Bach Movement 1

Question 1

Ritornello i Bars 1 - 4

Answer 1

• A minor
• The violin soloist plays the same part as the orchestral 1st violins
• The key established by a tonic pedal in the bass in b1-1 in imitative dialogue
• V7 - i cadence in b3-4

Question 2

Ritornello i Bars 5 - 11

Answer 2

• Second section begins with continuous semi quavers in the melody and a dominant pedal in the bass in b5-6
• sequence in b8-11 moves from A minor to G major (b10), with harmony moving in 05ths

Question 3

Ritornello i Bars 13 - 24

Answer 3

• Final section of ritornello modulates to E minor in b13 ending with V-I cadence with a tierce de picardie in b23-24
  (Ending on E major, Dominant of A minor)
• Cadence is decorated with a trill in the solo part

Question 4

Solo i Bars 25 - 32

Answer 4

• A minor
• Solo violin more lyrical than the main theme, orchestral parts marked piano
• Sequence in b 29-32 with the harmony moving in a circle of 5ths, beginning on the tonic chord and ending on dominant

Question 5

Solo i Bars 33 - 42

Answer 5

• Another sequence in b33-38 uses the same harmonic progression now with one chord per bar
• The orchestral part is based in the ritornello theme
• The first four bars of the ritornello theme return in the orchestra in a minor in b40-43
• The solo part embellishes the theme sometimes doubling the orchestral melody a 3rd higher

Question 6

Solo i Bars 44 - 52

Answer 6

• The episode continues with another sequence in b44-49 moving through E minor (b44-45) and D minor (b4647) to C major
• The orchestral part returns to piano

Question 7

RPoornello ii Bars 52 - 84

Answer 7

• C major
• First four bars return in the orchestra in b52-55 with arpeggio countermelody in the solo part
• Bars 56-67 are a variation of the second section of the ritornello (b5-12) beginning in C major and modulating via G major (b61-64) to E minor
• The final section of the ritornello is heard in E minor in b68-84 extended by a sequence and a rising scale in b74-78 ending with a V-i cadence in b83-84

Question 8

Solo ii Bars 85 - 101

Answer 8

• Beginning in E minor, a transposition of b25-28
  up a 5th. Orchestra parts are again marked piano
• The sequence in b89-98 modulates via another circle of 5ths: A minor (b89-91), D minor (91-93), G major (b93-95), C major (b95-97) and F major (from b97)
• The key of D minor returns in b101

Question 9

Ritornello iii Bars 102 - 104

Answer 9

• The first four bars of the ritornello theme returns in the orchestra in D minor in b102-105
• The solo part embellishes the theme, sometimes doubling the orchestral melody a 6th higher (b104)

Question 10

Ritornello iii Bars 105 - 120

Answer 10

Bars 105-122 are based on the second section of the ritornello. Harmony works in a circle of 5ths, gradually moving from D minor to A minor, with passing suggestions of G minor (b107-108 and b112-113), F major (b109-111), G minor (112-113) and C major (b117-120)

Question 11

Ritornello vi Bars 123 - 134

Answer 11

• A minor
• First four bars of the theme return in the orchestra, forte, in bars 123-126 and 143-146
• Bars 127-134 are based on the second section of the ritornello
• The melody gradually rises in pitch in b127-134, while the bass line gradually descends

Question 12

Ritornello vi Bars 127 - 171

Answer 12

• The harmony agaqin moves in a circle of 5ths, bringing passing sauggestions of D minor (b127-129), G minor (b130-131), C minor (b132-133) and F minor (b134-135) - a reverse circle of 5ths leading via G minor (b135-136) and D minor (b137-138) back to A minor
• Bars 146-171 are mostly a transposition of bars 8-24 down a 5th or up 4th ending with a V-i cadence in b170-171