Download - Unit 3 baroque
JOHANN SEBASTIAN
BACH1685-1750
German composer, organist,
harpsichordist, violist, violinist.
Known for contrapuntal technique,
and harmonic and motivic organization• Fugue (like extreme imitative
polpyhony !)
During lifetime, respected more as
organ player than composer
Toccata, Adagio & Fugue, BWV 564 - Fuga
Father was a director of musicians: Uncles were all professional
musicians
Orphaned at 10, but continued to learn from family (brothers),• received scholarships for music
Worked as an organist in Arnstadt, but disliked the choir. Randomly
took months off to walk 250 miles and stay with an older organ
master (Buxtehude) for months• Wanted to be Buxtehude’s “amanuensis” (assistant/successor), but
would not marry daughter
Married his second cousin, had seven children (only four survived
to adulthood)
While in Kothen, his wife suddenly died.
Married a highly talented soprano (17 years younger!) and had
thirteen more children (six survived to adulthood) • All his children became musicians.
Continued to work for better churches, as royalty/patrons would
hire him.• Weimar, Kothen, Leipzig• Never got to write an opera – Why?
EMOTION IN HARMONY
Harmonies created with purpose!• Not just incidental because of polyphony• Not just one melody note (fauxbourdon) and a few
intervals
Importance of BASS voice as well as melody!• TWO voices (melody and bass) with MULTIPLE
intervals
Tension created by intervals• Dominant pedal• Suspensions (Close intervals wider intervals)
Melodies written in “major” and “minor” modes• Began to influence how chords were conceptualized
Vater Unser Im Himmelreich, BWV 737
Prelude and Fugue in e minor - Prelude
Fantasia & Fugue In G Minor, BWV 542, "The Great"
BACH’S HARMONIC GENIUSFigured Bass
• Same idea as Fauxbourdon, but BACKWARDS and EXPANDED!
Note– Basso Continuo used figured bass! • ALL players were required to “Realize” figured bass!
MODERN MAJOR/MINOR
Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do
Do Mi So Do
Do Re Me Fa So Le Te Do
Do Me So Do
Scales are actually just PATTERNS of HALF STEPS and WHOLE STEPS
Major: W-W-H-W-W-W-H Minor: W-H-W-W-H-W-W
BACH AS TEACHER
Don’t forget – he wrote music for all instruments, voices,
occasions… and LEVELS OF ABILTIY!
Well -Tempered Clavier• Explores every key, major and minor• Interesting debate about tuning practices of the day
(“meantone”)
2 and 3 part “inventions”• Explores counterpoint, all rules of rhythms/harmonies