Baroque: Chorale Flashcards
What was the first collection of chorales and when was it published?
J. Walther’s Songbook
Published in 1524
How do chorales link in with the Reformation?
The chorale originated with Martin Luther translated sacred songs into German for use in the Protestant church (so that ordinary people could ‘sing with understanding’)
He even adapted secular folk and popular songs of earlier times e.g. ‘O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden’, originally a love-song by H Hassler
How many chorales sis Martin Luther compose himself?
36
What other musical forms of the late 17th and early 18th centuries included chorales?
Cantatas, oratorios, and passions
What is a chorale prelude?
The chorale that was later going to be sung by the congregation played on the organ before the service - a custom in the Lutheran Church
How did chorale preludes develop?
From simple beginnings, the chorale prelude developed into its own art form and incorporated rich counterpoint
Who composed chorale preludes?
Early:
D. Buxtehude
J. Pachelbel
J. S. Bach (wrote ~140)
Late:
Brahms
Reger
Karg-Elert
Where are melodic jumps most likely to occur in a chorale?
At the beginning and in between phrases
Which progressions are generally strongest when approaching a cadence?
Progression of 5ths
Chords with roots dropping a 3rd
True or false: The final chord of a chorale is always major
True
In what context is it acceptable to double major 3rds?
When they are approached in contrary motion
Does chord IV7 before V in a cadence require the 7th preparing?
No
Where does Bach use interrupted cadences?
In long chorales or in ones with short phrases to avoid two perfect cadences cadences in the same key consecutively
Where are plagal cadences most commonly used?
In cadential extensions, preceded by some form of perfect cadence
Extremely rare, almost as rare as interrupted cadences
How did Bach treat dominant 7ths?
Although it is not compulsory to prepare V7, Bach still took great care with the chord either preparing the 7th, introducing it in stepwise movement or treating it as a passing note
Why is IVb-V7b such a good progression?
Stepwise movement in the bass + 7th of V is prepared in root of IV
How is each inversion of V7 generally used?
V7b:
Very common
Often follows IVb
Happens at the start of a phrase to aid abrupt modulation
Rarely occurs as the last chord of a cadence, which may suggest an unusual modulation
V7c:
Rarely used - Bach will generally opt for viib over this chord
V7d:
Frequently employed at beginning of a phrase - gives forward momentum to harmony due to downward movement of 7th
