Baroque Era
Ch 11, 12, 13
Johann Sebastian Bach
Baroque Suite
Chorale
Chorale Prelude
Cantata
Johann Sebastian Bach
Church Musician
Write music for services
Play organ
Teach choirs
Teach soloists
Conduct orchestra, choirs
Court Musician
Wrote music for entertainment
Wrote commissioned pieces
School teacher
Organ teacher
Organ construction consultant
Composer—sacred & secular music
Husband/father
Bach’s Music
Extremely large output
Finest quality
Great variety of genres
keyboard music (organ, harpsichord)
concertos
sonatas
motets
cantatas
even a Mass!
orchestral suites
NO OPERA
Baroque Suite
Contrasting dance-inspired mvts (C)
for listening, not dancing
All mvts in same key (U)
Mvt. 1 = serious French Overture (C)
(strange way to open)
Overview
Bach
Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, Bourrée
Dance Suite Movement
I=
Driving, exuberant rhythm
AABB form
Careful control of timbre
Helps:
Connect Kamien
Kamien Text Listening Guide
Chorale
Hymn for congregational singing
easy to sing
easy to remember
Homophonic
in German
Strophic
Helps:
Connect Kamien
Kamien Text Listening Guide
Chorale Prelude
A chorale “decorated,”
i.e., woven into a more
(of course!)
elaborate piece
Played on organ
Uses:
as introduction to congregation’s singing
of chorale
as prelude music before service
Think about it…
Furniture, machines, architectural components, musical
instruments (e.g., pipe organ)—all highly decorated,
become beautiful works of visual art as well as useful
devices…
Shrubbery is pruned into visually interesting, exotic
shapes (topiary)…
A simple chorale for congregational singing is woven into
an elaborate, more complex, and lengthier piece of
music…
See a pattern here?
Cantata
most sacred, some secular
multi-movement, lengthy
chorus, soloists, orchestra,
organ
Large-scale
work
in German
usually based on Sunday’s
scripture
many based on familiar
chorales
Usefulness
in worship
VIMP
Cantata
Bach’s output = HUGE (>350)
variety
style
performing forces
highest artistic standards
sincere religious devotion
Log
Bach
Cantata #140, (Wachet auf )
Sacred cantata
I=
Mvt 4: 2 highly contrasting ideas
combined in Ritornello-like
organization
Mvt 7: simple homophonic chorale
Helps:
Connect Kamien
Kamien Text Listening Guide
Wachet auf chorale melody
Zi - on
hört die Wäch-ter
sing -
en
Wachet auf, Mvt 4 combines 2 highly contrasting ideas:
faster R
& angular
gestures
Orchestra plays complex “decoration”
sin-----Tenors sing
simple chorale
melody
hört die Wäch-ter
on
Zi -
gen-----
slower R & smooth arched phrases
Wachet auf, Mvt 4
Form:
Decor
Decor
Decor
Decor Decor Chorale
Decor Chorale Decor Chorale Decor
Decor Chorale
Decor = musical “decoration” (see previous slide)
This movement’s structure is similar to ritornello form.
How does it differ from the Brandenburg ritornello form?
Helps:
Name the elements or events that create UNITY.
Name the elements or events that create CONTRAST. Connect Kamien
Kamien Text
Listening Guide