Brandenburg

Question 1

In which musical era was Brandenburg Concerto composed?

Answer 1

Baroque

Question 2

What is figured bass?

Answer 2

A system of numbers telling the keyboard player what type of chord to play

Question 3

What is a basso continuo?

Answer 3

A group of instruments which provide the bass and chords. Cello, double bass and left hand harpsichord

Question 4

Which instrument plays the basso continuo in Brandenburg Concerto?

Answer 4

Harpsichord and low strings (double bass and cello)

Question 5

What does virtuosic mean?

Answer 5

Very difficult, with great technique. e.g. the harpsichord plays a virtuosic passage on the right hand.

Question 6

What is terraced dynamics?

Answer 6

no dynamics were written into the music. only soft/piano and loud/forte and no cresendos or diminuendos

Question 7

What is the ripieno?

Answer 7

String orchestra (violin, viola, cello, double bass and harpsichord)

Question 8

What is the concertino?

Answer 8

the group of soloists (flute, violin and harpsichord)

Question 9

What type of music is Brandenburg Concerto?

Answer 9

Concerto Grosso - three soloists with an small strings orchestra.

Question 10

How is the Baroque flute different to a modern flute?

Answer 10

Made of wood

Question 11

What is the structure of the Brandenburg Concerto?

Answer 11

Ternary form ABA

Question 12

What is the key of the first section of the Brandenburg Concerto?

Answer 12

D major

Question 13

What is the key at the opening of the middle section of the Brandenburg Concerto?

Answer 13

B minor - relative minor

Question 14

What is the overall texture of the Brandenburg Concerto?

Answer 14

Polyphonic / contrapuntal

Question 15

What is the texture of the A section in Brandenburg Concerto?

Answer 15

Fugal, it is a fugue.

Question 16

What is a fugal texture?

Answer 16

A Baroque texture where the melody is passed across different instruments and layered with countermelodies

Question 17

What is imitation?

Answer 17

The melody is passed between different instruments.

Question 18

What is dialogue?

Answer 18

When two layers of instruments take turn to play, creating a dialogue.

Question 19

Which harmonic device is heard in the middle section?

Answer 19

Tonic pedal

Question 20

How could most of the melodic material in Brandenburg Concerto be described?

Answer 20

Conjunct, scalic (scale-like)

Question 21

What is a sequence?

Answer 21

A melodic device that a musical pattern is repeated up or down in pitch

Question 22

How could the overall harmony of the Brandenburg Concerto be described?

Answer 22

Functional, diatonic (it means only using I,IV, V chords - very basic)

Question 23

Which cadence is used at the end of sections in Brandenburg Concerto?

Answer 23

Perfect (V - I)

Question 24

What type of harmonic dissonance is used occasional in Brandenburg Concerto?

Answer 24

Suspension

Question 25

What is the metre of the Brandenburg Concerto?

Answer 25

Duple (2/4)

Question 26

What is the tempo of this set work?

Answer 26

fast

Question 27

What is the dance type of this set work?

Answer 27

Gigue dance (upbeat, fast dance)

Question 28

In B section, what tonality does the music modulate to?

Answer 28

minor key, B minor (relative minor)

Question 29

Compare the melody of B to A section subject.

Answer 29

Becomes more lyrical and it is in longer phrase. Still uses triplet and dotted rhythm.

Question 30

What is the texture of B section?

Answer 30

Homophonic texture.

Question 31

What are the four important elements to form a fugue structure?

Answer 31

it needs to have a subject, counter-subject, development and responded by an answer.

Question 32

What is stretto?

Answer 32

A device when the subject/answer enters faster/earlier than before, creates a sense of urgency and excitement.