Brandenburg Concerto

?
  • Created by: LouiseB12
  • Created on: 16-02-18 11:47

Melody

  • Based off of the opening subject (bar 1)
  • Triadic and scalic
  • Opening melody of Section B (bar 79) transposes the subject
  • Accompaniment figure in bar 5 is transposed for the accompaniment of bars 79-80 in Section B
  • Bars 177-181 are a falling sequence
  • Use of trills and appoggiaturas 
  • Largely conjunct (bar 2)
  • Bar 1 has intervals of a 4th
1 of 8

Rhythm

  • Allegro
  • Written in simple duple metre
  • Triplet quavers make it sound like compund duple metre
  • Dotted rhythms are played as a triplet with a crotchet and quaver to fit the feel of the music
  • Triplets and dotted rhythms dominate
  • Semiquavers in the harpsichord part
2 of 8

Texture

  • Monophonic in bars 1-2
  • Contrapuntal throughout
  • Use of imitation (bars 1-4)
  • Harpsichord plays in four part counterpoint 
  • Section A is a fugato (has fugal characteristics)
  • Stretto (close imitation) in bar 63
  • Use of tutti sections 
  • Free canon in bar 193
  • Flute and biolin double in bars 33-44
3 of 8

Instrumentation

Concertino - the group of soloists:

  • Flute
  • Violin
  • Harpsichord

Ripieno - accompaniment 

  • Violin
  • Viola
  • Cello
  • Violine
  • Harpsichrd part is a virtuoso instrument and also part of the basso continuo (realisation of the figured bass)
4 of 8

Genre

  • Late Baroque
  • Concerto grosso - has a group of soloists
  • Narrow dynamic range
  • In the style of a gigue (fast courtly dance)
  • Standard chords of the time 
5 of 8

Harmony

  • Standard chords of the time: mainly I, IV and V, with use of II and VI
  • Triads and dominant 7ths in root position or first inversion
  • Harmony is functional
  • Diatonic chords
  • Suspensions (bar 116)
  • Tonic and dominant pedals underline the key changes in section B
  • Each sections ends with a perfect cadence
  • Flute and violin in parallel thirds (bars 107-114)
  • Harpsichord part in tenths (bar 108)
6 of 8

Tonality

  • In D major - used for most of the A sections
  • Section A has modulations to the dominant key (A major)
  • Section B is in the relative minor (B minor) and modulates to its dominant minor (F sharp minor) and A major 
7 of 8

Structure

Ternary structure (ABA)

Section A - bars 1-78 and bars 233-310

  • Begins in fugal style (fugato)
  • In D major
  • Brief sections in the dominant key

Section B - bars 78-232

  • Begins in B minor (relative minor)
  • New version of subject in the flute
  • Second theme returns in bar 148 in A major in the ripieno
  • Ends with a perfect cadence in B minor 
8 of 8

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Music resources:

See all Music resources »See all Bach resources »