GCSE Music: J.S. Bach - 3rd Movement
from Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D
Major
Performing forces - correct answer ✔✔There is an extended virtuoso solo part for harpsichord. Much of
the most difficult solo music is found in the rapid scalic runs in both right and left hands. There are also
passages where both hands play trills at the same time.
The concertino (solo group) consists of the combination of flute, violin and harpsichord.
Structure - correct answer ✔✔It is in ternary form (ABA) where each section ends in a perfect Candence
(V-I)
A section: D mi. Begins in a fugal style and there are brief sections in the dominant key (A major)
B section: Begins in the relative minor (B minor). Has a new though similar theme in the flute. This
theme returns in bar 148, this time in the dominant (A major) in the ripieno
A: repeat of the first one though there is an added D chord to fully establish a return to the original key
Texture - correct answer ✔✔The texture is both polyphonic and contrapuntal.
The movement begins in fugal style. IT IS NOT A FUGUE but simply has fugal elements
The subject (main theme first statement) in the solo violin is followed by an answer in the flute at a
distance of two bars. We now have two-part imitation.
There are then four additional bars before the harpsichord left hand enters with the subject, which is
then answered two bars later by the right hand
The harpsichord plays in two-part counterpoint though once both hands are playing, the music is in four-
part counterpoint.
Occasionally the flute and violin play in thirds. The harpsichord also does this.
the flute and violin sometimes double each other in unison (e.g. bar 33) while the ripieno is playing.
Melody - correct answer ✔✔Much of the music is in conjunct (stepwise) style (e.g. bar 2), though there
are leaps (e.g. fourths in bar 1).
Often the conjunct music is extended to scalic runs, especially in the harpsichord part.
from Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D
Major
Performing forces - correct answer ✔✔There is an extended virtuoso solo part for harpsichord. Much of
the most difficult solo music is found in the rapid scalic runs in both right and left hands. There are also
passages where both hands play trills at the same time.
The concertino (solo group) consists of the combination of flute, violin and harpsichord.
Structure - correct answer ✔✔It is in ternary form (ABA) where each section ends in a perfect Candence
(V-I)
A section: D mi. Begins in a fugal style and there are brief sections in the dominant key (A major)
B section: Begins in the relative minor (B minor). Has a new though similar theme in the flute. This
theme returns in bar 148, this time in the dominant (A major) in the ripieno
A: repeat of the first one though there is an added D chord to fully establish a return to the original key
Texture - correct answer ✔✔The texture is both polyphonic and contrapuntal.
The movement begins in fugal style. IT IS NOT A FUGUE but simply has fugal elements
The subject (main theme first statement) in the solo violin is followed by an answer in the flute at a
distance of two bars. We now have two-part imitation.
There are then four additional bars before the harpsichord left hand enters with the subject, which is
then answered two bars later by the right hand
The harpsichord plays in two-part counterpoint though once both hands are playing, the music is in four-
part counterpoint.
Occasionally the flute and violin play in thirds. The harpsichord also does this.
the flute and violin sometimes double each other in unison (e.g. bar 33) while the ripieno is playing.
Melody - correct answer ✔✔Much of the music is in conjunct (stepwise) style (e.g. bar 2), though there
are leaps (e.g. fourths in bar 1).
Often the conjunct music is extended to scalic runs, especially in the harpsichord part.
