Knowledge Organiser Baroque Era

J.S.Bach: BADINERIE from Orchestral Suite No.2 in B Minor

Instrumentation
Solo Flute (Transverse), String Orchestra and Harpsichord (Basso Continuo).

Background Details Rhythm Harmony

Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer and musician of the Simple ostinato rhythms, forming the Diatonic throughout.
Baroque era. He is generally regarded as one of the greatest basis of the two short musical ideas
Section A modulates from the tonic to
composers of all time. (X and Y), consisting almost totally of
the dominant minor.
He was born on the 31st of March 1685 and died at the age of 65 on quavers and semi-quavers.
the 28th of July 1750. Section B does the opposite.
The time signature is 2/4 throughout.
Composition date: 1738-1739. Imperfect and perfect cadences are
Orchestral Suite No.2 contains seven movements (sections): clearly presented throughout.
Overture, Rondeau, Sarabande, Bourree, Polonaise, Menuet and Dynamics
Badinerie. Chords frequently occur in inversion with
Mostly forte, including use of occasional use of V7 in third inversion.
terraced dynamics (although very
Form and Structure few markings appear on the score, A Neapolitan sixth chord is used in bar
which was typical of the period). 35.
Binary form (AB)
Each section is repeated once (AABB): Suspensions also occur in bars 81, 101 and
321
Section A: Bars 02 – 161 16 bars Melody and Pitch:
2 1
Section B: Bars 16 – 40 24 bars
The movement is based on two short musical ideas
Texture
Tonality (motifs); X and Y.
Homophonic (melody & accompaniment).
The flute part has a two-octave pitch range.
Section A begins in B minor and ends in F# minor.
Section B does the opposite, beginning in F# The flute and the cello provide the main
The movement includes ornaments and compositional
minor and ending in B minor. musical material, but the 1st violin
devices typical of the Baroque era:
participates occasionally.
Trills: Bars 81, 101, 152, 272, 301 and 321
Tempo The 2nd violin and viola provide harmony
Appoggiaturas: Bars 331 and 401
with less busy musical lines.
Allegro (not marked on the score). Sequences: 62 – 101 and bars 282 – 321.