Johan Sebastian Bach

Question 1

When was Bach alive?

Answer 1

Baroque period
(1685-1750)

Question 2

What type of music did Bach write?

Answer 2

Church cantatas ( new hums under new 16th century Protestant Lutheran church )

Question 3

Describe the instrumentation (score)

Answer 3

In order (top of score to bottom)
STAB choir
X3 oboes
X2 violins
Viola
Harpsichord
Sackbut (early trombone)

Question 4

Describe the instrumentation ( in each movement )

Answer 4

1st: STAB choir
Tutti orchestra
2nd: S+B duet
String accompaniment
Oboe solo
3rd: STAB choir
Orchestral accompaniment

Question 5

Describe the texture in all 3 movements

Answer 5

1st: fugal style, vocals enter in layers ( T, A, S, B )
2nd: melody-dominated homophony
8th: homophonic

Question 6

Describe the vocal text setting

Answer 6

1st and 2nd: long melismatic passages
8th: entirely syllabic

Question 7

Describe the melody in each movement

Answer 7

1st: D major, falls a 4th to dominant, rises to tonic again
Theme transposed down a 4th for answer to subject
STAB covers a wide range
2nd: S solo is an ornamented version of the chordal melody; trills
8th: convincer and diatonic (occasional leaps)
STAB choir covers narrow range

Question 8

Describe the structure and tonality

Answer 8

Overall: D major with closely related modulations
1st: tonic —> dominant (A major) —> tonic modulations up to bar 3
End = returns to tonic key
Final tonic pedal note = end
2nd: upper strings = semi quaver leaping melody
Accompanied by quaver bass line, often starting offbeat
8th: two 2 bar phrases repeated
Uses a perfect cadence (not at end tho)

Question 9

Describe the harmony

Answer 9

Chords = diatonic
Frequent perfect cadences
Suspensions (typical for Baroque period)

Question 10

Describe the tempo, metre and rhythm

Answer 10

1st: 4/2
Occasional dotted rhythms
2nd: 4/4
Dotted rhythms
Syncopation
8th: 4/4
Anacrusis (upbeat)
Pauses when cadence occurs