J. S. Bach, Cantata, Ein feste Burg, BMV 80: Movements 1, 2, 8

Question 1

Where was the piece written and what for?

Answer 1

• Leipzig

- Reformation Day (31 October).

Question 2

What is the first movement referred to as?

Answer 2

Chorus/Chorale fantasia.

Question 3

What is a chorale fantasia?

Answer 3

Chorale fantasia is a type of large composition based on a chorale melody, both works for organ, and vocal settings, for example the opening movements of Bach’s chorale cantatas, with the chorale melody as a cantus firmus.

Question 4

I : Describe the harmony and melody.

Answer 4

The harmony of this movement is diatonic and functional. The melodies are mainly diatonic with occasional chromatic movement.

Question 5

I : What is the texture?

Answer 5

Predominantly contrapuntal or polyphonic.

Question 6

I : What voice originally enters with the subject? And in what scale degree?

Answer 6

• Tenors (bars 1-3)

- Tonic

Question 7

I : When the altos enter, what scale degree do they enter on? And what with?

Answer 7

With the subject answer in the dominant (bars 3-6)

Question 8

I : What do the sopranos enter with?

Answer 8

The subject, in the tonic. (bars 6-8)

Question 9

I : When the basses enter, what scale degree do they enter on? And what with?

Answer 9

With the answer in the dominant. (bars 8-11)

Question 10

I : From bars 1-30, what is the overall key of the section?

Answer 10

D major.

There are brief passing moments through related
keys:
- The first phrase ends in bar 3 suggesting A major (due to the fugal entries).
- The music passes through G major
(subdominant) between bars 10 and 12.

Question 11

I : From bars 60-72, what key does this section begin in?

Answer 11

A major, but passes through
B minor (supertonic minor of A major) at bar 65 and F sharp minor (relative minor) in bars 67-68.

Question 12

I : What is the time signature for this movement?

Answer 12

4/2

Question 13

II : Describe the harmony.

Answer 13

As in the opening movement, the harmony is diatonic and functional.

The chords are mainly root position and in first inversion.

Question 14

II : Describe the texture.

Answer 14

The instrumental opening is a melody-dominated texture, in two parts.

When the voices sing, the texture is
highly contrapuntal.

Question 15

II: Does the movement start with voices? And what key does it begin in?

Answer 15

• No, it begins with an orchestral introduction.
• The movement opens in D major and remains there, apart
  from a brief passing through A major (dominant) in bar 4 of the movement.

Question 16

II : What is the movement based on?

Answer 16

Like the opening movement, this aria is also based on the ‘Ein feste Burg’ hymn tune by Martin Luther.

Question 17

VIII : What voice has the melody section?

Answer 17

The melody (in the soprano line) is exactly the same as Luther’s original tune.

Question 18

VIII : Is the melody syllabic?

Answer 18

Yes.

A crotchet per syllable.

Question 19

VIII : What is the texture?

Answer 19

There is a four-part homophonic texture throughout.

Question 20

VIII : What is the time signature for this movement?

Answer 20

4/4