Bach 2nd movt

Question 1

What performing forces are used?

Answer 1

• 1 oboe
• violin 1,2 and viola in unison
• continuo (violoncello and sackbut)
• soprano
• bass

Question 2

what musical features can be commented on?

Answer 2

• structure/tonality
• texture
• melody
• harmony
• rhythm, tempo and metre

Question 3

how many sections can the movement be split into?

Answer 3

six

Question 4

comment on structure and tonality in bars 1-8

Answer 4

• orchestral introduction

- modulates from D- A -G

Question 5

comment on structure and tonality in bars 9-23

Answer 5

• bass starts with ornate melody
• soprano enters with cantus firmus (oboe doubling)
• (bar 19) bass solo
• modulates from D to A

Question 6

comment on structure and tonality in bars 24-37

Answer 6

repeat of 10-23

Question 7

comment on structure and tonality in bars 37-60

Answer 7

• bass: continuous melody
• soprano - sings 3 bar phrases
• modulates to closely related keys: Bm-F#m

Question 8

comment on structure and tonality in bars 60-69

Answer 8

• orchestra plays opening music
• vocal parts similar to start but soprano has developed version of cantus firmus
• in tonic key

Question 9

comment on structure and tonality in bars 69-76

Answer 9

• orchestral postlude (same as intro)

- D major

Question 10

comment on texture

Answer 10

• vocals- highly contrapuntal (soprano= cantus firmus / bass=ornate melody)
• orchestra intro/ postlude - melody-dominated homophony (violins=triadic melody/ bass=accompaniment)
• strings = unison
• soprano/oboe - heterophonic (bar 12) - end of first three lines

Question 11

comment on melody

Answer 11

• soprano - ornamented version of cantus firmus
• bass - ornate/ scalic/ melismatic
• word painting - melismas (emphasise might)
• use of sequences (continuo)
• use of trills (oboe/soprano - e.g. bar 26)

Question 12

what is the range of soprano and bass?

Answer 12

• sop - 9th;

- bass - 13th

Question 13

comment on harmony

Answer 13

• diatonic/functional

- use of walking bass

Question 14

comment on tempo, metre and rhythm

Answer 14

• metre: 4/4 - common time (simple quadruple time)
• use of moto perpetuo semiquavers in orchestra
• bass mainly uses semiquavers in melisma
• soprano/oboe - more intricate in rhythms - demisemiquavers, dotted rhythms and syncopation