Bradenburg Concerto

Concerto Grosso

Made of concertino (small group of soloists - violin, flute, harpsichord) and ripieno (larger orchestra)

Basso Continuo

Continuous bass played by harpsichord and low strings

Figured Bass

Harpsichord reads single bass line with added figures (shows chords above notes)

Role of Harpsichord

• Soloist

• part of basso continuo

• accompaniment to complete harmony

• realises figures bass

• Coordinator

Time Signature

2/4

Tempo

Allegro

Gigue

Dance like movement - in 6/8 (compound time)

Rhythmic features

• Triplets - make it seem like in 6/8

• Dotted Rhythms

• Quavers

Key

D major

Modulations

Lots of modulations to dominant key: D - A(add Gsharps) - E(add Dsharps) - A - D (Section A)

Section B : Bm - Fsharpm - A - Em - Bm - D - Fsharpm

Diatonic

Trills

Used on minims for harpsichord since cant sustain notes

Texture

• Mostly contrapuntal (subject and countersubject - often virtuosic) and fugal

• Parts where monophonic (beginning) and homophonic

Structure

Combines fugue (exposition, middle, final) and ternary (ABA)

Fugal Exposition

Subject and answer played alternatively every two bars (countersubject played while not playing)

Stretto

Subject and answer enter only one bar after - like tumbling over - more exciting

Baroque musical devices

• Suspensions

• Sequences

• Pedals

Dynamics

No dynamics since weren’t invented back then. Use terraced dynamics - layer instruments to create louder sound

Melody

Stepwise + conjunct

Scalic runs in harpsichord

Passagework - quick short notes

Sequences