INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC-MUSIC F001

Listening lab-Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3, BWV 1068  by J.S. Bach

Aria and recitative are two types of musical expression in opera, cantatas, and oratorios. Recitative is more like speaking than singing with little accompaniment, mostly one or two continuo instruments, while arias are the more structured and melodic vocal style with full orchestra accompaniment. Arias is often the climax of performances (Kerman & Tomlinson, 2015). Harpsichord and cello are mostly used as continuo instruments in Poppea’s recitative. Yes, in the opera the composer uses the music to reflect each character’s emotions. For instance, Poppea’s music in opera is frequently distinguished by lovely, sensual melodies that convey her enthralling and vivacious nature. This is notably evident in “Pur ti miro,” her duet with Nero, which beautifully expresses the intense admiration between her two major characters. After Nero leaves the music changes to denote Poppea’s emotions of sadness and loss. The tempo of the music becomes slightly slow and the area is characterized by mournful melodies and chromatic descending lines which reflect her feelings.

The “Air” from J.S. Bach`s Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major (BWV 1068) is a baroque music piece characterized by its slow and graceful melody, rich harmonies, and full orchestration. The piece begins with a four-bar theme which is repeated and varied throughout the piece. The melody is characterized by its long and flowing notes which create a feeling of relaxed elegance. Each instrument adds distinct tone color to the piece. The musical piece has a consistent rhythm and emphasis on downbeats. It also features subtle dynamic changes and a smooth and tender sound throughout. It is in binary form, with the first section having the main melody and its variation and the second section characterized by the contrasting melody in a different key. I heard consistent rhythm through the piece, and basso continuo played by the harpsichord and cellos. The orchestration of this piece is made up of a small string ensemble, a guitar, and a harpsichord. Yes, I liked the jazz arrangement of the Air, the Swingles’ arrangement maintains J.S. Bach’s original music melody and structure hence keeping the baroque authenticity. However, the singers use a jazz music element in the melody variation called scat singing to ornament the rhythmic patterns and melodic variations.

References

J. S. Bach. Air on the G string (suite no. 3, BWV 1068) J. S. Bach, Original Instruments. YouTube. Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://youtu.be/pzlw6fUux4o

Kerman, J., & Tomlinson, G. (2015). listen-Bedford_St. Martin’s (2015).PDF. Google Drive.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OQa-jGj2JYOAwqKzeIygo7uWtUsIDzOS/view

Monteverdi, C. L’incoronazione di Poppea with English subtitles (part 1). YouTube. from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfuFVK3TyA4

The Swingles – air on a G string, J. S. Bach, arr. Ward Swingle. YouTube. (2020, September 21). Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://youtu.be/03Gn4loM7As