Brandenburg Concertos

Question 1

Melody

Answer 1

The subject is played by the main violin, played throughout the piece, as well as the counter subject

The answer is played by the flute

Ternary form and there are two forms: fugato and ritornello, which alternate

Ascending sequences are used to drive towards the climax - 137,138

The music is overall conjuct, sequential and scalic - 117-123

Question 2

Rhythm, Metre & Tempo

Answer 2

The time signature is 2/4 metre

The tempo is allegro which creates a happy mood - Affekt

Triplets are used to mimic a 6/8 time, which creates a gigue-like feel - 45,66,72

Dotted rhythms are also used - 63,75,99

Question 3

Instrumentation

Answer 3

The soloists known as concertino include the flute, main violin and harpsichord

Ripieno is the accompaniment and includes the viola, cello and accompanying violin

The harpsichord plays virtuosically to present its unique sound and talent -15,16,25,27

Trills are often used to decorate the melody like how the buildings were often embellished in the baroque era

There is a lot of passage work, fortspinnung - 45-48, 117-123

Question 4

Texture

Answer 4

The piece starts off monophonic, switching to contrapuntal

There is use of stretto, imitation, canon and suspension to demonstrate the relationships amongst the instruments

The texture is MDH allowing the melody to be accentuated - 79-85

Texture is polyphonic, to thicken texture - 66-68, 145-149

Question 5

Harmony & Tonality

Answer 5

The key of this piece is D major and it switches to E major, the secondary dominant - 4

The key modulates from D-A-E-A-D THROUGHOUT

Baroque chords are presented in the figured bass

A perfect cadence is used to conclude - bar 77

Functional tonality - bar 123

Sustained notes, harmonic sequences are used and rapidly modulating through a cycle of 5ths used too