Bach- Mvmt 1 Flashcards
How long is Ritornello 1?
24 bars (1-24.1)
How long is Episode 1?
26 bars (24-51)
How long is Ritornello 2?
32 bars (51.2-84.1)
How long is Episode 2?
58 bars (84.2-142.1)
Where are the Ritornello interruptions in Episode 2?
Bars 101.2-105.1
Bars 122.2-126.1
How long is Ritornello 3?
29 bars (142.2-171)
Describe the texture of Ritornello 1
The music is still dominated by the top part but the others are independent. The 1st violin melody is broken into gaps, with the continuo part echoing the rhythm creating basic antiphony. There’s imitation in bars 8 and 20.
Describe the melody of Ritornello 1
The opening phrase has a nice regularity about it, using an anacrusis to give it forward momentum (emphasised by the rests) and a little internal sequence finishes it off.. The second phrase uses fortspinnung until the end of the Ritornello. At one point he uses increasing intervals from a minor 3rd to a minor 6th, leading to a descending scale then leaps of a 12th creating a suspension.
Describe the harmonies of Ritornello 1
Bar 1-9 = Am
Bar 10-13 = G
Bar 14-24 = Em
Describe harmonic techniques used in Ritornello 1
6/4 cadence into the first Episode, interrupted cadence in bar 20, dominant pedal (E) in bar 5-6, the use of the diminished 7th chords in bars 13 and 21-22
Describe Cell A and B from Episode 1
Cell A is the rising 4th interval from the opening Ritornello and Cell B is the three-note shape with melodic inversion
How many times does Cell B appear in bars 24-31?
10 times with the first 2 being followed by Cell A with the interval being stretched from a perfect 4th to a minor 7th
What does Bach do in bar 44 of Episode 1?
In bar 44 he introduces a new idea which disrupts the rhythm as it lands on the weaker second beat. It is sequenced twice.
How are Ritornello 1 and Episode 1 linked?
Cell A, antiphonal texture and the cello part in bar 43 is the exact repeat of bar 4 which is then sequenced under string chords in bars 43-48
Describe the harmony of Episode 1
Bar 24 = Em Bar 25-29 = Am Bar 30-31 = C Bar 32-34 = Am Bar 35-36 = C Bar 37 = F Bar 38-44 = Am Bar 45-46 = Em Bar 47-48 = Dm Bar 49-51 = C
Describe the layout of Ritornello 2 and how it links to Ritornello 1
51.2-61.2 = 0.1-10.1 = The original material is a 3rd higher (Cm) and the parts are rewritten e.g. the solo violin has a new rising arpeggio figure 63-65.1 = 10-11 = Rewritten with some new accompaniments 67.2-73.1 = 13-18.1 = Starts slightly differently but is otherwise the same 78-84.1 = 19-24.1 = First bar new, otherwise as scored
Describe the harmony of Ritornello 2
Bar 52-57 = C Bar 58 = F Bar 59-60 = C Bar 61-68 = G Bar 69-84 = Em
Describe Episode 2 before the Ritornello interruption
The first 4 bars are based on the first 4 bars of Ritornello 1 but transposed to the subdominant (Em). The next 4 bars are based on the second 4 bars of Ritornello 1 just with a less busy accompaniment which is then sequenced and the pattern is varied. The last 3 bars are a continuo-accompanied violin solo which are mainly scalia figurations.
Describe the harmony of Episode 2 before the Ritornello interruption
Bar 89-90 = Em-Am Bar 91-92 = Am-Dm Bar 93-94 = Dm-G Bar 95-96 = G-C Bar 97-99 = C-F Bar 100-101 = F-Dm
Describe the first Ritornello interruption in Episode 2
It is the same ritornello material, only transposed to the subdominant (Dm). The harmonisation is similar but not exactly the same
Describe Episode 2 after the first Ritornello interruption
The idea first heard in bar 5 returns in the first violins accompanied by the upper strings with a new motif in the continuo. This idea is then sequenced down then followed by a string-crossing figuration which is sequenced twice
Describe the second Ritornello interruption in Episode 2
The first Ritornello phrase returns in the strings whilst the soloist continues with a new motif (introduced in bar 117)
Describe Episode 2 after the second Ritornello interruption
The solo violin starts off with the idea from bar 5 but harmonised by all the strings and sequenced up a 4th 3 times. The syncopated motif from bar 44 is played and sequenced and bar 50 (used to transition to the second Ritornello) is used to transition to the final Ritornello
Describe the final Ritornello (3)
It is the same as Ritornello 2, just with bar 55.2-58 omitted and he transposed bar 142-145 down a 3rd and the remaining bars down a 5th
