Basso continuo

Basso continuo parts, almost universal in the Baroque era (1600–1750), provided the harmonic structure of the music by supplying a bassline and a chord progression.

At least one instrument capable of playing chords must be included, such as a harpsichord, organ, lute, theorbo, guitar, regal, or harp.

In larger orchestral works, typically performers match the instrument families used in the full ensemble: including bassoon when the work includes oboes or other woodwinds, but restricting it to cello or double bass if only strings are involved; although occasionally individual movements of suites deviate from this at the musical director's discretion (e.g. bassoon without oboes).

Modern editions of such music usually supply a realized keyboard part, fully written out in staff notation for a player, in place of improvisation.

The phrase tasto solo indicates that only the bass line (without any upper chords) is to be played for a short period, usually until the next figure is encountered.