects and dominant to tonic chord structure. Most of the music in this book was originally written for the harpsichord by some of the greatest composers of the time. Bach, Handel, Telemann and Purcell, each of whom is represented, were four stalwart pillars of this glorious era which ended with the death of Bach and Handel.