Chapter 9: Baroque Instrumental Music

Fugue and Dance Suite

Key Terms
fugue fugue subject exposition subject entries episode contrapunctus fugal devices suite Baroque dance form binary form trio French overture walking bass

Fugue
most characteristic form of Baroque music systematized imitative polyphony
polyphonic composition for a fixed number of instrumental lines or voices built on a single principle theme (subject) subject chased from one voice to another

Typical Fugue
exposition alternating episodes and subject entries

Fugal Exposition
the subject = the principle theme all voices take turns presenting the subject in full each voice continues with new material as next one states subject

Episodes and Subject Entries

subject re-enters at intervals
in any voice in different keys

episodes contrast with subject entries final subject entry in tonic key

Subject Entries vs. Episodes

subject entries fixedalways recognizable as subject stablein one key for each statement may occur in different keys after episodes episodes freemay explore motives from subject in any order Unstablemodulate from one key to another connect subject entries that are in different keys

Fugues, Free and Learned

fugue as genre (a fugue)
uses exposition, subject entries, and episodes full-scale, independent work learned fugue

fugue as style or procedure

imitative section in a larger work a work in fugal style free fugue

Fugal Devices
countersubject stretto augmentation diminution inversion

Bach, The Art of Fugue

a testament to Bachs fugal skill twenty canons and fugues on the same subject unfinished final fugue Bachs epitaph
theme no. 4 spells B-A-C-H German B = B-flat; H = B-natural

Bach, Contrapunctus 4
fugue in four voices exposition: voices enter high to low

episodes: based on subjects final motive and a cuckoo figure

Bach, Contrapunctus 4
later subject entries: like secondary expositions
voices often enter in different order fugal devices used (stretto) expanded pitch range of subject

The Dance Suite

a grouping of miscellaneous dances
all in same key last dance always fast

usually stylized dances

written for listening, not dancing allow greater musical sophistication

written for various performing forces

orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo harpsichord or lute

Baroque Dances
each dance characterized by
specific dance steps a certain meter a distinctive tempo unique rhythmic features

Baroque Dances
Dance allemande courante sarabande minuet gavotte bourre siciliana gigue Meter 4/4 3/2 3/4 3/4 4/4 2/2 12/8 6/8 Tempo moderate moderate slow moderate moderate rather fast moderate fast Rhythm flowing motion 6/4 at times accents beat 2 straight rhythm double upbeat short upbeat gently rocking short upbeat, lively

Baroque Dance Form

binary form: two sections (a, b)
each ends with strong cadence each is repeated (a a b b) symmetrical feelshared motives, cadences, etc. b usually longer than a

a a b b or |: a :||: b :|

Dance and Trio

larger-scale A B A form
groups 2 shorter dances of same type (A) contrasting middle dance is the trio (B) minuet and trio, gavotte and trio, etc.

trio is softer and lighter than A dance

uses different melody and rhythms

return of A creates satisfying conclusion

French Overture
a special preparatory number at the start of a suite developed by Louis XIVs orchestra sharply contrasting sections (A B A)

French Overture
A: slow; dotted rhythms; duple meter; homophonic texture

B: fast; often compound meter, imitative polyphony

A: often shortened version of A

Bach, Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D

scored for festive Baroque orchestra includes
French overture air gavotte and trio bourre gigue

Bach, Air
French air = aria (song) Bachs most famous, beloved melody scored for strings and continuo Baroque dance form (binary form) spontaneous, singing melody with irregular rhythms stable walking bass

Bach, Air

Bach, Gavotte I and II

scored for festive Baroque orchestra gavotte and trio
typical gavotte two-quarter-note upbeat opening melody of a inverted to open b

trio unusual in its use of full orchestra