15 - Folder 4 - Late Baroque: Bach Flashcards
Most broadly, who was Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)?
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
Describe Bach’s early Life (home town and family) and Career Posts (Jobs).
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
What was he (Bach) doing in Arnstadt (1703–1707)? That mad man!
i. Church organist in a small town
ii. Composed functional organ music for church services
What was Bach doing in Mülhausen (1707–1708)? Perhaps more of the same?
i. Church organist in a medium-sized town
ii. Composed functional organ music for church services
Starting to try new things. What did Bach do in Weimar (1709–1714)?
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
So, what was happening with Bach in Cöthen (1717–1723)?
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
What was going on in Leipzig (1723–1750)?
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
What were Bach’s duties (Haha :D) in Leipzig? 4 points!
- Compose, copy, rehearse, conduct, and perform church music throughout the year
- Train students in singing and on instruments
- Compose music for funerals, weddings, and other special events
- Teach Latin and music to students at the Cathedral school
(Bach’s Organ Music) Describe his preludes and fugues.
- Continued the German tradition of contrapuntal keyboard music inherited from Buxtehude (see the Middle Baroque: Instrumental Music topic outline)
- See the explanation of Preludes and Fugues under “Harpsichord Music” below
(Bach’s Organ Music) Describe his Organ chorales! What is the Orgelbüchlein‽
- Settings of Lutheran chorales (Protestant tunes from the Reformation)
- Bach composed over 200 organ chorales
- Orgelbüchlein (Little Organ Book) (c. 1714–1717) — a collection of organ chorales, based on the Lutheran liturgical calendar; composed at Weimar; never completed
Name the four types of organ chorales!
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
Harpsichord Music! For Sir Bach, describe the suites (stylized dances)! How many suites did he write? Sets?
- Bach composed three sets, each with six suites
- 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
In Bach’s Harpsichord music, how are preludes and fugues composed?
Composed in pairs, in the same key!
Describe, in depth, Bach’s preludes (in harpsichord music).
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.
Briefly describe, Bach’s fugues (in harpsichord music).
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
What was The Well-Tempered Clavier?
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
Explain in full the structure of a fugue. What happens in the exposition? In the episodes?
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
What’s happening in The Goldberg Variations (1741)? Describe! Describe! DESCRIBE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Theme uses a Sarabande rhythm (slow triple meter)
- Thirty variations, preserving the bass line and harmonic progression of the theme
- Includes numerous canonic treatments of the theme
How about A Musical Offering (1747)? What was that all about?
A collection of contrapuntal and canonic treatments of a theme composed by Frederick the Great (King of Prussia)
What sort of orchestral stuff did Bach compose? Name 3 types–and one in particular. Or don’t. But you should.
i. Violin concerti
ii. Harpsichord concerti
iii. Orchestral Suites
iv. The Brandenburg Concerti
Describe to me The Brandenburg Concerti! 5 points.
- Six concerti grossi of remarkable originality and variety
- Each uses the three-movement structure established by Vivaldi in his solo concerti
- Composed and compiled over several years at Cöthen
- Dedicated to the Margrave (ruler) of Brandenburg
- Probably intended to serve as part of a job application
Name four types of Chamber Music Bach composed!
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
Cantatas? What are those?
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.
What’s up with the genre of Cantatas? A description would be appreciated. 4 points!
- A sacred composition in the Lutheran tradition
- Usually scored for orchestra, chorus, and vocal soloists
- Often based on a Lutheran chorale tune and text
- Multi-movement works, including choral movements, arias, duets, and recitatives
Describe Bach’s cantatas!
- Composed three or four sets of cantatas for the liturgical year (a set is one cantata for each week of the year)
- About 200 of Bach’s Lutheran cantatas survive
- Typical structure of a Bach cantata (6 or 7 movements)
Typical structure of a Bach cantata (6 or 7 movements)? Tell me about those movements.
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)
As for Bach’s other choral music… What’s up with the St. John Passion and the St. Matthew Passion?
- Large-scale oratorios
2. Tell the story of the events leading up to the Crucifixion of Jesus
For even more of Bach’s choral music, what’s up with the Mass in B Minor (1747–1749)?
- Bach’s only complete setting of the Ordinary from the Catholic Mass
- Compiled and adapted from earlier compositions
- Combines many different styles of Baroque sacred music
- 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)
