One of the masters of the late Baroque period in music was Johann
Sebastian Bach, bringing to perfection all the forms and textures
that he inherited from the past—oratorios, passions, cantatas,
fugues, concerti grossi, suites, toccatas, polyphonic textures and
counterpoint. As we begin our listening adventure together, first
choose a quiet time when you feel you can do nothing else but listen
to music uninterruptedly. Then set out to purchase (or borrow from
the library) Bach’s BRANDENBURG CONCERTO #2 IN F MAJOR. One
of the composer's most beloved compositions, this is the second
in a set of six concerti grossi named after the German Prince, the
Margrave Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg, to whom they were dedicated.
The concerto grosso of the Baroque period was based
on the contrast, or opposition between two different masses of sound.
A small group of instruments – the concertino—was pitted
against a large group, the concerto grosso. The contrast was one
of dynamics as well as color: an even level of soft sound produced
by the solo group, contrasted with an even level of louder sound
produced by an accompanying group. This alternation between two
even levels or terraces of sound is known as Terraced Dynamics and
is as typical of the Baroque as the crescendo – diminuendo*
is typical of the classic and romantic eras. So, if a composer of
the late eighteenth or nineteenth century desired a bigger tone,
he instructed the musicians to play louder. If a composer of the
Baroque period desired a bigger tone, he wrote for a larger group
of players.
The contrasting areas of soft and loud may be compared
to areas of light and shade in baroque painting. For right now,
play the music and listen for the solo group of instruments in the
first movement, the trumpet, flute,oboe and violin. The accompanying
group includes a full string section supported by a harpsichord
that fills in the harmonies. Next time I’ll talk about this
piece in more depth, movement by movement. Try to listen to this
wonderful work over and over again so you become more familiar with
it. I hope you enjoy it.
*diminuendo= getting softer
*crescendo = getting louder
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