Bach Flashcards
(28 cards)
Melody
- conjunct
- scalic runs
- ornaments in harpsichord part
Tonality
- A section in D major and brief sections in A major
- B section modulates to B minor and A major
- Diatonic
Harmony
- functional
- perfect cadences at the ends of sections
- standard chords
- some dominant sevenths
- some suspensions
Tempo, metre and rhythm
- 2/4 but could also be 6/8
- triplets and dotted rhythms
- many SQ runs in harpsichord part
Texture
- polyphonic
- starts in fugal style (fugato)
- two-part imitation in flute and violin at start
- harpsichord plays in two-part counterpoint
- four-part counterpoint when both hands play
- flute and violin play in thirds occasionally, harpsichord does this as well
- when ripieno plays, violin and flute sometimes play in unison
- B theme has tonic pedal on B
What is the structure of the movement?
ternary, ABA
B section
- first theme in B minor in flute
- second theme in A major in ripieno
- ends with perfect cadence in B minor
When were the six Brandenburg Concertos written?
1711-20
Where and when was Bach working at the time of the Brandenburg Concertos?
in Köthen, as ‘Kapellmeister’ (court music director) between 1717-23
Bach’s work at the time of the Brandenburg Concertos
- secular (non-religious)
- Well-Tempered Clavier
- 6 suites for solo cello
- 6 partitas and sonatas for solo violin
Who was Bach employed by at the time of the Brandenburg Concertos?
Prince Leopold
Identify one feature that is typical of a final movement of a concerto grosso by J S Bach.
- fast tempo / allegro
- gigue / dance
- fugal
Describe the rhythm of the harpsichord solo in the B section. (2)
- triplets
- dotted rhythms
- constant quavers
Describe the texture of the harpsichord solo in the B section.
- two part
- imitation
- polyphonic / contrapuntal
- canon
- starts monophonic
Describe the music played by the harpsichord at the start of the A section where only the concertino plays. (5)
- (fugal) subject
- (fugal) answer
- semiquavers/sextuplets
- triplets
- dotted (rhythms/notes)
- scales/scalic/conjunct
- trills
- two parts
Name the harmonic device at the end of the A section.
perfect cadence
Describe features of texture that are characteristic of Baroque orchestral music.
- inverted pedal
- fugal
- imitation
- ripieno/concertino
- counterpoint / contrapuntal / polyphonic
Describe the melody played by the harpsichord before the ripieno enters in the A sections.
- ornaments / trills
- subject
- answer
- diatonic
- starts with leap of 4th / leap of 5th
- then stepwise / scalic / conjunct
What is the texture when the ripieno enter in the A sections?
polyphonic / contrapuntal
Identify features of harmony that are characteristic of the Baroque period.
- functional
- (mainly) primary chords
- pedal
- perfect cadences
- root and first inversions
- suspensions
- sequences
Describe the texture in the harpsichord solo of the B section.
- two part
- imitation
- polyphonic
- starts monophonic
Describe the music by the other instruments after the harpsichord solo in the B section.
- antiphonal / response
- detached
- dotted / triplets
- (mainly) descending
- homophonic / homorhythmic
- sequence / circle of fifths
- rests
- subject / main theme
- subject fragmented
- leaps / 4th
- some unison
Describe the harmonic device used at the end of the B section.
perfect cadence
Identify three features of the instrumentation which are characteristic of a Baroque concerto grosso.
- concertino
- ripieno
- harpsichord
- (basso) continuo
