Brandenburg concerto no.5 in d major- Bach

Question 1

What key does this piece start in ?

Answer 1

D major key

Question 2

What rhythms are used at the start?

Answer 2

Duple time.
Triplets and dotted rhythms are used- create a cheerful mood.
It is played allegro- ‘jig’ mood

Question 3

At the beginning is the piece conjunct or disjunct?

Answer 3

conjunct melody

Question 4

What is the texture of the piece?

Answer 4

The main texture of the movement is counterpoint, which means tune against tune.
There is a fugal texture- with a subject and an answer.
Piece is mostly polyphonic but it starts monophonic.

Question 5

What is the melody like at the start of the piece (1-78)?

Answer 5

It is scalic-conjunct
There is virtuoso techniques
The third movement starts with the subject which begins with an
anacrusis.
There is polyphonic texture in bar 37.
In bar 63 there is a stretto -overlapping entries of the melody- creates texture.

Question 6

What are the dynamic markings?

Answer 6

There are little-no dynamic markings as the harpsichord couldn’t play them.

Question 7

What is the melody like in the middle section?

Answer 7

There are ascending sequences.
Bar 79- there is a perfect cadences in d major.
More homophonic.
There is a basso continuo tonic pedal in bar 79.
There is a new theme in the violin.
There is antiphony between Harpsichord and strings+ flute.
Sequence descends near the end of section.

Question 8

What key is the middle section in?

Answer 8

B minor

Question 9

What dynamics are used in the middle section?

Answer 9

Terraced dynamics- Only p/pp

Question 10

What key does it go into in bar 98?

Answer 10

F sharp minor

Question 11

How do the flutes and violins play in bar 130?

Answer 11

In unison.
With circle of fifths progression.
Ascending virtuoso.
They play demi semi quavers.

Question 12

What happens in bar 149?

Answer 12

There are appogiatura- lots of ornamentation makes the piece more interesting and exciting.
There is an A pedal in the contrabasso.
There is a perfect cadence of a major- makes the piece sound whole.

Question 13

What instruments are used in this piece?

Answer 13

Flauto-flute
Violino principale- prinicpal violin.
Violino di ripieno+ viola da ripieno-upper strings.
Violincello- cello.
Contrabasso- double bass.
Cembalo concertato- harpsichord.

Question 14

What happens in bar 164?

Answer 14

Changes back to b minor.
There is a long canon with strict imitation.

Question 15

What key does bar 186 change into?

Answer 15

F sharp minor.

Question 16

What is the structure of the piece?

Answer 16

The third movement has a simple 2/4 time signature. However, J.S. Bach creates a
gigue-like feel by writing continuous triplet quavers. In bar 110 the harpsichord plays triplet quavers, which are three quavers played in the space of two quavers.
The third movement employs a
fugue structure and texture. In a fugue a melody starts the piece (the subject), which is then repeated at different
pitches and imitated by different instruments throughout the work.

Question 17

What happens in the melody from bar 198-end?

Answer 17

There is a dominant pedal on C sharp- bar 199.
There is polyphonic imitation-inversed- typical of baroque style.
There is lots of stretto-creates extra drama.

Question 18

What key does it change back into in bar 230?

Answer 18

D major.
A repeat of bars 1-78 is shown.

Question 19

What kind of AB structure is this piece?

Answer 19

A - bars 1 to 78 - fugal exposition
B - bars 79 to 232
A - bars 233 to 310

Question 20

Who wrote this piece?

Answer 20

Johann Sebastian Bach.
Born in 1685 in germany.
Worked with many orchestras

Question 21

When was this piece composed?

Answer 21

In the baroque period.
composed 1711-1720