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Characteristics of a Bach Chorale
Bach 4 part style
1. Chorales are metrical (i.e. constant time signature) with a steady movement in crotchet and minims with occasional quavers as passing notes.
2. most chorales are in 4/4 time with one syllable for each note.
3. melodic lines are mostly step wise in movement. The harmony mainly involves primary triads.
4.
Cadences
a) Pause marks indicate cadence points. They indicate the end of lines in the text.
b) Harmonisations and modulations at cadence points need to be planned first to produce the most variety.
c) Perfect cadences predominate because they are needed to establish modulation.
d)
Root position chords at cadences are used more than inversions because
they strengthen the harmony.
Statistics
- Bach's 371 chorales
|
73% of cadences |
Perfect |
V -I |
|
21% of cadences |
imperfect |
? -V |
|
2% of cadences |
plagal |
IV - I |
|
1.5% of cadences |
interrupted |
V - VI |
Interrupted
cadences are used:-
As a penultimate cadence when the melody would invite a perfect cadence in the home key.
In short phrases they are used for variety instead of too many perfect cadences.
In very long chorales they are also used for variety