Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Came from long line of GERMAN musicians

1. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) • Came from long line of GERMAN musicians • Plus four of his sons became influential musicians themselves • Grew up in church music • First $$ / non-church gig was court conductor for Prince of Cothen • The Brandenburg Concertos grew out of this period.

2. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) • Went back to church position • Director for St. Thomas Church • Responsible for four main town churches in Leipzig • Remained @ position until death • Became involved in music education in Leipzig • In later years his eye sight left him and was completely blind at death

3. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) • Not recognized at time as greatest Baroque composer but considered most eminent organist and improviser • Bach created masterpieces in ever Baroque Form except Opera • Vocal pieces mainly for the church • Instrumentals had secular influence

4. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) • At this time secular and sacred music styles are very close to each other • Bach would often rewrite same pieces to fit one or the other • Baroque is music revived in 19th and 20th cen. • Bach becomes focus of serious music students • Recognized as the preeminent composer of the Age

5. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) • Considered the master of…. • The Fugue • Can be written for a group of instruments or voices but…. • Mostly found on organ and harpsichord • polyphonic piece • top line soprano • bottom line bass other voices vary in between • based around main theme called SUBJECT

6. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) • The Fugue…. • The SUBJECT • Subject stays mostly constant through out • But changes as it is moved into new keys and combines rhythmically with other lines • Form is flexible but beginning is always the same • Subject is started alone in soprano • Followed by solo Answer in another voice

7. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) • The Fugue • Subject is often accompanied throughout fugue by Countersubject • Episode can by linking material that has nothing to do with subject directly • Fugues sometimes introduced by short piece called a Prelude

8. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) • LISTENING JOURNAL: • BACH, Organ Fugue in G Minor (Little Fugue) • Bach has another G minor fugue that is longer • Subject goes into major keys for contrast • Subject goes into organist feet when played in the bass • *YOUTUBE FUGUE WRITING

9. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) • The Baroque Suite • sets of dance inspired movements • all movements in the same key but vary in tempo, meter, and character • suites differ from national origin • played for private parties • court concerts • background music for dinner • outdoor fest

10. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) • The Baroque Suite • Form is usually binary AABB • Suites often begin with non-dance inspired movement. • Most famous is the French Overture which has specific form • (slow & grand followed by fugue like section)

11. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) • The Baroque Suite • LISTENING JOURNAL: • Bach, Suite No.3 in D Major • Fourth Movement of this Suite • Shortest Movement of this Suite • Livelier dance number • AABB form • Duple meter

12. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) • The Chorale & Church Cantata • Bach was Lutheran • Lutheran service was the social event of the week in Leipzig • Chorale or HYMN TUNE • sung in German not Latin • easy tune to sing along too.

13. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) • The Chorale & Church Cantata • Cantata uses these Chorales as a base • Expands them with orchestration and new material • May last as long as 25 minutes • In Bach’s day… would include several movements of choruses, recitatives, arias, and duets

14. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) • The Chorale & Church Cantata • In this way Cantata’s resembled Opera • But….. • Based on sacred themes • Much shorter than a full Opera • Less acting & drama • Typical of Baroque for line between Sacred and Secular to be thin • Bach wrote about 295 Cantatas

15. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) • The Chorale & Church Cantata • LISTENING JOURNAL: • Bach, Cantata No. 140 IV & VII movments • IV movement • ritornello and basso continuo play instrumental with chorale tune against it in alternating sections • VII movement • chorale throughout with instrumental doubling • homophonic instrumental accompaniment

16. Another Sacred style work……… • The Oratorio • Along with Cantata and Opera, The Oratorio is major vocal music development of Baroque • Like opera with text narrative • Set for chorus, soloist, and orchestra • But no acting ,no scenery, or costumes • First appears in 17th cen. Italy as musical drama’s of biblical stories. • Messiah =best-known oratorio by Handel

17. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) • Master of Italian Opera and English Oratorio • Born in Germany just 1 month (same year 1685) before JS BACH • Not from a Musical Family • Father wanted him to study law • Child prodigy by 9 • Father eventually allows him to study music by age 11 • At 11 he was composing and giving lessons

18. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) • Age 18 goes to Hamburg to renowned opera house • Played violin and harpsichord in the orchestra of opera house at Hamburg • At 21 his operas are beginning to be performed • Traveled to Italy and London to study

19. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) • While in London……. • Became a favorite of the Queen of England • Became the director of Royal Academy of Music • Begins to write English Oratorios

20. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) • Handel is held as near equal to Bach in Music History • Although huge output is mostly vocal • ----Italian Opera and English Oratorio---- • Handel’s music has more changes in texture than Bach’s • Less Unity of Mood

21. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) • LISTENING JOURNAL: • 2 Pieces from The Messiah • Messiah is New Testament text that doesn’t follow specific story • Just the subject of the messiah (which was unusual) • Messiah written 1741 premiere in Dublin • Successful but took almost a decade to find popularity in England

22. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) • LISTENING JOURNAL: • Handel, Every Valley, from Messiah • Aria that opens with orchestral ritornello • Chorale text based on new testament verse from Isaiah • Vivid word painting

23. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) • LISTENING JOURNAL: • Handel, Hallelujah Chorus, from Messiah • One of the world’s most famous chorales • Sudden changes in texture • Took text from other holy works • (revelation of St. John)