Concerto Grosso & Ritornello Fugue

Concerto Grosso Consists of several movements that contrast in tempo and character Small group of soloists against large group (Tutti):2-4 soloists vs. 20 or more musicians (Strings and basso continuo) 3 movements : fast, slow,fast; 1st movement vigorous, showing contrast between tutti and soloists Slow movement quiet and lyrical; last movement lively, dance like 1st and last movement are usually in ritornello form

Ritornello Form The refrian: repeated section of music played by the tutti,alternated by soloists playing new material Played in different keys throughout movement;returns in fragments throughout movement. At the end, entire ritornello in home key

Solo section New melodic ideas, softer dynamics Lots of notes!!! Expansion of short melodic ideas from tutti

Fugue Polyphonic composition based on one theme: subject One of main forms of baroque music/composition Written for a group of instruments or single keyboard instrument Different melodic lines (voices) imitate the subject

Fugue Top line-soprano, bottom line-bass Texture can be 3-5 voices;subject remains constant throughout;shifts to different keys or combined with different musical material Form extremely flexible; only thing constant is how they begin: with subject Subject imitated in other voices after introduction in soprano voice (usual technique)

Fugue Subject can be announced in ANY voice; order of imitation can be changed Example: Row, Row Row your boat (exact imitation) After presentation of subject, goes its own way with different melodic material

Fugue In opening of fugue, subject presented in two different scales: 1st time on tonic key or scale 2nd voice presents subject, dominant scale, becomes answer Alternation between subject and answer creates variety

Fugue Many fugues, there is a countersubject: melodic idea that accompanies the subject constantly Countersubject always appears with subject;above or below After subject present, composer free to choose direction of music

Fugue Between subjects, transition music:episodes Episode brought new musical material, or fragments of subject or counter subject. Episodes don’t present subject in full;add variety and freshness

Fugues Other musical features Stretto: subject imitated before its completed; one voice trying to catch the other Pedal point: one tone in the bass (usually) is held while the other ovices produce a series of changing harmonies against it;AKA organ point

Fugues Subject varied in 4 main ways Inversion: subject turned upside-down, intervals in subject reversed Retorgrade:beginning with the last note of subject and preceding back to the first note Augmentation:original time values are lengthened Diminution: time values shortened

Fugues Sense of mood and continuous flow Written as independent works or single movements within larger composition Most independent fugues are introduced by shorter pieces:preludes