Transcript LISTEN! - Bedford

Chapter 9
Baroque
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 musicians
Early positions as church organist
Soon took prestigious court positions
1723–Cantor & Director musices, Leipzig
Prolific–wrote in almost every late Baroque
genre except opera
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Lutheran church music–cantatas, passions
Organ music–fugues, chorale preludes
Keyboard music–Well-Tempered Clavier, suites
Orchestral music–concertos, suites
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 orchestra
Some 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