Instructions

Section A: Context

1. Johann Sebastian Bach lived from (a) until (b). He is regarded as one of the greatest composers of the (c) era.

2. During his life, he worked as a church (a), (b) and (c) in a number of cities in central (d).

3. The Brandenburg Concertos were composed between (a) and (b). At this time, Bach was employed as (c) (court music director) to Prince Leopold at his palace in (d).

4. Here, Bach was encouraged by the prince (an enthusiastic amateur musician) to compose some of his most important (a) (non-religious), (b) works. (Many of Bach’s other works are (c) (religious) choral works).

Section B: Performing Forces

1. Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 is a (a): a piece for a small group of solo instruments, known as the (b), and orchestra, known as the (c), normally in (d) movements, most common in the (e) period.

2. In Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 the concertino is formed of (a) (b) and (c).

3. In Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 the ripieno is formed of (from highest to lowest): (a), (b) and (c) (a group of bass instruments, including (d) and (e), which play the bass line, and chordal instrument(s), including (f), which play accompanying chords in Baroque music).

4. Brandenburg Concerto No.5 broke with tradition in a number of ways: the concertino includes (a) and harpsichord. (Violins and cello were more common choices in this period). The baroque flute was made of (b) with finger holes and only one key. The flute solos are accompanied lightly because the instrument is (c) than the modern flute. It is sometimes known as the (d) in this period, distinguishing it from the 'flute a bec'.

5. Another break with tradition was that the (a) plays extended (b) (technically challenging) solo passages, including (c) and (d) (a type of ornament). This is regarded as the first concerto for solo keyboard in musical history.  Only occasionally does the harpsichord return to its normal role of improvising simple (e) to accompany the bass line using the (f) (numbers underneath the bass line). Unlike a piano, on a harpsichord the (g) range of each note cannot be varied.

6.  Yet another break with tradition was that the ripieno (orchestra) is small, with only one (a) part. Unlike other concerto grossos, it is likely that Bach performed the piece with one (b) player per part.

Section C: Structure

1. The structure of the movement is (a) form, which can be described with the letters (b).

2. B.1-78 Section (a): based on the (b) (melody) in the (c) key of (d).

3. B.79-232 Section (a) based on the (b) (melody), a contrasting theme but with the same opening motif, in the (c) key of (d), modulating through related keys.

4. B.233-end Section (a): the (b) (melody) returns in the (c) key of (d).