15 - Folder 4 - Late Baroque: Bach

Question 1

Most broadly, who was Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)?

Answer 1

a. The culmination of German Baroque traditions
i. In his day, his music was considered old-fashioned
ii. Though not a great stylistic innovator, Bach’s music is full of masterful, innovative, and imaginative features

Question 2

Describe Bach’s early Life (home town and family) and Career Posts (Jobs).

Answer 2

a. Born in Eisenach, Germany
b. From a large family of noted professional musicians
c. Series of jobs in German cities and towns determined the genres he concentrated on during various stages of his career

Question 3

What was he (Bach) doing in Arnstadt (1703–1707)? That mad man!

Answer 3

i. Church organist in a small town

ii. Composed functional organ music for church services

Question 4

What was Bach doing in Mülhausen (1707–1708)? Perhaps more of the same?

Answer 4

i. Church organist in a medium-sized town

ii. Composed functional organ music for church services

Question 5

Starting to try new things. What did Bach do in Weimar (1709–1714)?

Answer 5

i. Court organist and Konzertmeister (Music Director) to the Duke of Weimar
ii. Composed much important organ music during these years
iii. Also composed secular instrumental music, especially concerti, at Weimar
1. copied, arranged, and studied works by Vivaldi
2. mastered Italian instrumental styles and genres

Question 6

So, what was happening with Bach in Cöthen (1717–1723)?

Answer 6

i. Kapellmeister (Music Director) to the Prince
ii. Bach’s duties involved very little church music
iii. Composed primarily secular music at Cöthen:
1. Solo and Trio Sonatas
2. Concerti of various types
3. Suites, fugues, and other harpsichord music

Question 7

What was going on in Leipzig (1723–1750)?

Answer 7

i. Thomaskantor — Music Director at St. Thomas Cathedral
1. The main church in this important Lutheran city
ii. Along with St. Thomas, he supervised the music at three other churches in Leipzig
iii. Also Director of the Leipzig Collegium musicum, which performed concerti and chamber music

Question 8

What were Bach’s duties (Haha :D) in Leipzig? 4 points!

Answer 8

1. Compose, copy, rehearse, conduct, and perform church music throughout the year
2. Train students in singing and on instruments
3. Compose music for funerals, weddings, and other special events
4. Teach Latin and music to students at the Cathedral school

Question 9

(Bach’s Organ Music) Describe his preludes and fugues.

Answer 9

1. Continued the German tradition of contrapuntal keyboard music inherited from Buxtehude (see the Middle Baroque: Instrumental Music topic outline)
2. See the explanation of Preludes and Fugues under “Harpsichord Music” below

Question 10

(Bach’s Organ Music) Describe his Organ chorales! What is the Orgelbüchlein‽

Answer 10

1. Settings of Lutheran chorales (Protestant tunes from the Reformation)
2. Bach composed over 200 organ chorales
3. Orgelbüchlein (Little Organ Book) (c. 1714–1717) — a collection of organ chorales, based on the Lutheran liturgical calendar; composed at Weimar; never completed

Question 11

Name the four types of organ chorales!

Answer 11

a. Chorale Variations
i. A series of variations on the chorale melody
b. Chorale Fantasia
i. Free treatment of the chorale tune in a fantasia or toccata-like setting
c. Chorale fugue
i. Phrases of the chorale are treated as subjects in a series of fugue expositions
d. Chorale preludes
i. Intended to introduce the chorale before congregational singing (hence prelude)
ii. The chorale tune is incorporated into an elaborate musical texture—sometimes in a highly embellished version, and sometimes plain and unadorned

Question 12

Harpsichord Music! For Sir Bach, describe the suites (stylized dances)! How many suites did he write? Sets?

Answer 12

1. Bach composed three sets, each with six suites
2. Despite their names, the English Suites and French Suites incorporate a variety of German, French, and Italian style traits
   a. He uses the standard arrangement of dance movements in the German version of the suite (Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gigue), that had been established by Froberger
   b. But also shows the influence of the French lute suite, with the use of a Prelude at the beginning of each suite, and with the insertion of optional dances (like the Gavotte) between the Sarabande and final Gigue
   c. Melodies are often given Italianate embellishment, especially in the Preludes

Question 13

In Bach’s Harpsichord music, how are preludes and fugues composed?

Answer 13

Composed in pairs, in the same key!

Question 14

Describe, in depth, Bach’s preludes (in harpsichord music).

Answer 14

a. Free, improvisatory pieces that establish the key
b. Usually sectional in form, like the fantasias of Bach’s predecessors
i. Sectional — a series of phrases or melodic ideas, each one developed briefly before moving on to the next
c. Preludes also incorporate toccata elements, such as fast scalar runs, arpeggios, etc.

Question 15

Briefly describe, Bach’s fugues (in harpsichord music).

Answer 15

a. A type of imitative polyphonic composition
b. Can be incorporated into another genre, or stand on its own
c. Composed The Well-Tempered Clavier

Question 16

What was The Well-Tempered Clavier?

Answer 16

i. Book I (1722) — composed in Weimar
ii. Book II (1740) — composed in Leipzig
iii. Each book is a complete set of 24 preludes and fugues, one in each key
iv. Systematic explorations of equal tempered tuning, which allowed playing in all keys with consistency of tuning

Question 17

Explain in full the structure of a fugue. What happens in the exposition? In the episodes?

Answer 17

i. Exposition (see diagram below)
1. solo statement of the subject(the main melodic idea) in one part of the polyphony
2. second part enters with the answer —the subject transposed to the dominant (up a 5th or down a 4th)
a. real answer (exact transposition)
b. tonal answer (intervals modified to suit the key)
3. entrances of the subject alternate tonic and dominant in this manner
4. countersubjects — secondary melodies that appears in counterpoint with the answer
ii. Episodes
1. After the Exposition, these are sections of contrasting material
2. Not based on the subject or countersubjects

Question 18

What’s happening in The Goldberg Variations (1741)? Describe! Describe! DESCRIBE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 18

1. Theme uses a Sarabande rhythm (slow triple meter)
2. Thirty variations, preserving the bass line and harmonic progression of the theme
3. Includes numerous canonic treatments of the theme

Question 19

How about A Musical Offering (1747)? What was that all about?

Answer 19

A collection of contrapuntal and canonic treatments of a theme composed by Frederick the Great (King of Prussia)

Question 20

What sort of orchestral stuff did Bach compose? Name 3 types–and one in particular. Or don’t. But you should.

Answer 20

i. Violin concerti
ii. Harpsichord concerti
iii. Orchestral Suites
iv. The Brandenburg Concerti

Question 21

Describe to me The Brandenburg Concerti! 5 points.

Answer 21

1. Six concerti grossi of remarkable originality and variety
2. Each uses the three-movement structure established by Vivaldi in his solo concerti
3. Composed and compiled over several years at Cöthen
4. Dedicated to the Margrave (ruler) of Brandenburg
5. Probably intended to serve as part of a job application

Question 22

Name four types of Chamber Music Bach composed!

Answer 22

i. Trio sonatas
ii. 15 solo sonatas for an instrument with harpsichord
iii. Six Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin
iv. Six Suites for solo cello

Question 23

Cantatas? What are those?

Answer 23

A cantata (literally “sung”, derived from the Italian word “cantare”) is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir.

Question 24

What’s up with the genre of Cantatas? A description would be appreciated. 4 points!

Answer 24

1. A sacred composition in the Lutheran tradition
2. Usually scored for orchestra, chorus, and vocal soloists
3. Often based on a Lutheran chorale tune and text
4. Multi-movement works, including choral movements, arias, duets, and recitatives

Question 25

Describe Bach’s cantatas!

Answer 25

1. Composed three or four sets of cantatas for the liturgical year (a set is one cantata for each week of the year)
2. About 200 of Bach’s Lutheran cantatas survive
3. Typical structure of a Bach cantata (6 or 7 movements)

Question 26

Typical structure of a Bach cantata (6 or 7 movements)? Tell me about those movements.

Answer 26

Movement I — chorus (often an elaborate, fugal treatment of the chorale melody)

Movement II — solo recitative

Movement III — aria or duet

(possibly another choral setting of the tune here)

Movement IV — solo recitative

Movement V — aria or duet

Movement VI — chorus (usually a straightforward, homophonic treatment of the chorale, with all parts in vertical alignment, intended for the congregation to sing along)

Question 27

As for Bach’s other choral music… What’s up with the St. John Passion and the St. Matthew Passion?

Answer 27

1. Large-scale oratorios

2. Tell the story of the events leading up to the Crucifixion of Jesus

Question 28

For even more of Bach’s choral music, what’s up with the Mass in B Minor (1747–1749)?

Answer 28

1. Bach’s only complete setting of the Ordinary from the Catholic Mass
2. Compiled and adapted from earlier compositions
3. Combines many different styles of Baroque sacred music
4. Some styles use canon, strict counterpoint, and other “learned” elements that were considered old-fashioned in Bach’s day (such styles were known generally as the stile antico)