1. Chapter 9 Baroque Instrumental Music
Concerto and Concerto Grosso: Bach

2. Key Terms Concerto Concerto grosso Concertare Movement Ritornello form
Cadenza

3. Concerto and Concerto Grosso
The most important orchestral genres of the Baroque era
Latin concertare = to contend
Concerto signifies a contest between—
Soloist & orchestra (concerto)
Group of soloists & orchestra (concerto grosso)
Virtuoso brilliance of solos & orchestra’s power, stability

4. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Came from family of musicians
Early positions as church organist
Soon took prestigious court positions
1723–Cantor & Director musices, Leipzig
Prolific–wrote in almost every late Baroque genre except opera
Lutheran church music–cantatas, passions
Organ music–fugues, chorale preludes
Keyboard music–Well-Tempered Clavier, suites
Orchestral music–concertos, suites

5. J.S. Bach

6. Bach’s church in Leipzig

7. Baroque Orchestra

9. The Concerto Grosso
Concerto for a group of solo instruments & orchestra
Otherwise similar to solo concerto
Three movements: Fast–Slow–Fast
Ritornello form often used in fast movements
Emphasis on contrast (contest) between soloists & orchestra

10. Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos
Set of six concertos written before 1721
Beautiful manuscript copy sent as gift to the Margrave of Brandenburg
Bach may have been looking for a job
Each concerto uses different group of solo instruments–often unusual combinations
Often dazzling tone colors
Imaginative contrasts between soloists & orchestra

11. Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 5
For three solo instruments–flute, violin, & harpsichord–and orchestra
Some soloists do double duty—
Solo violin also leads orchestra in ritornellos
Harpsichord also provides continuo chords
Uses standard three-movement format
I – Fast; II – Slow; III – Fast
1st movement in ritornello form
2nd movement uses reduced instrumentation: only soloists & continuo

12. Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, I (1)
Allegro movement in ritornello form
Extended movement–nearly ten minutes
To sustain interest, Bach introduces progressively more dramatic contrasts
Bright, vivacious ritornello theme
Homophonic feel–dominated by melody
Complete theme used only at beginning & end

13. Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, I (2)
Bright, vivacious ritornello theme (cont.)
Divides into three subsections (a, b, c)
Complex, irregular rhythms, melodic contour, & phrase lengths (especially b & c)

14. Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, I (2)
Solo episodes provide contrast
These sections feature the three solo instruments with continuo accompaniment
Solo sections use rich, imitative polyphony
Progressively more dramatic contrasts (especially central solo & cadenza)
Many concertos feature a cadenza
Cadenza = improvised passage for soloist
Typically used near end of 1st movement
A cadenza this long was unusual in 1721

15. Conclusions Concerto the most significant Baroque orchestral genre
Usually feature one or more soloists
Contest between soloist(s) & orchestra
Three movements, Fast–Slow–Fast
Differ in tempo, mood, key or mode, & form
Fast movements often use ritornello form
Bach’s music is more sophisticated & complex than Vivaldi’s