Considerations for Choosing and Combining Instruments
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CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHOOSING AND COMBINING INSTRUMENTS IN BASSO CONTINUO GROUP AND OBBLIGATO INSTRUMENTAL FORCES FOR PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED SACRED CANTATAS OF JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH Item Type text; Electronic Dissertation Authors Park, Chungwon Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 28/09/2021 04:28:57 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/194278 CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHOOSING AND COMBINING INSTRUMENTS IN BASSO CONTINUO GROUP AND OBBLIGATO INSTRUMENTAL FORCES FOR PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED SACRED CANTATAS OF JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH by Chungwon Park ___________________________ Copyright © Chungwon Park 2010 A Document Submitted to the Faculty of the School of Music In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF MUSICAL ARTS In the Graduate College The UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 2010 2 UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Document Committee, we certify that we have read the document prepared by Chungwon Park entitled Considerations for Choosing and Combining Instruments in Basso Continuo Group and Obbligato Instrumental Forces for Performance of Selected Sacred Cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach and recommended that it be accepted as fulfilling the document requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Musical Arts _______________________________________________________Date: 5/15/2010 Bruce Chamberlain _______________________________________________________Date: 5/15/2010 Elizabeth Schauer _______________________________________________________Date: 5/15/2010 Thomas Cockrell Final approval and acceptance of this document is contingent upon the candidate’s submission of the final copies of the document to the Graduate College. I hereby certify that I have read this document prepared under my direction and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the document requirement. _______________________________________________________Date: 5/15/2010 Document Director: Bruce Chamberlain 3 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This document has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at the University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this document are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgement of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the copyright holder. SIGNED: Chungwon Park 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special thanks to my committee members and especially to committee chair Dr. Bruce Chamberlain, who as my teacher and mentor has given me enthusiasm and encouragement throughout my study in United States. I thank my colleagues in the choral department, especially Chris Bartley, Eric Holtan, and Lani Johnson who helped this project in many ways. My gratitude also goes to members of the Arizona Choir and Arizona Symphony, who assisted with the performance of this project. Last but not least, I would also thank to my wife Eunkyung. Without her love and patient understanding, this project would not have been possible. 5 DEDICATION Soli Deo gloria 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF MUSICAL FIGURES ..........................................................................................7 LIST OF TABLES ...............................................................................................................8 ABSTRACT .........................................................................................................................9 CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................11 CHAPTER II. MAIN STREAM OF SCHOLARSHIP .....................................................19 A. Figured Continuo Instruments ........................................................................19 B. Sustaining Continuo Instruments....................................................................26 CHAPTER III. PERFORMANCE CONSIDERATIONS AND CONTINUO SUGGESTIONS FOR SELECTED CANTATAS ...............................................30 A. Recitative Movement ......................................................................................32 B. Solo And Soli Movement ...............................................................................38 C. Chorus Movement ..........................................................................................45 D. Chorale Movement .........................................................................................48 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................51 APPENDIX: LECTURE RECITAL PROGRAM .............................................................53 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................55 7 LIST OF MUSICAL FIGURES Figure 1, Continuo Indication in BGA, Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht mit deinem Knecht, BWV 105, mm.1-5 ..............................................................................................15 Figure 2, Continuo Indication in NBA, Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht mit deinem Knecht, BWV 105, mm.1-2 ..............................................................................................15 Figure 3, Secco Recitative Excerpt from BWV 105, Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht mit deinem Knecht, no. 2, Mein Gott, Verwift mich nicht, mm. 1-10 ........................33 Figure 4, Accompagnato Recitative Excerpt from BWV 105, Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht mit deinem Knecht, no.4, Wohl aber dem der seinen Bürgen, mm.1-6 ..36 Figure 5, Soli (Duet) Aria Excerpt from BWV 140, Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, no.6, Mein Freund ist mein, mm.10-18 ........................................................................39 Figure 6, Soli (Quartet) Aria Excerpt from BWV 67, Halt im Gedächtinis Jesum Christ, no.6, Friede sei mit euch, mm.35-36 ...................................................................43 Figure 7, Soli (Quartet) Aria Excerp from BWV 67, Halt im Gedächtinis Jesum Christ, no.6, Friede sei mit euch, mm.37-41 ...................................................................44 Figure 8, Chorus Movement Excerpt from BWV 140, Christ lag in Todes in Tades, no.2, Christ lag in Todes in Tades, mm.1-6 ..................................................................47 Figure 9, Chorale Movement with Violin Obbligato Excerpt from BWV 172, Erschallet, ihr Lieder, no.6, Von Gott kommt mir ein Freudenschein, mm.1-3 ....................50 8 LIST OF TABLES Table 1, 4 TAV System: Six Parameters ............................................................................18 Table 2, Chronological Order of Selected Cantatas ...........................................................31 Table 3, Continuo Possibilities and Suggestions for Secco Recitative Movement ............34 Table 4, Continuo Possibilities and Suggestions for Accompagnato Recitative Movement .............................................................................................................35 Table 5, Continuo Possibilities and Suggestions for Soli (Duet) Aria Movement .............40 Table 6, Continuo Possibilities and Suggestions for Soli (Quartet) Aria ...........................42 Table 7, Continuo Possibilities and Suggestions for Chorus Movement ...........................46 Table 8, Continuo Possibilities and Suggestions for Typical Chorale Movement .............49 Table 9, Continuo Possibilities and Suggestions for Chorale Movement with Violin Obbligato ..............................................................................................................49 9 ABSTRACT As the core of virtually all vocal and instrumental composition in the Baroque music, the basso continuo group had an extremely important role in the sacred cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). During the Baroque period, the choice of instruments was sometimes indicated by the composer, but frequently the performers had to determine which instruments were most appropriate for the particular environment and context of the music. When performing the sacred cantatas of J.S. Bach, the conductor must identify and make decisions regarding the choices and combinations of instruments for both figured and sustained continuo part. In some cases the conductor may even consider changing continuo instrument(s), movement by movement, in a cantata in which a significant shift occurs in the texture, orchestration, or dramatic function of singer’s line. Since Bach’s cantatas are an encyclopedia of Baroque musical style, and models of compositional techniques of the time, understanding the cantatas is a practical and effective way to gain understanding regarding his other compositions. These cantatas also present musical challenges and rewards to choirs and orchestras. In an attempt to achieve a greater understanding and establish guidelines, I will examine and propose six principles and parameters regarding choices and combinations of basso continuo instruments and obbligato instruments, examining a variety of movement types from six different sacred cantatas of J.S. Bach ; Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4; Ich hatte viel bekümmernis,