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
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