MSCY 511/611 (Early Music)

WEEK 10 – JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (WEEK 1)

All about Bach
What comes to your mind when
you hear the name Bach?
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Today he is one of the most famous and most respected composers in Western music history
◦ He was perhaps most famous as a keyboard virtuoso during his lifetime, however

By 1750, some critics considered his music old-fashioned and overly technical
◦ For about 50-75 years afterward, it was not performed that often
◦ Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven all studied Bach’s music, however
◦ An 1829 performance of St. Matthew Passion (conducted by Felix Mendelssohn) helped stimulate a
revival of interest in Bach’s music among the general public

Bach wrote music in almost all genres except opera

◦ A rare composer who is equally famous for both instrumental and vocal works
◦ Also a rare composer who wrote works that are respected for their technical qualities, yet are also
beloved for their beauty and expressiveness
Bach’s keyboard music
Bach wrote in a variety of styles for organ, harpsichord, and clavichord
◦ Dance suites, preludes and fugues, etc.

His keyboard pieces are notable for their memorable themes and unified architecture
◦ Bach’s works often take a small motive or theme and use it to generate the musical material for an
entire piece (imagine a seed growing into a tree)
The Well-Tempered Clavier
Two books of preludes and fugues in all 24 keys
◦ Book I – 1722, Book II – ca. 1730-1740
◦ Shows how equal-tempered tuning (which was new then) could be used
◦ Balance between free and strict styles

Example: Prelude and Fugue No. 7 in Eb Major from WTC, Book II

◦ How does Bach create contrast between the prelude and fugue?
◦ Yet how does he create unity within each piece?
Bach’s orchestral music
Bach absorbed the Italian style (especially Vivaldi) and integrated it into his own style
◦ Think about what you read about/listened to in LA/RA 3

Brandenburg Concertos (1721)

◦ Six different concertos in different styles (collected as a sort of job application)
◦ Each concerto is written for a different combination of instruments

Example: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, 1st mvt.

Example: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major, 1st mvt.
Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, 1st mvt.
◦ Written for strings and harpsichord continuo
◦ How does Bach create a variety of sounds and textures despite only writing for strings?

Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major, 1st mvt.

◦ Adds a flute to the texture this time
◦ How does Bach use the combination of flute and strings?
◦ Later in the piece, the keyboard part becomes highly elaborate/virtuosic
Bach’s solo instrumental music
Bach wrote six sonatas and partitas for solo violin as well as six suites for solo cello

Each movement of the suites is in the style of a specific type of dance

Even though only one instrument is playing, Bach makes it sound polyphonic

Example: Suite No. 1 in G Major for Cello, Prelude (ca. 1720)

◦ How does Bach create the illusion of polyphony with a solo cello?