Texture

Question 1

Texture features of Movement One

Answer 1

Movement One is contrapuntal, with imitative writing in the vocal parts in fugal style, and canon at the octave in oboes and violone, with a half-bar between the entries

The Texture is further complicated by the heterophony in the cello at b. 20-22, where it plays a more elaborate version of the vocal bass line

Question 2

Texture features of Movement Two

Answer 2

Movement Two is also contrapuntal with a Ritornello theme in upper strings, supported by a walking bass, over which can be heard an embellished version of the Chorale in the soprano (with heterophony in the oboe part) and an independent line in the solo bass part

Question 3

Texture features of Movement Eight

Answer 3

Movement Eight is homophonic, though the lower parts are rhythmically independent

Question 4

Examples for Wider Listening for Bach Texture