Chapter 39

Question 1

What does BWV stand for?

Answer 1

Bach Werke Verzeichnis

Question 2

Orgelbuchlein

Answer 2

a collection of 46 chorale preludes written mostly between 1708 and 1713, “little book” because paper was only 5x7

Question 3

Chorale prelude

Answer 3

an ornamented chorale tune that was played on the organ before the choir would sing the chorale, it was supposed to remind the choir the melody

Question 4

rank

Answer 4

pipes in the organ that are similar sounding

Question 5

stop

Answer 5

part in an organ that sends an airstream through those pipes

Question 6

Pedal Point

Answer 6

any sustained or continually repeated note, usually in bass

Question 7

Kapellmeister

Answer 7

director of music for the court

Question 8

two- and three-part inventions

Answer 8

two sets of contrapunctal pieces similar to fugues, each set has 15 pieces which are all in different keys, uses all 5 fingers equally, lyrical style

Question 9

The Well-Tempered Clavier

Answer 9

collection of preludes and fugues by Bach in two books, one was composed in Cothen (1720-1722) while the other was in Leipzig (1730s), each has 24 pairs of preludes and fugues, as the book moves forwards the key goes up by a half step, for harpsichord or piano

Question 10

Equal Temperament

Answer 10

a division of the octave into twelve equal half steps such as we have on the keyboard today

Question 11

Picardy third

Answer 11

shift from major to minor at the end of a piece

Question 12

Subject

Answer 12

the theme of the fugue

Question 13

Exposition (Fugue)

Answer 13

opening section of the fugue

Question 14

Countersubject

Answer 14

counterpoint to the subject, something different than the subject

Question 15

Episode

Answer 15

free section based on motives of the subject

Question 16

Invertible counterpoint

Answer 16

motive that had been in the bass is moved to the alto and the alto motive is moved to the bass

Question 17

Fugue

Answer 17

no two fugues are the same, a contrapuntal composition for 2-5 voices which starts with a presentation of a subject in imitation in each voice, continues with modulating passages of free counterpoint and further appearances of the subject, and ends with a strong affirmation of the tonic key

Question 18

Obbligato

Answer 18

a composer has written a specific part for an instrument and intends it to be played as written

Question 19

Partita (Bach)

Answer 19

Bach’s synonym for suite

Question 20

Brandenburg Concertos

Answer 20

set of 6 concertos written by Bach

Question 21

Fortspinnung

Answer 21

taking a primary musical idea and spinning it out in one seemingly unending melodic strand and uniform rhythm as Bach does at the beginning of Grandenburg Concerto No. 5

Question 22

Where was Bach born?

Answer 22

Eisenach, Germany

Question 23

Who were Bach wives?

Answer 23

Maria Barbara (his second cousin, married because of inheritance from uncle) and Anna Magdalena Wilcke (13 years apart, a soprano who worked in Cothen)

Question 24

How many children did Bach have?

Answer 24

Anna had 13 children but only 6 survived past childhood, Maria had 7 children and 4 survived past childhood

Question 25

What were Bach’s places of employment?

Answer 25

chapel servant and violinist for the Duke’s court in Weimar, organist at the Neue Kirche in Arnstadt, organist at St. Blasius in Muhlhausen, organist and Konzertmeister for Duke Wilhelm Ernst in Weimar, Kapellmeister for Prince Leopold in Cothen, Kantor at the Thomasschule and director of the collegium musicum in Leipzig

Question 26

Which genres was Bach best known for?

Answer 26

cantatas, passions, keyboard works, concerti, and mass

Question 27

Typical Bach Cantata

Answer 27

chorus, recitative, aria, chorus, recitative, aria, chorus

Question 28

Bach’s concerti grossi?

Answer 28

inspired by Torelli and Vivaldi, he used self-imitating melodic lines and ritornello form, Brandenburg Concertos