Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.5 in D major - 2.1.3 Instrumentation & Texture

Question 1

The instruments are split into 2 groups. What are they?

Answer 1

• Concertino (soloists):
  Violin, flute and harpsichord
• ripieno:
  Larger string orchestra and harpsichord.

Question 2

Tell me about the harpsichord.

Answer 2

• plays a dual role as a soloist and an accompaniement
• uses figures bass to figure out which chords should be used.

Question 3

Tell me about the monophonic texture of the piece.

Answer 3

The piece starts of with a monophonic passage played by the Violin
Texture then becomes polyphonic (overlapping melodies) and fugal with instruments overlapping

Question 4

Tell me about the homophonic texture of the B section.

Answer 4

The texture starts with a homophonic texture where the flute plays the melody.

Question 5

Tell me about texture and dynamics.

Answer 5

In baroque period, texture was closely linked to dynamics.
terraced dynamics were used.