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Classics Explained: BACH, J.S. - Brandenburg Concertos Nos 4 & 5

An exploration of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 4 and 5 narrated by Jeremy Siepmann

Classics Explained: BACH, J.S. - Brandenburg Concertos Nos 4 & 5

Classics Explained: BACH, J.S. - Brandenburg Concertos Nos 4 & 5

An exploration of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 4 and 5 narrated by Jeremy Siepmann

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Contents and tracklist

Excerpt,Bach, J S: Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major, BWV1049
Work length1:28
The Brandenburgs as concerti grossi
Track length1:28
Bach, J S: Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G - First Movement
Work length27:25
Introduction: Melody, Theme and Motif; Bach's opening gambit
Track length2:15
Onwards and upwards: Motif No. 2 and its function
Track length0:51
The two elements of Motif No. 2 and the effect of their combination
Track length0:29
The 'motto' rhythm hidden even within the opening bar
Track length1:07
Motif No. 3, introduced by the two recorders, has a kind of 'hovering' character
Track length0:27
Motif No. 3 repeated for a second, 'directed' listen
Track length0:23
Bach reminds us of the opening
Track length0:17
Motif No. 4 - a steadily rising derivative of Motif No. 1
Track length0:19
Motif No. 5, a lovely, bouncy, syncopated flourish, in which all the instruments join
Track length0:23
Opening Ritornello (complete)
Track length1:47
Episode 1 begins with virtuoso entry of the solo violin, made up of alternating arpeggios
Track length1:15
Motif No. 3 returns, courtesy of the recorders, recently sidelined by the violin
Track length0:47
Ritornello 2, a varied repeat of Ritornello 1, arrives after much harmonic movement
Track length0:43
Episode 2, Part 1, preceded by the 'fanfare' motif from which its first theme derives
Track length0:59
Episode 2 continued, with more bravura dazzle from the solo violin
Track length1:05
Repeat of section for purposes of hearing the harmonic movement
Track length0:48
Ritornello 3, with the prominent participation of the soloists
Track length0:47
Episode 3 proves retrospective, featuring transposed repeats of earlier material
Track length0:49
Ritornello 4, not altogether what it might seem; solo violin takes 'motto' motif
Track length0:48
Episode 4. Cue to Part 1, focusing on 'soloistic' counterpoint provided by the continuo
Track length0:56
Return to Ritornello 4 to hear sources of Episode 4, Part 2
Track length0:37
Episode 4 continued, with emphasis placed on conversational interchanges
Track length0:28
Return to opening Ritornello in order to enhance awareness of the contrast
Track length0:53
Ritornello 5, beginning
Track length0:10
Ritornello 5 continued, with emphasis on the determined banishment of B minor
Track length0:56
Cue to complete performance of First Movement
Track length0:46
First Movement (complete)
Track length6:20
Bach, J S: Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G - Second Movement
Work length17:26
Introduction: Rhythmic Motif provides basis for whole movement
Track length1:17
The melody not much to write home about; nor is the meek 'answer' offered by the soloists
Track length0:14
Putting the two together, thereby establishing a relationship
Track length0:21
Contrast and syncopation - their relationship in opening section
Track length2:18
Listening from the 'botton up'
Track length2:48
The intertwining and alternation of solo and orchestra; the irregularity of metrical groupings
Track length2:14
The next orchestral phrase; slowing the pace but not the tempo
Track length0:28
The First Section (complete)
Track length1:37
The next section; foreground symmetry and background variety
Track length1:29
The central section's groupings are hugely asymmetrical
Track length1:12
Cue to Second Movement as a whole
Track length0:11
Second Movement (complete)
Track length3:17
Bach, J S: Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G - Third Movement
Work length26:19
Introduction to the Third Movement...
Track length4:57
Fugue subject
Track length1:04
First counter-subject
Track length0:31
Second counter-subject
Track length0:51
Bass entry of the subject
Track length0:14
Exposition (complete)
Track length0:33
First Episode; the use of fragmentary derivatives
Track length0:33
The difference a detail can make!
Track length0:15
Harmonic Rhythm defined; back to the beginning to find the seed...
Track length1:06
...and now the blossom
Track length0:21
The First Solo Episode; a confusion of terms; onwards, to the introduction of the solo episode
Track length1:59
Ritornello 2 complete
Track length1:11
Solo Episode 2 dominated by thrilling virtuosity from the solo violin
Track length1:47
Ritornello 3: highly contrapuntal and dominated by subject-derivatives, with much harmonic fluidity
Track length0:47
Ritornello 3 continues: engine of harmonic motion repeated at higher pitch
Track length0:06
More on Ritornello 3: the use of long, sustained, slightly syncopated notes in upper strings
Track length0:21
Ritornello 3 (complete)
Track length0:31
Solo Episode 3 - less solo than earlier ones, what with (albeit very discreet)
Track length0:28
The two recorders converse in canon, accompanied for six exhilarating bars by cello 'continuo'
Track length0:22
Finishing Solo Exposition 3: orchestral cellos introduce what sounds
Track length0:34
Approaching the final Ritornello; stretto explained
Track length0:56
Cue to Finale Ritornello, noting tension-building 'pedal point' in cellos and double bass
Track length1:02
Coda - the 'tail-piece', with its surprising 'hammer strokes'
Track length0:58
Cue to Third Movement
Track length0:20
Third Movement (complete)
Track length4:32
Bach, J S: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D - First Movement
Work length36:22
Opening Music; analysis and phony analysis; Shaw quote; music: Motif No. 1
Track length3:08
Music, energy and relationship
Track length0:59
The outlines of a melody emerge
Track length0:42
The opening bar again
Track length0:25
Motif No. 2: ta / dee-ya, dee-ya, dee-ya
Track length0:11
Motif No. 3, and an important feature of its rhythm
Track length0:32
Beethoven Fifth Symphony (opening)
Track length0:20
Motif No. 4
Track length0:12
Motif No. 5
Track length0:05
Motif No. 6
Track length0:06
Episode 1: a 'Love Duet'
Track length1:39
Episode 1 continued; violin and flute reverse direction of their theme
Track length1:01
'False' Ritornello; soloists interrupt; rising 'sighing' motif; harpsichord continues downwards
Track length0:59
Four things going on at once, in violin, flute, harpsichord right hand, harpsichord left hand
Track length0:39
The orchestra returns, picking up at exactly the spot where it was interrupted
Track length0:28
The harpsichord intervenes with derivative of Motif 4; key shifts from A major to B minor
Track length0:25
The orchestra returns to foreground and brings this section to an end
Track length0:42
Harpsichord emerges as virtuoso; a series of expectations are frustrated
Track length2:33
A backwards look; blurred distinctions between soloists and orchestra; 'Mozartian' development
Track length4:36
Out of the Twilight Zone; a sequence of surprises
Track length1:57
The epoch-making harpsichord cadenza and the final Ritornello
Track length4:51
Cue to First Movement
Track length0:52
First Movement (complete)
Track length9:00
Bach, J S: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D - Second Movement
Work length18:32
Introduction; the opening Ritornello
Track length2:34
The first bar; the first main building block
Track length0:16
The flute motif
Track length0:16
Opening of the first solo episode
Track length1:04
An important motif; the second main building block
Track length0:17
The second main theme
Track length0:33
Ritornello 2; violin and flute as 'orchestra'
Track length0:52
Episode 2; inversion of original motifs
Track length0:38
More on Episode 2
Track length0:10
Episode 1 and Episode 2 compared
Track length0:21
Episode 2; key shifts from D major to F sharp minor
Track length0:49
Ritornello 3: an exact transposition of Ritornello 1
Track length0:47
Episode 3 contrasted with Episode 1
Track length0:34
Episode 3 described in detail
Track length1:05
Ritornello 4; second main theme's first appearance in a Ritornello
Track length0:57
Episode 4: dominated by inversions
Track length1:34
Cue to Second Movement
Track length0:06
Second Movement (complete)
Track length5:39
Bach, J S: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D - Third Movement
Work length24:15
Introduction: Ritornello 1
Track length0:54
The Fugue Subject: close juxtaposition of contrasting elements
Track length1:21
Flute takes the 'answer', with countersubject in the violin
Track length0:33
Contrary motion as a contrapuntal device
Track length0:23
Contrary motion as a listening aid; a new theme
Track length0:32
Playing with the counter-subject; a musical game of tag
Track length0:51
Hidden rhythms: background variety behind foreground uniformity
Track length0:44
Fugal writing and the compatibility of parts; the Exposition
Track length1:35
Episode 1, taken by soloists, contains important 'seeds'
Track length0:37
The orchestra enters at last, but by stealth
Track length1:19
Stretto and musical football
Track length1:02
Key changes to B minor, introducing extensive Middle Section
Track length1:24
The Middle Section a precursor of the Mozartian 'development'
Track length3:06
The Fugue Subject out in force: first four immediately consecutive entries yet
Track length1:51
Ambiguity of mode and a Scottish twist
Track length0:38
Middle Section sontinued; harpsichord dominates
Track length2:11
Cue to Last Movement
Track length0:19
Last Movement (complete)
Track length4:55
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