Johann Sebastian Bach, born in 1685 in Germany, composed over 1100 musical works ranging from orchestral and chamber music to vocal and choral works. Although he was not appreciated during his life-time, he thoroughly enriched the sounds of his native country’s music as well as artists and composers after him. His keyboard masterpieces include The Well- Tempered Clavier, Inventions and Sinfonias, and three collections of dance suites: the English Suites, the French Suites, and the Partitas for keyboard. The three collections of suites are among the most prestigious piano pieces. Musicians and musicologists have debated the name of these three keyboard works for years. The authenticity of the works’ titles is the initial controversy. There is no proof of Bach giving the suites or partias specific names. He simply called them, “Six Suites for Harpsichord”, “Six …show more content…
The galant movement strove to return to simplicity and immediate gratification after the harsh complexities and overcomplications of the late Baroque era. This required a more straight-forward melody. J. S. Bach chose to focus on this singing melody throughout the entirety of the French Suites. In order to achieve this, he carefully avoids the use of technically complex figuration and thick texture. This can even be seen in the sarabandes, which are traditionally homophonic movements. The reduced usage of contrapuntal writing is also evident in the allemandes, which, with the absence of preludes, assume an introductory role. The courantes appear in two different types: slow and deliberate French (nos. 1 and 3) and lively Italian corrente (nos. 2, 4, 5 and 6). Also worth noting are the varieties shown in the gigues of first half: grand French overture (no.1), blissful French canarie (no.2), and smoothly-flowing Italian giga (no.3). These features further facilitate Bach’s attempt and success of the galant
Johann Sebastian Bach was a composer, a musician, teacher, and organist who later became a specialist in construction of organs. Bach learnt to play the violin, the orchestra, and the organ from his father and his famous uncle and twin brother to the father, Johann Christoph at a young age. The organ was his chosen instrument. He also achieved success in the art of Fugue, choral polyphone, instrumental music and dance forms. In Eisenach he attended Old Latin Grammar School, the same school that Martin Luther had attended. He sang in the schools choir. His parents died before Bach was 10 years old. His mother died when Bach was nine years old, his father’s death followed nine months later (Sherrane, 2011). After the parents death Bach was taken in by his older brother Johann Christoph who had already established himself as an organist in Ohrdruf. Johann Christoph had a great influence in Bach’s success in music as he taught him and encouraged him to study music composition. At the same time Bach was attending the Gymnasium grammar school in Ohrdruf where he studied theology, Latin...
A sinfonia (Italian for symphony) broadly refers to a number of instrumental works from the Baroque period, including symphonies, sonatas, canzonas, concerti, and Italian opera overtures. Even J.S. Bach titles his “three-part” inventions for harpsichord “Sinfonia”. Torelli’s Sinfonia in D (G.8) is a four-movement “concerto” for trumpet, strings and harpsichord continuo. Unlike a concerto grosso, where a main theme is presented and then reappears in fragments, the main themes of Sinfonia in D are developed rather freely. The second movement (Adagio) is a very short, slow, interlude without trumpet that introduces the third movement (Allegro). Hence, the program shows these two movements as “adagio-allegro” joined together.
...rease in popularity during the Baroque Age. The listeners enjoyed hearing the keyboard pieces that were often grouped into suites and played in the same key. Organ music was also very important during this era, mainly being played in church services. The major forms of keyboard music were preludes, chorals, variations, and fugues. Each of the three musicians used these forms of keyboard music in their pieces. Through these forms, Bach was able to take on every genre of music, creating his own which was the keyboard concerto. The works that Handel composed were often forgotten unless they were an oratorio. Telemann’s music was generally complex containing French, Italian, and Polish styles. Though the styles of music between these three men vary, they were able to leave a positive lasting impression causing people to reproduce and listen to their music regularly.
3 in A Minor was published in 1727, dedicated to Bach’s second wife, Anna Magdalena. The work opens with a quick-tempo Fantasia — a two-part contrapuntal piece in 3/8 with a melodic line that flows gracefully between the two hands, with inversions and modulations. The lyrical Allemande follows the traditional characteristics of a moderately slow movement in quadruple meter and binary form, and is articulated with turns and mordents. The Italian Corrente that follows it is a lively dance featuring sharply dotted rhythms and sixteenth notes. This is contrasted by the serious and dignified Sarabande, which is serious and dignified, yet lacks the accented second beats commonly used in most sarabandes, making it an unusual
In the early 1740’s, Bach began work on what many consider to be his most monumental project ever, Art of the Fugue. Bach intended this piece to be an extensive study of “the art of fugal counterpoint,” exploring the possibilities and various outcomes that can be produced by manipulating a single theme (“The Art of the Fugue”). Bach was not commissioned to compose this piece, nor was the idea inspired or suggested to him by anyone else; in creating Art of the Fugue, Bach was “alone in his genius” (Herz, 4-5). The result of Bach’s endeavors was a collection of eighteen fugues, all in the same key, and all based on the same principle theme. This principle theme was modified and transformed into an astonishing number of over twenty different major variations and one hundred minor variations (“The Art of the Fugue”).
The fugue from Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in B minor is a work that was composed in Bach’s later years. Bach composed this work during his tenure at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, Germany. This work as a whole is a great example of Bach’s mature essays, which appeared in his later Weimar years. The fugue is very different from the prelude. None of the material from the prelude is introduces in the fugue. The subject is only two measures in length; the plain subject is boring by it self. But Bach turns that two measure subject into an eighty-eight-measure fugue. I will explore two different ideas that make up the majority of the fugue, melody and developmental form. I will also talk about how I would interpret this work when preforming it.
One of Bach’s many popular compositions is the Fugue. A fugue, defined by Smith (2001), “[is a] polyphonic procedure involving a specified number of voices in which a motive subject is exposed, in each voice in an initial dominant relationship, then developed by contrapuntal means. A fugue consists of one exposition followed...
Johann Sebastian Bach was one of the most famous German composers of his time. All of his work was mostly during the baroque era. The baroque period was from 1600 to 1750 and it is known to be one of the most diverse musical periods as opposed to the other classical music eras. It was in this era that “included composer like Bach, Vivaldi and Handel, who pioneered new styles like the concerto and the sonata.”(Classic FM) Johann Sebastian was born in the midst of the Baroque era as he was born on March 31, 1685 in Thuringia, Germany. Johann came from a family of musicians, which is how he himself became one as well. It was his father who showed him how to play his first instrument, which was the violin. His father was also a well-known musician in his town as he “worked as the town musician in Eisenach.”(Johann Sebastian Bach) It is known that Johann Sebastian went to a school that taught him
(TheRealConcertKing), the polyphonic contrapuntal style is apparent. However, it is accompanied by concerto grosso with use of the technique of terraced dynamics in ritornello form (Whitehouse 76). In Johann Sebastian Bach’s, “Brandenburg Concerto No 4 G major BWV 1049”(Classical Vault 2), the major and minor tonality is obvious, The terraced dynamic are clearly heard when the solo (violin and two flutes) play and when the full orchestra plays (Whitehouse 86). Author Whitehouse writes,” The immediate decrease in sound when the smaller group plays and a return to a full sound when the full orchestra plays” (Whitehouse 87). Bach also used ritornello form in “Brandenburg Concerto No 4 G major BWV 1049” (Classical Vault 2). Bach’s chosen ripieno is, tutti, solo, tutti, solo, tutti, solo (Whitehouse 8...
This paper will explore the life of the great composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach was considered one of the greatest composers of all time. He created amazing, famous compositions that made a big impact in today’s world. He went through rough times like many people do, the loss of his parents and finding a way back to the old routine was not an easy task. Bach came from generations of musicians and was given a religious education which is something that played a big role in his life when becoming a musician. We will analyze and learn the significance of some of his great compositions, the stories and what inspired him to compose music.
Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 is an orchestral work performed by the the Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey, conducted by George Marriner Maull. On top of being preformed by an orchestra consisting of violins, violas, cellos, and basses, it is accompanied by a harpsicord and recorders. The piece is performed in G major, major meter, and is in cut time, simple meter, with the vast majority of the piece is performed mezzo forte. However, that is not all the piece has to offer has it makes diversions through the main theme throughout the piece.
Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven both flourished in their compositions of classical music; however, their genre of music differed considerably. Bach was a German composer during the Baroque time era of western music which is estimated to have taken place during 1600 to 1750. It was during this time that he composed prolific church organ music which included such works as the Mass in B Minor, much scared choral music, and the St. Matthew Passion, as well as composing over a thousand works in nearly every musical genre except opera. On the other hand, Beethoven was a German composer whom began to emerge during the classical era of western music twenty years after Bach. This era took place throughout the years1750 and 1830. The large quantity of arrangements, over two hundred works in numerous musical genres composed by Beethoven was significantly influenced by his predecessors, onset of deafness, and his highly personal expression of intellectual depth. Such works include the first an...
Johann Sebastian Bach was born into a family of musicians. It was only natural for him to pick up an instrument and excel in it. His father taught him how to play the violin and harpsichord at a very young age. All of Bach’s uncles were professional musicians, one of them; Johann Christoph Bach introduced him to the organ. Bach hit a turning point in his life when both of his parents died at the age of ten years old. Bach’s older brother Johann Christoph Bach took him in and immediately expanded his knowledge in the world of music. He taught him how to play the clavichord and exposed him to great composers at the time. At the age of fourteen, Bach and his good friend George Erdmann were awarded a choral scholarship to the prestigious musical school St. Michael’s in Luneburg. From then on, Bach began to build his career in the music industry. His first two years at the school he sang in the school’s a cappella choir. Historical evidence has shown that Bach at a young age would visit Johanniskirche and would listen to the works of organ player Jasper Johannsen. This was thought to have been the inspiration to Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor. Studying at the prestigious musical school has help Bach network his way around and become acquaintances’ with some of the best organ players at the time such as Georg Böhm, and Johann Adam Reincken. Through his acquaintance with Böhm and Reincken Bach had access to some of the greatest and finest instruments.
A peer to such keyboard greats - such as Rubenstein, Thalberg, and Liszt - Clara Schumann (1819-1896) was a brilliant pianist and composer. Carrying a career which extended over sixty years, Schumann contributed a great deal of repertoire to the world of Lieder. Much like her performing technique, her compositions were famous for carrying a beautiful tone and poetic temperament. In analyzing Clara Schumann’s Liebst du um Schönheit, one can cultivate an understanding of Schumann’s compositional techniques, as they are implemented in the style of German lieder.
To begin to understand the nature of a piece, such as the “Prelude and Fugue in A Minor,” one must first understand Bach and the influences upon him. Before his knowledge on the fugue became famous and was used to educate future fugue composers, Bach was born into the Baroque era. He was constantly surrounded by war, chaos, and a strong urge for forward movement in religion, science, and art. The world had been through struggles over land, a movement to explore a new world, and people being executed under the pretense of being witches. The effects rang clear and true through all the people who lived in this era, including Bach. This chaotic world, along with the great influence from the exposure to the music of other parts of Germany, Italy, and France, produced a perfect climate for Bach’s brilliance.