Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What tempo is the first movement?

Allegro

Who composed it?

J.S. Bach

What is J.S. Bach's full name?

John Sebastian Bach

What era did he compose in and what years?

The Baroque era (1685-1750) Signup and view all the answers

Where was he born and where did he die?

Born in Eisenburg, Germany; Died in Leipzig Signup and view all the answers

What instruments did he write for?

Harpsichord and strings Signup and view all the answers

What is ritornello form?

A theme which returns many times; means 'a little return'; common baroque feature Signup and view all the answers

What is a concerto?

A work for soloist and orchestra Signup and view all the answers

What is a concerto grosso?

A work for 2 or more soloists and an orchestra Signup and view all the answers

What is a continuo?

A style of accompaniment from the Baroque era, usually harpsichord and cello Signup and view all the answers

What is figured bass?

When the letters under the notes tell the harpsichord what to play Signup and view all the answers

What instruments are in the first movement?

Solo flute, solo violin, harpsichord, strings Signup and view all the answers

What is the key signature?

D major (F and C sharp) Signup and view all the answers

What is the tonality?

Major Signup and view all the answers

What is the time signature?

Cut common time (2/2) Signup and view all the answers

What is the metre?

2 Signup and view all the answers

What is the texture?

Homophonic and polyphonic Signup and view all the answers

What are the features?

Ritornello, Triadic Movement, Step Movement, Episode, Canon, Concerto grosso, Ripieno/Tutti, Cadenza Signup and view all the answers

What is triadic movement?

Moving using notes of triad only; in this piece D, F#, and A is the base of the ritornello Signup and view all the answers

What is step movement?

Uses every note of the scale; this ritornello is mainly descending Signup and view all the answers

What is an episode?

Is heard between each ritornello; it is different music each time Signup and view all the answers

What is a canon?

A compositional technique where two parts play; one part starts and the second enters afterwards by imitating Signup and view all the answers

What is concerto grosso in this piece?

Concerto grosso is the soloists violin and the flute Signup and view all the answers

What is ripieno/tutti?

When everybody plays; usually ripieno play the episodes in this piece Signup and view all the answers

What is a cadenza?

A passage of selection for the soloist to show off their technical ability and often not written down; in this, the harpsichord plays a long 64 bar long Signup and view all the answers

What is the tempo of the 2nd movement?

Afectuoso/Lento Signup and view all the answers

What is the instrumentation of the 2nd movement?

Solo flute, solo violin, harpsichord Signup and view all the answers

What is the key signature of the 2nd movement?

B Minor Signup and view all the answers

What is the tonality of the 2nd movement?

Minor Signup and view all the answers

What is the time signature of the 2nd movement?

4/4 (common time) Signup and view all the answers

What is the metre of the 2nd movement?

4 Signup and view all the answers

What is the texture of the 2nd movement?

Polyphonic Signup and view all the answers

What are the features of the 2nd movement?

Ritornello, Episode, Polyphonic, Canon, Ternary, Slow tempo, Affectuoso, Thirds Signup and view all the answers

What is polyphonic texture?

2 or more separate melodies played at the same time Signup and view all the answers

What is canon as a musical term?

A form of imitation; one part copies the other at a fixed distance Signup and view all the answers

What is ternary form?

A A B A B A Signup and view all the answers

What does affectuoso mean?

Affectionately Signup and view all the answers

What are thirds in music?

In some parts, the flute and the violin play thirds apart Signup and view all the answers

What are the similarities between the two pieces?

Both have: ritornello, harpsichord accompanied, canon, trills/ornamentation, figured bass, episodes, polyphonic Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 Overview

Composed by J.S. Bach, known formally as John Sebastian Bach.
A prominent work from the Baroque era (1685-1750).
Notable for its lively first movement in Allegro tempo.

Composition Details

Birthplace: Eisenburg, Germany; Death: Leipzig, Germany.
Written for harpsichord and string instruments.
The first movement features solo flute, solo violin, harpsichord, and strings.

Musical Structure

Employs ritornello form, characterized by a recurring theme.
Concerto definition: A piece for soloist and orchestra.
Concerto grosso is for multiple soloists and orchestra, present in this work with the solo flute and violin.

Key Musical Concepts

Continuo: A prominent accompaniment style in the Baroque using harpsichord and cello.
Figured bass technique directs the harpsichordist on playing.
The key signature of the first movement is D major, indicated by F and C sharp.

Characteristics of the Movements

Time signature of the first movement: Cut common time (2/2).
The overall tonality in the first movement is major; features include homophonic and polyphonic textures.
Texture varies between independent melodies and harmonic support in different sections.

Compositional Techniques

Key features include:
- Ritornello: Recurring theme throughout the piece.
- Episodes: Unique sections interspersed between ritornelli, primarily featuring solo instruments.
- Canon: Imitative technique employed by flute and violin.
- Ripieno/Tutti occurs when all instruments play together.

Cadenza and Movement Variations

Cadenza: A soloist's showcase of technical prowess; in this piece, the harpsichord features a lengthy 64-bar passage.
The second movement (Affectuoso/Lento) shifts to a more expressive tempo with instrumentation focusing on the solo flute, violin, and harpsichord, set in B minor.

Second Movement Features

The second movement is characterized by a polyphonic texture with two or more melodies.
Ternary form (ABA) used in this movement, showcasing variations and development of themes.
The term "affectuoso" denotes an affectionate or expressive style.

Common Elements

Similarities between movements include:
- Use of ritornello and episodes, harpsichord accompaniment.
- Techniques like canon, trills, ornamentation, and figured bass.
- Presence of polyphonic textures across both movements.

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Description

Test your knowledge on J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major with these flashcards. Learn about the composition, including tempo, composer details, and historical context in the Baroque era. Perfect for music history enthusiasts and students alike.