Brandeburg GCSE-SET-WORK-KEY-INFO-SHEET

Area of Study 1 Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg
Instrumental Music 1700-1820

Concerto No. 5 in D major, 3rd movement
 The background to J S Bach and the Baroque style

What do we need to know in  What a concerto Grosso is and how the Basso continuo and fugal form function within
order to answer the exam this
questions?  How the piece is structured and what musical devices Bach uses
 Bach lived between 1685-1750

CONTEXT/
 This 3rd Mov. Of the 5th (6 in total) Concerto was composed between 1711-1721
COMPOSER
 Baroque composers were paid to compose – This is called patronage
 This is a concerto grosso. (A large concerto for more than one soloist.)
 The Concerto Grosso has two sets of players
- The small soloist group of players which is called the concertino
STYLE - The orchestra is called the ripieno which is strings and basso continuo played by Harpsichord.
 Having two sections allowed for antiphonal effects or dialogue between the sections
 Only one mood per movement (Gigue creates an upbeat mood in this movement)
STRUCTURE  Ternary Form AND Fugue are fused together.
 A Fugue would normally have 3 different sections rather than a repeated A section at the end
like this movement.
 In the A section the melody does not exceed an octave in range.

 In the opening fugal section, the main entry (subject) is played and then answer in 2 bar
intervals. The countersubject is often heard underneath.
MELODY  When the entries overlap this is called stretto (bar 65) which adds intensity.
 Look out for real answers (exact copy) and tonal answers (follow the basic shape).
 B starts with a variation of the subject on solo flute with quiet dynamics.
 Bach uses melodic devices such as sequences, suspensions and pedals
 Key of D Major (easy for strings to play in) opens and closes A section.
HARMONY/
 In bar 12, G#’s indicate a modulation to the dominant (A major) by bar 23 we have gone to
TONALITY
the dominant of the dominant E major. This is a secondary dominant.
 B section– B minor (relative minor)
 A sequence can be found in the bass rising scale - bars 137-141
 B section modulates through minor keys. (F#m-Bm- A- Em- Bm -F#m -Bm)
 Texture was used to vary to limited terraced dynamics
TEXTURE
 Predominantly contrapuntal and fugal texture. As each entry comes in the piece goes from
monophonic to contrapuntal very quickly.
 B section opens with a homophonic texture with the melody line played by the flute.
 Dialoguing occurs for the first time in bar 106-109
 Canon can be seen between solo flute and violin at bar 128
 Soloists are violin, flute and harpsichord
INSTRUMENTS/
VOCALS
 Harpsichord reads figured bass (an old school chord symbol)
 Harpsichord player was sometimes the conductor too.
 Allegro
RHYTHM/
METRE/TEMPO
 In 2/4 but as a gigue it has a dance feel (6/8 metre/compound time) seen in triplets.
 Dynamics were often left to the performer and were left out of the score. Generally the
DYNAMICS
number of parts playing made it either louder or quieter.
 Terraced Dynamics
Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg
Features & examples
Concerto No. 5 in D major, 3rd movement
Trill in bar 111
Ornamentation Acciaccatura in bar 90
Goes from monophonic to contrapuntal

Fugue quickly. Notice the subject/countersubject
Sequence bar 137 played by flute
Pedal at bar 90 played by cello
Tonic pedal 148 played by bass
Canon between hands of Harpsichord in bar

Musical devices 163
Two part counterpoint in the violin and flute

at bar 193
Stretto between parts can be seen at bar

220
Dialogue between parts in bar 106 and 107
-It provides some of the accompaniment

-Harpsichord realises Figured Bass.
The Harpsichord
The harpsichord player often doubled as First use of a major / minor key system
the conductor and sometimes a soloist
String instruments dominated Every movement had a prevailing mood

and wind instrument were still
rare
Introduction of contrasting musical textures
Use of diatonic chords I, II, IV, V & VI (monophonic, homophonic & polyphonic)

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Area of Study 1 Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg

Instrumental Music 1700-1820

 The background to J S Bach and the Baroque style

 Bach lived between 1685-1750

 In the A section the melody does not exceed an octave in range.

Trill in bar 111

Ornamentation Acciaccatura in bar 90

Goes from monophonic to contrapuntal

Pedal at bar 90 played by cello

Tonic pedal 148 played by bass

Canon between hands of Harpsichord in bar

Two part counterpoint in the violin and flute

Stretto between parts can be seen at bar

Dialogue between parts in bar 106 and 107

-It provides some of the accompaniment

String instruments dominated Every movement had a prevailing mood

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