Johann Sebastian Bach- English Suite prelude Flashcards
Who was bach?
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer and organist from the late Baroque period. (1685-1750) Died at 65 years old.
Describe his childhood
He was born into a family of musicians in Eisenach (northern Germany) in 1685.
Bach received early training in the violin and organ from his father and his older brother,
Johann Christoph. At the age of 15 became a paid chorister at St Michael’s church in
Luneburg, followed by various other positions as violinist and organist.
Something about Bach’s life
Bach was an unrivalled master of counterpoint, and a lot of his music is highly complex.
Throughout his life, he was appreciated more for his brilliant organ playing and improvisatory
skill than for his compositions. By the end of his life, his music was regarded as old-
fashioned, as a simpler, more superficially elegant (galant) style came into vogue.
List Bach’s compositions
Bach’s compositions for keyboard instruments include:
. six Partitas, six ‘French’ Suites and six ‘English’ Suites.
-. The Well-tempered Clavier [48 preludes and fugues in two books].
Choral music: over 200 church cantatas
His instrumental and orchestral music includes:
. six “Brandenburg” concertos
a concerto for two violins.
List some of Bach’s comtemporaries
Bach’s contemporaries:
. Johann Pachelbel (German, 1653-1706).
Georg Philipp Telemann (German, 1681-1767).
George Frideric Handel (German, 1685-1759).
. Domenico Scarlatti (Italian, 1685-1757).
describe bach’s compositional style
Music from the late Baroque period (c.1600-c.1750) is often elaborate and complex.
describe the characteristics of his compositional style
Characteristics of Bach’s compositions include:
. counterpoint (two or more equally important voices heard simultaneously).
. ornamentation and embellishment (e.g. trills), particularly at cadence points.
. imitation between voices.
. sequences, often based on circle of 5ths harmonic progressions.
hemiola rhythm before some important cadence points.
When was Bach’s english suites composed
Bach’s six ‘English’ Suites for harpsichord were probably composed before 1722,while he was working as Kapellmeister for Prince Leopold of Cothem.
What is a prelude?
A prelude is an introductory movement- it is not a dance. Most preludes are based on a recurring melodic or rhythmic motive, and have a spontaneous or improvisatory character.
What form is this prelude in?
The prelude is in ritornello form, within a broad ternary (ABA ) structure. The ritornello (returning theme) alternates with contrasting passages called “episodes”.
What key is this piece in
English Suite prelude is in A minor
Tell me about Bach’s life and training
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer and organist from the late Baroque period. He was born into a family of musicians in Eisenach (northern Germany) in 1685. Bach received early training in the violin and organ from his father and his older brother, Johann Christoph. At the age of 15, he became a paid chorister at St Michael’s church in Lüneburg, followed by various other positions as violinist and organist.
In 1708, Bach was appointed court organist to the Duke of Weimar. He later became concertmaster of the court orchestra as well. Bach composed many of his great organ works at this time, as well as cantatas and other instrumental music.
In 1717 he became Kapellmeister (director of music) to the Prince of Cöthen. Prince Leopold was a keen amateur musician who played the viola da gamba, and he maintained a fine orchestra of around 18 members for his own entertainment and the esteem of his court. Bach wrote many of his great instrumental works specifically for these musicians. Bach’s first wife, Maria Barbara, died in 1720, and the following year he married Anna Magdalena.
From 1723 until his death, Bach was Cantor (singing master) at St Thomas’ Church, Leipzig. This church had a well-established and quite elaborate instrumental and choral tradition. In his first few years there, he wrote an astounding number of new cantatas for use in the church services – sometimes as frequently as one every week. His eyesight deteriorated in the final years of his life, and he died in Leipzig in 1750, at the age of 65.
Bach was an unrivalled master of counterpoint, and a lot of his music is highly complex. Throughout his life, he was appreciated more for his brilliant organ playing and improvisatory skill than for his compositions. By the end of his life, his music was regarded as old-fashioned, as a simpler, more superficially elegant (galant) style came into vogue.
What is the difference between the French suites, english suites?
French Suites: Simpler, shorter, lighter in texture, focus on elegance and grace.
English Suites: More elaborate, with preludes, technically challenging, longer and more complex.
Partitas: Most virtuosic and varied in form, showcasing Bach’s mature style and expressiveness.
What’s different about this suite?
Unusual abt this suite is has 2 Bouree
Usually it has givotte instead of bouree
This suite also doesn’t have a minuet
Written for harpsichord, harpsichord back then was harder to sustain notes , strings were plucked inside the harpsichord, which means that it is different from modern piano where you can hold . Harpsichord mostly can’t produce more than one dynamic at one unless you have a two manual harpsichord , which means that one keyboard can play loud and one can play soft. Ornamentation was quite free, and allowed performer to express their own interpretation of the piece
