Brandenburg Concerto No.5

  • Melody
      * Mostly conjunct melody, although there are some leaps
      * There are rising sequences (b137)
      * Many ornaments - typical for baroque
      * 2 principal themes
      * Subject and answer are alternate every 2 bars
      * Entries of subject and answer are closer than before - seeming fast and tumbling (stretto)
      * Countersubject - harmony line for subject
      * Uses pedal, suspensions, and sequences
  • Harmony
      * Uses standard chords (I, IV, V, sometimes II and VI)
      * includes dominant 7ths in inversions
      * Functional harmony
      * Usually uses root and 1st inversion chords
      * Occasional suspensions (b130)
  • Tonality
      * Predominantly D major
      * B section is in B minor - relative minor
      * Final A section is back in D
      * Sometimes modulates to dominant (A maj)
      * ^ Indicated by use of accidentals
  • Instrumentation
      * A concerto grosso - concerto for more than 1 soloist
      * Concertino - solo instruments (flute, violin, harpsichord)
      * Ripieno - accompanying part (string orchestra)
      * Basso continuo - continuous bass line in harpsichord + low strings
      * Harpsichord has 5 roles - soloist, part of the basso, realising the figured bass, completing the harmony, conducting/directing the ensemble
  • Tempo
      * 2/4
      * Uses many triplets and dotted rhythms (theme 1)
      * Harpsichord part has many semiquaver runs
      * Could’ve also been notated in 6/8 (due to triplets)
  • Context
      * Bach wrote 6 Brandenburg concertos for the Margrave of Brandenburg
      * Usual for Baroque music to only have 1 mood - affection
      * Affection for this piece was upbeat - similar to a dance
      * Written as chamber music - small group of musicians
  • Dynamics
      * Few dynamic markings, since it is Baroque era
      * There are terraced dynamics - balancing the instrument sounds
  • Structure
      * Ternary structure (ABA)
      * A section is a fugal style (Expositional)
      * B section adds a new theme
  • Texture
      * Mainly polyphonic (more than 1 melody at a time)
      * use of imitation
      * At the start, the flute + violin play in two-part imitation
      * When the harpsichord comes in, the subject is on the left hand, while the answer is in the right - 2 part counterpoint
      * Once all solo instruments are playing, this is 4 part counterpoint
      * Occasionally flute + violin play in thirds