Brandenburg Concerto No.5 3rd Mov - J.S. Bach

Context

• gigue (lively)

• fugue (contrapuntal, polyphonic)

• late baroque

• 1711-1720

Performing Forces

• basso continuo - harpsichord, cello, violon

• flute

• violin

• harpsichord

• ripieno (small string orchestra) - violin, viola, cello, violon

Structure

• ternary

• A sections are exactly the same

• ritornello form (recurring musical section or theme that repeats contrasting or different musical sections) in B

Melody

• scalic runs in harpsichord

• conjunct

• rising sequence

• ornamentation

Gigue Features

• dance-like

• lively

• 6/8

• allegro

• D major - suitable for strings

Dynamics

• none written down

• left to performers to decide

• terraced dynamics

Metre

• 2/4

• feels like 6/8 because of triplets

Rhythm

• triplets and dotted quavers

• semiquaver runs in harpsichord

Tonality

• D major for most of A section

• B Section - A major (dominant) then B minor (relative minor)

Harmony

• diatonic and functional

• mostly primary chords

• perfect cadences at the end of sequences

• suspension occasionally used

• mainly root position or 1st inversion chords

Texture

• polyphonic / contrapuntal

• soloists create 4-part counterpoint

• starts monophonic then polyphonic

• pedal point