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Summary Edexcel GCSE music notes Grade 9 (Brandenburg concerto)
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Made these notes in 2019 for the 2019 Music GCSE sitting. Achieved a Grade 9. Really useful for Setwork revision and memorisation.
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BACHS- BRANDENBURG CONCERTOCONTEXT:
Johann Sebastian Bach is regarded as one of the greatest composers
of the Baroque era.
In 1717, Bach appointed Kapellmeister (choirmaster) at the court of
Prince Leopold in Cöthen.
During this period Brandenburg Concertos were composed.
Bach wrote music at the request of his employers (mainly secular).
His work for them consisted of instrumental music, solo keyboard
pieces, dance suites for orchestra, and concertos.
These six famous concerti grossi were composed between 1711 and
1720 and were dedicated in 1721 to Christian Ludwig, Margrave (a
type of nobleman) of Brandenburg.
In 1719 Bach had gone to Berlin to order a new harpsichord and
performed to the Margrave. The nobleman was impressed with
Bach’s music and commanded him to submit some pieces. This is
much like the patronage that we shall see with Beethoven’s
composition of the piano sonatas later.
It is known that the Margrave had shown interest in Bach’s music
and almost certainly the Brandenburg musicians never played the
music.
The Baroque era (c.16001750):
In music, this decorative element translates into the use of
ornamentation in melodic lines.
The best known composers of the Baroque period are Henry Purcell
(c.1659-95), Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), George Frederic
Handel (1685-1759) and Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Features of the Baroque style:
Ornaments
Major/minor tonal system
Diatonic chords of I, II, IV, V and VI
The basso continuo (see below)
Different musical textures such as monophonic, homophonic and
polyphonic
Musical devices such as the sequence, pedals and suspensions
The prevalence of one mood or ‘affection’ in a given
Movement contrasting dynamics with just two levels loud and soft
(called terraced dynamics)
, Use of the Baroque orchestra, based on the new string family
(violins, violas and cellos replacing viols) with harpsichord playing
supporting harmonies as part of the basso continuo. The use of wind
instruments varied from piece to piece depending on availability.
Bach wrote for whatever skilled players were at his disposal, hence
the different combinations of solo instruments in the six
Brandenburg Concertos
A SECTION (b1-78):
Briefly monophonic at beginning
In ternary form
Allegro – fast
Duple time
Perfect 4th interval in the beginning
Melody repeated a 4th higher when played by flute
Fugal style opening
2 part counterpoint between flute and violin
D major
Polyphonic texture
Conjunct
Triplets make it sound like its in 6/8
2 part counterpoint in harpsichord
Playing in 3rds between flute and violin
4 part counterpoint
scalic semiquaver runs in harpsichord
ornaments trills baroque influence
Goes briefly to a major
Unison between flute and violin (doubling)
Virtuosic harpsichord part couldn’t sustain notes
Perfect cadence at end of section
Stretto- 4 entries of the subject close together (in violin, viola and
harpsichord)
Figured Bass helps harpsichord players with improvisation
B SECTION (b79-232):
B minor
Melody variation
Tonic pedal note on B
Appoggiatura in violin
Triplet broken chord accompaniment in RH of harpsichord
F sharp minor when harpsichord gets the tune as well as added trills.
Suspension (clash then resolved)
Ascending sequence
A major
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