J.S Bach, Cantata Ein Feste Burg - Mov.1

- Cantata's became key vocal works in Baroque period. 

- This is one of his most famous cantata's and uses a Lutherian chorale 

- Written for Reformation Day

- Bach wrote many cantata's while he was the Cantor in Leipzig, Germany

- Scored for SATB choir and orchestra, which closely double the vocal lines

- No instrumental introduction -UNUSUAL

- Written in fugal style 

- Closely related to tonality

- Uses fugal subject and answer 

- Tonic key is D major 

- Modulations to closely related keys (typical of Baroque harmony): Bars 1-2 = Dominant

                                                                                                                Bars 12-16 = Subdominant

- Some transitionary modulations in Bars 73-80

- Ends in D major

- Harmony is rich and varied

- Functional harmony

- Use of figured bass 

- Perfect cadences establish modulations

- Use of suspensions (bar 13)

- Mostly fugal, contrapuntal texture

- A lot of imitation used

- Cantus firmus is maintained through the canon

- Use of CANTUS FIRMUS, especially the first 2 bars of Luther's chorale

- Mostly conjunct

- Ascending sequences used

- Mostly diatonic but some chromaticism (Bar 99)

- 4/2 metre

- Tied notes give a sense of momentum

- Note lengths vary

- 4/2 metre

- Tied notes give a sense of momentum

- Note lengths vary