chapter 9 baroque instrumental music concerto and concerto grosso: bach

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