Brandenburg Flashcards
In which musical era was Brandenburg Concerto composed?
Baroque
What is figured bass?
A system of numbers telling the keyboard player what type of chord to play
What is a basso continuo?
A group of instruments which provide the bass and chords. Cello, double bass and left hand harpsichord
Which instrument plays the basso continuo in Brandenburg Concerto?
Harpsichord and low strings (double bass and cello)
What does virtuosic mean?
Very difficult, with great technique. e.g. the harpsichord plays a virtuosic passage on the right hand.
What is terraced dynamics?
no dynamics were written into the music. only soft/piano and loud/forte and no cresendos or diminuendos
What is the ripieno?
String orchestra (violin, viola, cello, double bass and harpsichord)
What is the concertino?
the group of soloists (flute, violin and harpsichord)
What type of music is Brandenburg Concerto?
Concerto Grosso - three soloists with an small strings orchestra.
How is the Baroque flute different to a modern flute?
Made of wood
What is the structure of the Brandenburg Concerto?
Ternary form ABA
What is the key of the first section of the Brandenburg Concerto?
D major
What is the key at the opening of the middle section of the Brandenburg Concerto?
B minor - relative minor
What is the overall texture of the Brandenburg Concerto?
Polyphonic / contrapuntal
What is the texture of the A section in Brandenburg Concerto?
Fugal, it is a fugue.
What is a fugal texture?
A Baroque texture where the melody is passed across different instruments and layered with countermelodies
What is imitation?
The melody is passed between different instruments.
What is dialogue?
When two layers of instruments take turn to play, creating a dialogue.
Which harmonic device is heard in the middle section?
Tonic pedal
How could most of the melodic material in Brandenburg Concerto be described?
Conjunct, scalic (scale-like)
What is a sequence?
A melodic device that a musical pattern is repeated up or down in pitch
How could the overall harmony of the Brandenburg Concerto be described?
Functional, diatonic (it means only using I,IV, V chords - very basic)
Which cadence is used at the end of sections in Brandenburg Concerto?
Perfect (V - I)
What type of harmonic dissonance is used occasional in Brandenburg Concerto?
Suspension
What is the metre of the Brandenburg Concerto?
Duple (2/4)
What is the tempo of this set work?
fast
What is the dance type of this set work?
Gigue dance (upbeat, fast dance)
In B section, what tonality does the music modulate to?
minor key, B minor (relative minor)
Compare the melody of B to A section subject.
Becomes more lyrical and it is in longer phrase. Still uses triplet and dotted rhythm.
What is the texture of B section?
Homophonic texture.
What are the four important elements to form a fugue structure?
it needs to have a subject, counter-subject, development and responded by an answer.
What is stretto?
A device when the subject/answer enters faster/earlier than before, creates a sense of urgency and excitement.
