Johann Sebastian Bach1685-1750

Baroque Period• Baroque – derived from

the Portuguese word barroco meaning “an irregular shaped pearl”

• Era of absolute monarchy• Religious wars• Protestants vs. Catholics

• Rise of the middle-class• Poverty and wasteful

luxury• Advances in Science• Kepler, Galileo, Copernicus

“I am the

State”

Heliocentric

Johann Sebastian Bach• 1685-1750• Born in Eisenach, Germany• Came from a large family of

musicians• Learned to play violin from his father• Studied organ with his older brother,

a student of Pachelbel• Married Twice• Maria Barbara Bach – Seven Children• Anna Magdelana – Thirteen Children

• Critics thought his music was too old fashioned, revival of interest in works began in early nineteenth century

“Music must serve the

glory of God”

Well-Tempered Clavier

• Two separate publications, each has twenty-four preludes and fugues.• Pairs of movements in

each collections are set in all major and minor keys.

• Demonstrates possibilities for playing in all keys on an instrument tuned in equal temperament.

• Pianists “Old Testament” – New Testament being Beethoven’s thrity-two piano sonatas

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFmGbYXt7U8

• Toccata in D Minor BWV 565• BWV - Bach Werke

Verzeichnis (Bach Works Catalogue)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipzR9bhei_o

Preludes and Fugues

Brandenburg Concertos• Six Works dedicated to the margrave

of Brandenburg• Concerto• Instrumental genre in several movements

for solo instrument and orchestra

• Concerto Grosso• Baroque concerto type based on opposition

between a small group of solo instruments (concertino) and orchestra (ripieno)

• Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F Majorhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC1E4_imS0Ahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCnJ1Rk93_ghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jtk4ETAx8g

Time Section Description

0:00 Ritornello 1 Full Ensemble

0:18 Solo 1 Violin

0:23 Ritornello 2 Full Ensemble

0:28 Solo 2 Oboe and Violin

0:33 Ritornello 3 Full Ensemble

0:37 Solo 3 Recorder and Oboe

0:42 Ritornello 4 Full Ensemble

0:47 Solo 4 Trumpet and Recorder

0:52 Ritornello 5 Full Ensemble

1:06 Solo 5 Trumpet, Violin, Recorder, Oboe

1:11 Ritornello 6 Full Ensemble

2:19 Solo 6 Recorder, Violin, Oboe, Trumpet

2:38 Tutti – Various exchanges between instruments

4:00 Ritornello 7 Full Ensemble

Johann Sebastian Bach• Early life• Mother died when he was nine, father died within a year

• Weimar• Required to write a new cantata every month• Jumped at the opportunity of a new position in Cöthen• Duke William Ernst was infuriated and sent him to jail for a month

• Cöthen• Employed by the Prince of Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen, held a position of

Capellmeister – highest rank for a musician at the time.• Returned from a trip to find his wife had died.• At this time he wrote the Partita No.2 for solo violin in D minor.

Baroque Suite• Sets of dance-inspired

movements for solo instruments, small groups, or orchestra.• All written in the same key but

differ in tempo, meter, and character.

• Movements have a variety of national origins:• Allemande – Germany• Courante – France• Gavotte - France• Sarabande – Spain• Gigue – England/Ireland

Baroque Suite• Usually begins with a

movement that is not dance-inspired.

• French Overture• Two parts• First Section• Slow section with dotted

rhythms

• Second Section• Quick and lighter, often

begins as a fugue.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2SGb0x7Jqw

Allemande• Typically the first movement in a suite, later is

preceded by a prelude.• “French for German”• Binary Form• Quadruple meter• Begins on an upbeat• Bass line moves in a stepwise melodic line

Courante• French for Courir “To Run”• Binary Form• Triple Meter• Begins on an upbeat• Continuous Triplets• Sequencing – minor scale

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WNrH9PK0ug

Sarabande• Slow dance • Binary Form• Triple Meter• Theme returns in the Chaconne.• Very solemn longing feel expressed throughout

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0FEXtupkp0

Gigue• French for Jig• Binary Form• Compound Meter• Moderately Fast

Chaccone

• Variations over basso continuo• Dance song imported from Latin America

to Spain later moved to Italy where it was known at the Ciaconna.

• Most well-known movement of any partita

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke34bIxmVas