What time period does Baroque music cover?

Baroque music is defined by a specific time frame that spans from 1600 to 1750. This period is characterized by the emergence of complex musical forms and styles, including opera, concerto, and sonata, alongside significant advances in instrumental playing techniques and the use of harmony. During this era, composers like Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, and Antonio Vivaldi made significant contributions, influencing the development of Western classical music.

The choice of this time frame highlights a distinct era that focuses on the ornamental, expressive qualities of music, contrasting with the Medieval period before it and setting the stage for the Classical period that follows. The other options refer to periods either prior to the Baroque or after it, thus not aligning with the activities and innovations that defined Baroque music specifically.