CLASS #3THE BAROQUE, PART 2

CD #1, TRACKS 9 AND 10

Music AppreciationMUSI 115

Georg Philipp Telemann

1681-1767

Biographical facts

Self-taught

Perhaps the most prolific* composer of all

More respected than Bach at the time

Innovative composer Concerti* for unusual combinations of insturments

TVW numbers

Telemann-Werke-Verzeichnis*

Trumpet Concerto, CD #1, Track 9

Listen for… Rhythm* is steady and predictable Virtuoso* soloists

Extended breath phrases Mordents* and trills*

Period Instruments -- Baroque Trumpet

Limitations and Advantages

Only 12 notesDifficult to play in tuneDifficult to play consistentlyWarm, rich sound

Modern Trumpet (B-flat trumpet)

Limitations and Advantages

Over two octave* rangePrecise intonation*Fairly easy to learnHarsh, thin sound

BAROQUE MASTER

Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach, 1685-1750

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)

German Composer, Organist, Educator

Culminating figure of the Baroque style

Career in Northern Germany Musical family Organist and composer Devout Lutheran Secular and church patrons during

career

Personality

20 children!

Only five major appointments.

Musical goals and objectives?

Work ethic.

JS Bach Society Web Sites

http://www.jsbach.org/

http://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxjsbach.html

Examples of Contrapuntal* Music

Little Fugue in G minor*

Mühlausen 31 years old Pietist

Basic Theme

The Fugue and Its Devices

FugaContrapuntal, based on imitationSubject unifies the workChoral or instrumentalMelodic lines are referred to as

voices

Contrapuntal* devices

Inversion* Retrograde* Augmentation* Diminution*

Combinations

Jail!

Much-desired position of Kapellmeister* in Weimar Coffeehouse crowd Subordination

Well-Tempered Clavier*, Books 1&2

Intended as only instructional and experimental pieces

Dedication “for the use and profit of young musicians”

The Well-Tempered Clavier*, Books 1 & 2

New technique!

Equal temperament = tuning

Two pieces each in every new 24 Major and Minor keys 24 X 2 = 48 per book

Glenn Gould

Bach and the Sacred Cantata

Sacred cantatas Composed for

the Lutheran church

Multi-movement works

One unifying theme

The Lutheran Chorale

Battle hymns of the Reformation

Early hymns: in unison

Later hymns: 4-part harmony, soprano melody

Unifying thread of the Protestant cantatas*

Typical Work Week

Monday Meeting with clergy

Tuesday Composing, teaching

Wednesday Church services 2-4 hours

Thursday First rehearsal

Friday Editing, rehearsing

Saturday Final dress rehearsal

Sunday 6-8 hours in church

Typical Sunday Services

7 AM Motet*, hymns*, organ solo.

8 AM Cantata* and/or Chorale*

9 AM Sermon, at least one hour

10 AM – 12 Noon Cantata* and/or Chorale*, Communion*

Weekday Services

Daily Church 6 AM

HospitalsJailsFuneralsSpecial events

Additional Duties

Church

Teaching 9 AM – Noon

Latin, singing, composition

University collegium musicum*

Sacred Vocal Music

Over 200 church cantatas*

Four Passions*

One Catholic Mass Why?

Bach’s Cantatas *

Typically have 5–8 movements

Many movements based on chorale* tune

Several choral* numbers

Solosrecitatives *arias *

Ein Feste Burg*

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:

For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,

On earth is not his equal.

Martin Luther* A Mighty Fortress Is Our God*

Cantata No. 80, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, No. 8

Bach: Chorale prelude on A Mighty Fortress Is Our God*

Composed 140-plus organ chorales* Organ with three keyboards and a pedal

keyboard Based on chorale tune Ein feste Burg ist

unser Gott Varied texture

J. S. Bach and the Late Baroque Concerto*

Cöthen period (1717–23)

Instrumental chamber works

Margrave Christian of Brandenburg*

But first….

Why was Bach in Berlin?

Brandenburg Concertos* 1721, BWV 1046–1051

Three movements each:

I: Allegro, ritornello form, contrapuntal

II: Andante, Slower, quieter, continuous imitation

III: Allegro assai, four-voiced fugue

Brandenburg Concerto* #1

1st Movement

2nd Movement

3rd Movement

Cello Suite* #1

Yo-Yo Ma playing the Prelude (MTV-ish)

Yo-Yo Ma playing the Sarabande

The Goldberg Variations*, 1741, BWV 988

30 variationsHarpsichord

Count Kaiserling Johann Gottlieb Goldberg

You know how I feel about Wikipedia, but….

Contrapuntal Master

Musical Offering* (1747) 'Gentlemen, old Bach is here'

The Art of Fugue * Incomplete Encyclopedia of counterpoint Methodical predictability

Air On The G String*

CD #1, track 10Air* = aria* or songPlayed on one string only, the last (or G)

string

Transpositions

German violinist August Wilhelmj (1845 – 1908)

Almost every instrument and vocalist Julian Lloyd Webber with piano

Listen for…

Steady, predictable rhythm*Sustained melody*Intertwining voices between the string and

keyboard

BWV Numbers*

Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis Bach – Works – Numbers

Wolfgang Schmieder (1901-1990)

Genre listing Choral Organ Other keyboard