brandenburg

Question 1

which musical period was it composed in?

Answer 1

baroque era

Question 2

which style of music is it?

Answer 2

gigue (a type of dance)

Question 3

why is this piece not a ‘proper’ gigue

Answer 3

the piece is in 2 4 and gigues are typically in 6 8

Question 4

what is the overall instrumentation?

Answer 4

concerto grosso

Question 5

what are the 3 sections in the concerto grosso

Answer 5

• concertino
• ripieno
• basso continuo

Question 6

what is the role of the concertino?

Answer 6

to play the main melody

Question 7

which instruments are part of the concertino? (3)

Answer 7

• baroque flute
• violin 1
• harpsichord

Question 8

which instruments are in the ripieno? (3)

Answer 8

• violin 2
• viola
• cello

Question 9

which instruments are in the basso continuo? (2)

Answer 9

• contrabass
• harpsichord

Question 10

what is the role of the ripieno?

Answer 10

to provide harmony

Question 11

what is the role of the basso continuo?

Answer 11

to provide grounding/foundation

Question 12

what is the overall structure?

Answer 12

ternary form (ABA)

Question 13

what is the texture of bars 1-28?

Answer 13

contrapuntal/counterpoint/fugal

Question 14

does section B feature ritornello form (repetition of section A material with musical ideas altered)?

Answer 14

yes

Question 15

describe the dynamics

Answer 15

terraced dynamics

Question 16

which instrument in this set work could not play dynamics?

Answer 16

harpsichord

Question 17

what is the tempo?

Answer 17

allegro

Question 18

is there much use of triplets and dotted rhythms?

Answer 18

yes

Question 19

which instrument has the most complicated rhythmic patterns, and why?

Answer 19

• harpsichord
• to show off the harpsichord part in virtuosic harpsichord solos

Question 20

baroque features in this set work: (11)

Answer 20

• long melodic lines
• complex rhythms
• counterpoint/polyphony/fugal/contrapuntal writing
• harpsichord
• terraced dynamics
• simple modulations
• functional harmony/diatonic chords
• concerto grosso
• baroque flute
• end of sections punctuated by cadences
• ornamentation of melody (e.g: trills)

Question 21

is there use of MDH?

Answer 21

yes

Question 22

is there use of stretto?

Answer 22

yes

Question 23

is there use of dialogue?

Answer 23

yes

Question 24

what is stretto?

Answer 24

quick succession of overlapping melodies

Question 25

is there use of heterophony?

Answer 25

no

Question 26

what is the texture at the very end? (last 2 bars)

Answer 26

chordal homophony

Question 27

overall tonality

Answer 27

D major

Question 28

what is the tonality in section A? (2)

Answer 28

• mainly D major
• brief moments in the dominant, A major

Question 29

tonality of section B? (3)

Answer 29

• mainly B minor (relative minor of D maj)
• modulates to F# minor (dominant minor of B min)
• also modulates to A major (dominant major of B min)

Question 30

is there use of chromatic harmony?

Answer 30

no

Question 31

is there use of suspensions?

Answer 31

yes

Question 32

is there use of turnaround chords?

Answer 32

no

Question 33

is there use of extended chords?

Answer 33

very rarely, use of some dominant 7ths in various inversions

Question 34

is there use of figured bass?

Answer 34

yes

Question 35

is there use of pedal?

Answer 35

yes

Question 36

which instrument has virtuosic melodies?

Answer 36

harpsichord

Question 37

is the melody mainly conjunct or disjunct?

Answer 37

conjunct

Question 38

overall texture

Answer 38

contrapuntal/polyphonic

Question 39

overall texture

Answer 39

contrapuntal/polyphonic