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Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543

by

Johann Sebastian Bach

Sacred: they were played before each chorale and sometimes used to accompany the congregation. They also served as a “prelude” or interlude at other points of the service.

They were, and still are suitable recital material.

Contemporary Context

Bach is considered a master composer in his day and ours.

-Embraced all the major styles, forms, and genres of his time.

-Blended them in new ways and developed them further.

Result: music of unprecedented richness.

Contemporaries

-German: J. Pachelbel, Keiser, Stamitz, W.H. Pachelbel, Telemann, L. Mozart.

-Italian: Corelli, A. Scarlatti, D. Scarlatti, Vivaldi, Marcello, J.B. Lully.

-English: H. Purcell, Handel.

-French: Rameau, Lully.

-Austrian: Haydn.

Contextual History

Period (Con't)

Genre

Johann Sebastian Bach

Fugues vs. Canons:

-Similarities: Utilizes the same melody/theme, different entrances, contains several voices, counterpoint, contrapuntal devices (diminution, augmentation).

-Differences: Canons: use only the melody for material, the entrances of voices and materials is planned by a specific time interval, can include lyrics.

Kapellmeister,music director, and organist:

Fugue:

Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543.

Period (Con't)

-Highly imitative counterpoint.

-Contains entries and episodes in varying textures.

-Contrapuntal devices: sequence, fragmentation, augmentation, diminution, etc.

-BWV: “The Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis” (Bach Works Catalogue) is the title of the numbering system used in identifying compositions by J.S. Bach.

-They are numbered according to theme.

-Left school in 1702 to play organ in Sangerhausen under the Duke of Saxony-Weissenfels.

-1703 appointed organist of Neue Kirche. Bach was obsessed with the organ there.

-1707 organist of the Blasiusskirche in Muhlhausen.

-Orchestral member and organist in Weimar 1708-1717.

-Kapellmeister in Cöthen 1717-1720.

-In charge of music at four churches in Leipzig from 1723-1750.

-Kapellmeister in Dresden in 1736.

Fugues vs. Toccatas:

Similarities:

-Compositions written for keyboard, organ.

-Virtuosic compositions.

Differences:

-The Renaissance version of imitative, fugal compositions.

-Toccatas are improvised (more similar to Preludes).

Period

Instrumentation

Johann Sebastian Bach

Bio Con't

-Middle-Late Baroque.

-The fugues stylistic qualities in reference to the baroque period:

-Tonal

-Dissonance

-Counterpoint

-Ornaments

-The centrality of performance

During Bach's time in Weirmar (1708-1717), he made transcriptions of Vivaldi’s collection of concertos for organ.

-Counterpoint style

-Northern German and French influences

-Harmonic planning and thematic development.

Style:

-Born March 23, 1685 in Thuringia, which is a state in present-day Germany.

-Youngest of eight siblings.

-Attended St. Michael’s church (Latin School) in 1700, which had an impressive music tradition and a famous music library.

Contemporary:Jazz Quintet

Original:

Organ

-Tonal: adheres to totality.

-Imitative: subject, answer, countersubject.

-Ornamental: scalar, arpeggios, upper/lower mordents, anticipation notes.

-Harmonic: four-voice texture, cadence points.

-Solo: virtuosic.

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