What's the use of polyphony in Baroque music?

[cuberdrift]

Seriously. I like Bach and all, but he's one of the composers that occasionally does bore me. I much prefer his works in the minor key - to me they sound elegant, melancholic, and intellectual at the same time.

However, I've never in particularly really fully understood why he, or other Baroque composers for that matter, were so obsessed with composing in multiple voices. What's the use other than decoration? How is it supposed to please the listener? Are they to be listened to in a purely analytic manner, or do they have some sort of symbolism or emotional significance? Or is it because the instruments at the time, particularly the lack of a piano, "forced" people to write in that style (I doubt so however)?

Thank you for reading and (hopefully) answering. 

[outin]

Before that time most music had been vocal so it was probably quite natural for the composers to still imitate and think in terms of the voices from singing with the keyboard as well. It was the convention of the time, not really an obsession of the composers...

Some composers did start to stray away from such writing already in the Baroque era. Scarlatti for example often treated the voices in a very unconventional way.

Your question is a bit like asking why rock bands have been so obsessed with the combination of a guitar, drums, bass and a vocalist  

[nivyehuda]

Polyphony is to be regarded as a challenge to the listener's ear as much as it is to his brain.
different voices, imitating each other in response and putting contrast to the thematic material presented before, attract the listener's attention intermittently, much like a multi-talk conversation.
You can also regard the voices as different "projections" of similar melody, mirroring each other.
The polyphonic style is relatively "heavy" though, and this is a factor that doesn't make everyone enjoy it.

[j_menz]

You seem to be assuming that polyphony died out with the Baroque. It didn't, and polyphony (if not counterpoint) continues to this day to be a feature of lots of music.

[mjames]

Counterpoint and polyphony is so *** cool to play and listen to. That's the best I can do, I'll leave  the well thought answers to other members.

[iansinclair]

To perform polyphonic music -- Baroque or earlier, or modern -- takes some real skill.  It is not, perhaps, as obvious in keyboard works, but in vocal (particularly) or instrumental works, the voices must be equal and strong -- not soloists, no, because polyphony isn't about a solo line with support -- but of soloist skill and ability, and yet able to blend seamlessly.

And polyphonic music takes real listening and thought on the part of the listener, as well -- he or she is not a passive receptor, but a real participant.

For real joy, listen carefully to polyphonic music and really think about the weaving of the lines; sometimes together, sometimes going each their own way, but at the end arriving at peaceful -- or triumphant! -- cadence.  Fugues are a wonderful place to start, as they are usually at least reasonably simple in terms of themes.  I've mentioned it before here, but I'll mention it again (and yes, I do love it dearly!) -- try the great Fugue in E flat, BWV 552, sometimes called Ste. Anne. 

[classicalnhiphop]

Seriously. I like Bach and all, but he's one of the composers that occasionally does bore me. I much prefer his works in the minor key - to me they sound elegant, melancholic, and intellectual at the same time.

have you heard the brandenburg concerti? some of the greatest instrumental stuff I've ever heard
ALL 6 in major keys btw 

[coda_colossale]

Doctrine of Affections shall have an answer, though not very technical as you might expect.