(Part 1) Unit 2: The Well-Tempered Clavier

Question 1

Define:

Tierce de Picardie

Answer 1

A common mannerism in the Baroque era that concluded a work written in a minor key with a tonic triad containing a raised third

Question 2

List the following for The Well Tempered Clavier, Book 1:

Genre and composition date

Answer 2

Solo keyboard music

Book 1: 1722, Book 2: 1742

Question 3

In “The Well-Tempered Clavier”, what does “well-termpered” mean?

Answer 3

Refers to the (then) newly invented tuning system for keyboard instruments that allowed for pieces to be written in any key

Question 4

In “The Well-Tempered Clavier”, what does “clavier” mean?

Answer 4

German word for any keyboard instrument other than organ

Question 5

List the structure of the two books of “The Well-Tempered Clavier” (2)

Answer 5

2 books, each containing 24 preludes and fugues organized in pairs of parallel major and minor keys
Each book starts with preludes and fugues in C major/minor, going up by chromatically by half step, ending with B major/minor

Question 6

List the key, form, tempo, meter, and texture of Prelude and Fugue in B flat major, BMV 866

Answer 6

B flat major
Incorporates aspects of binary form
No specific indication on score (style implies quick tempo, in the manner of toccata)
4/4 time
Homophonic and polyphonic

Question 7

Define:

Toccata

Answer 7

A very fast keyboard work demonstrating a virtuosic, improvisatory character

Question 8

In Bach’s Prelude in B flat Major, BMV 866:

In measures 1-2, ______-chord passages played in breathless ______-______ notes and treated ____________

Answer 8

Broken
Thirty-second
Sequentially

Question 9

In Bach’s Prelude in B flat Major, BMV 866:

What key does measures 1-2 end on?

Answer 9

F major (dominant key)

Question 10

True or False:

After ending on F major, measures 1-2 proceeds immediately to the next section

Answer 10

True

Question 11

What section is measures 1-2 in Prelude in B flat Major, BMV 866?

Answer 11

Section A

Question 12

In Bach’s Prelude in B flat Major, BMV 866:
In measures 11-13, it continues the _______-like style with rapid _______-like runs that emerge from arpeggiated _______ chords

Answer 12

Toccata
Cadenza
Seventh

Question 13

In Bach’s Prelude in B flat Major, BMV 866:

Does Section B require virtuosity throughout?

Answer 13

Yes

Question 14

What section is measures 11-13 in Prelude in B flat Major BMV 866?

Answer 14

Section B

Question 15

In Bach’s Prelude in B flat Major, BMV 866:

Section B’s _____________ style contrasts with the __________ order demonstrated in the _____ that follows

Answer 15

Improvisatory
Controlled
Fugue

Question 16

List the key, tempo, meter, texture, number of voices, and type of answer in the Fugue of the Prelude in B flat Major, BMV 866

Answer 16

B flat major
Moderately fast (Bach gave no tempo indications anywhere in the score)
3/4 time
Polyphonic texture
3 voices
Tonal answer

Question 17

In the Fugue of the Prelude in B flat Major, BMV 866:

How many countersubjects are presented simultaneously through the fugue?

Answer 17

Two

Question 18

In the Fugue of the Prelude in B flat Major, BMV 866:

What is the purpose of the two countersubjects?

Answer 18

Act as accompanying figures to the statements of the subject or answer

Question 19

In the Fugue of the Prelude in B flat Major, BMV 866:

In measures 1-5, _______ in _ ____ _____ is presented in the ___ voice

Answer 19

Subject
B flat Major
Top

Question 20

True or False:

The subject in B flat major presented by the top voice in the Fugue is unusually long

Answer 20

True

Question 21

In the Fugue of the Prelude in B flat Major, BMV 866:

How motives does the subject consist of? What are they?

Answer 21

Comprises two motives
First is mostly disjunct outlining the tonic-dominant seventh harmony
Second is conjunct, outlining the same harmonies

Question 22

In the Fugue of the Prelude in B flat Major, BMV 866:

In measures 5-8, _____ _______ in ______ voice (_ _____)

Answer 22

Tonal answer
Middle
F major

Question 23

In the Fugue of the Prelude in B flat Major, BMV 866:

In measures 5-8, what is in the top voice?

Answer 23

Countersubject 1

Question 24

In the Fugue of the Prelude in B flat Major, BMV 866:
In measures 9-13, subject is in ____ voice, countersubject 1 is in the ______ voice, countersubject 2 is in the ___ voice

Answer 24

Bass
Middle
Top

Question 25

True or False:

In measures 9-13, there is a redundant entry of the tonal answer in the middle voice in m. 12

Answer 25

False, there is a redundant entry of the tonal answer in the upper voice in m. 13

Question 26

List the events that take place in the middle section of the Fugue of the Prelude in B flat Major, BMV 866 (4)

Answer 26

First episode leads to G minor
The subject appears in G minor followed by a tonal answer in C minor
The second episode leads to E flat major
A partial (two-measure) entry of the tonal answer in m. 35 is interrupted by a complete entry in E flat major in m. 37

Question 27

What is the complete entry in E flat major in m. 37 of the Fugue known as?

Answer 27

False stretto

Question 28

List the events that take place in final section of the Fugue of the Prelude in B flat Major, BMV 866 (2)

Answer 28

Concludes with a tonal answer reaffirming the home key of B flat major
Final four measures act as a coda bringing the fugue to a strong close