Which event is linked to the end of the Baroque Era?

• A. The death of J.S. Bach
• B. The coronation of Louis XV
• C. The signing of the Treaty of Utrecht
• D. The birth of Beethoven

Answer: (A)

Periodization in music often uses a concrete marker that signals a shift in style. The end of the Baroque era is commonly linked to the death of Johann Sebastian Bach in 1750. Bach’s late-Baroque language—dense polyphony, elaborate ornaments, and intricate counterpoint—epitomizes Baroque texture and harmony. His passing coincides with composers beginning to move toward the lighter textures, clearer forms, and stylistic simplicity that define the early Classical period, so this event serves as a practical signal of the transition. The coronation of Louis XV happened well within the Baroque period, the Treaty of Utrecht is a political milestone from 1713, and Beethoven’s birth points to later Classical and Romantic developments, not the end of Baroque.