chapter 9 baroque instrumental music concerto and concerto grosso: bach
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Chapter 9Baroque Instrumental Music
Concerto and Concerto Grosso:
Bach
Key Terms
Concerto
Concerto grosso
Concertare
Movement
Ritornello form
Ritornello
Cadenza
Concerto and Concerto Grosso
The most important orchestral genres of the Baroque era
Latin concertare = to contend
Concerto signifies a contest between—•Soloist & orchestra (concerto)•Group of soloists & orchestra (concerto
grosso)•Virtuoso brilliance of solos & orchestra’s
power, stability
Johann Sebastian Bach(1685-1750)
Came from family of musiciansEarly positions as church organistSoon took prestigious court positions1723–Cantor & Director musices, LeipzigProlific–wrote in almost every late Baroque genre except opera•Lutheran church music–cantatas, passions•Organ music–fugues, chorale preludes•Keyboard music–Well-Tempered Clavier, suites•Orchestral music–concertos, suites
J.S. Bach
Bach’s church in Leipzig
Baroque Orchestra
The Concerto Grosso
Concerto for a group of solo instruments & orchestra
Otherwise similar to solo concerto•Three movements: Fast–Slow–Fast•Ritornello form often used in fast movements•Emphasis on contrast (contest) between
soloists & orchestra
Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos
Set of six concertos written before 1721
Beautiful manuscript copy sent as gift to the Margrave of Brandenburg•Bach may have been looking for a job
Each concerto uses different group of solo instruments–often unusual combinations
Often dazzling tone colors
Imaginative contrasts between soloists & orchestra
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 5
For three solo instruments–flute, violin, & harpsichord–and orchestraSome soloists do double duty—•Solo violin also leads orchestra in ritornellos•Harpsichord also provides continuo chords
Uses standard three-movement format• I – Fast; II – Slow; III – Fast•1st movement in ritornello form•2nd movement uses reduced instrumentation:
only soloists & continuo
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, I (1)
Allegro movement in ritornello form
Extended movement–nearly ten minutes
To sustain interest, Bach introduces progressively more dramatic contrasts
Bright, vivacious ritornello theme•Homophonic feel–dominated by melody•Complete theme used only at beginning & end
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, I (2)
Bright, vivacious ritornello theme (cont.)•Divides into three subsections (a, b, c)•Complex, irregular rhythms, melodic contour,
& phrase lengths (especially b & c)
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, I (2)
Solo episodes provide contrast•These sections feature the three solo
instruments with continuo accompaniment•Solo sections use rich, imitative polyphony•Progressively more dramatic contrasts
(especially central solo & cadenza)
Many concertos feature a cadenza•Cadenza = improvised passage for soloist•Typically used near end of 1st movement•A cadenza this long was unusual in 1721
Conclusions
Concerto the most significant Baroque orchestral genre
Usually feature one or more soloists•Contest between soloist(s) & orchestra
Three movements, Fast–Slow–Fast•Differ in tempo, mood, key or mode, & form
Fast movements often use ritornello form
Bach’s music is more sophisticated & complex than Vivaldi’s
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