Polyphony is a type of polyphony in which the sound of instrumental melodies or vocal voices occurs simultaneously. It is one of the most important means of musical expressiveness and artistic composition in general.
Polyphony in Bach’s work occupied a significant place; he managed to influence it both from an artistic and from a pedagogical perspective.
Terminology
Polyphony is based on the rules of melody, harmony, harmony and, of course, the most important part - rhythm.
The following is a list of genres and musical forms in which polyphony is an integral part:
- polyphonic variations (Bach is one of the most striking examples);
- canon (repetition);
- Inventions
- fugue;
- fughetta and others
The opposite pole for polyphony is a homophonic-harmonic warehouse. It is more typical for widespread use, characteristic of it:
- chord accompaniment;
- the presence of one dominant melody (most often in the topmost voice).
The polyphony of Johann Sebastian Bach is a great legacy and a brilliant example of polyphony.
Short story
The earliest professional designs discovered in Europe date back to the 9th century. Complete triphony formed by the 13th century. By this time, a number of achievements had been completed:
- the third voice was called “treble” (then a three-stage vertical texture was formed);
- imitation is born - the most important element for creating a form of music (with the help of it the second and subsequent voices repeat the theme of the first).
Genres born in this period: organum, treble and conduct.
- Organum is the earliest polyphony of the Middle Ages.
- The treble is the technique of polyphony. It differed from the organum in the exact metric and the opposite direction of voice parts.
- The conduct is a genre of vocal polyphony. It did not contain motives of Gregorian origin. In XIII it was replaced by a motet.
In the XIV-XVI centuries, polyphony was included in madrigals, motets and other vocal genres.
Throughout the history of formation, there has been a constant struggle for equality between the voice classes. As a result, three main stages stood out.
- Strict style (religious). Signs: church choral singing a cappella (without instrumental accompaniment), reliance on the diatonic steps of the modes, small and convenient jumps in intervals, and the absence of a reprise.
- Free style (vocal and instrumental). Features: an updated system of frets, a free rhythm, a wide range, large jumps at difficultly intonated intervals.
- New polyphony. Features: synthesis of a homophonic warehouse with a polyphonic, the absence of repetitions of past polyphony and the acquisition of an independent status in terms of style.
Fugue I.S. Bach
Bach's fugues and polyphony were an inextricable powerful genre link.
Fugue is one of the most popular polyphonic forms, which is based on a specific, dominant theme, passing in all voices. Despite the wide range of content, a certain intellectual initial concept always prevails in it.
She acquired a classic look with the help of the composer J.S. Bach. His fugues to this day are an unsurpassed example of polyphony and the standard of its aesthetics.
I.S.Bach is a master of polyphony, who was able to realize this genre in all kinds of aspects of musical life.
The composer wrote the puffer in three expositions:
Each was unlike the other, had an individual design and its inherent character, but despite this, all of them had a single common feature:
- the presence of one musical theme.
There are works consisting of more themes, but the idea remains the same:
- all existing ones are subordinated to one main theme, which carries the main idea of the fugue.
Content
If we start from the analysis of the Bach fugue by polyphony, we can draw several conclusions:
- the presence in most cases of three votes;
- the structure is characterized by the presence of exposure, then the middle part (or development), and after it the reprise (repetition).
The exposition is a demonstration of a musical image through repeated polyphony in all existing voices.
Principle:
- how many voices are inherent in a composed fugue, so many times will its main theme sound.
The fugue begins by showing the main theme in the main key with a single voice. Then the next one comes after it (in music it is called the “answer”). From the moment the main motive has been shown in the remaining voices, the instigator has not ceased, but begins to play the role of an anti-compilation.
Each time a topic demonstrates in a different voice, a new opposition begins. When the main theme makes a transition to a new tonality, the finest hour of the middle part comes.
The sideshow for the fugue is important, but something that falls outside the sound of its main concept, since it lacks the full implementation of the main theme. A similar method gives the composition a novelty and freshness. Sideshow serves as a link between the exposure and the middle part. In it, the work is being prepared in a different tonality. The middle part is a nursery for a wider growth of the topic in a dynamic sense.
The moment of transition from the middle part to the final one is sometimes so inconspicuous that determining it is quite a difficult task. Reprise plays the role of restoring and consolidating the lost key in the sideshow. With it, the fugue regains harmonic balance and proportionality.
The best fugues
Fugues and the Bach polyphony present in them are considered the pinnacle of the polyphonic genre.
Tokatta and then the sounding fugue in D minor are compositions that everyone, even a person far from music, is able to recognize.
The fugue was written using the method of hidden polyphony, due to which the sound of the texture acquired a thick and dense character.
Collections of works for clavier - two volumes of HTK (well-tempered clavier). Includes 24 preludes and 24 fugues. They are written in all the tonalities existing in music, ranging from C major and ending with B minor. HTK is the main book and encyclopedia for the activities of all subsequent composers. Preludes and fugues are arranged in pairs according to the principle of the same name (C major / C minor and others).
For example, fugue in G minor is a work that serves as an example of mournful polyphony in Bach's music. Two conflicting images form one interesting thematic duet. The sad inspiration of the first is perfectly complemented by the concentration of the second element.
In the exposition, the main theme is held 4 times. First she listens in the voice of the viola, then in soprano sounds a kind of answer. With each subsequent entry, emotional stress increases. The remaining thematic events are held in low register.
The sequence of the introduction of voices, as in all Bach's polyphony, carries a special expressive design. Oppositions and all interludes are based on the speed of melody and its rhythm.
Polyphonic Variations
Polyphonic variation is a musical form in which the theme is repeatedly held with counterpoint changes.
- counterpoint - the sound of several independent voices simultaneously.
Bach's works are an encyclopedia of polyphonic variations.
The brightest examples:
- cycles of choral polyphonic variations;
- "Canonical Variations on a Christmas Song" (BWV 769);
- Goldberg Variations, which are saturated with polyphonic variation;
- fugues and fughettas beginning with the number BWV 944 and ending with BWV 962 according to the list;
- Passacaglia in C Minor (BWV582) and many other works.
Inventions
Invention is a small-sized polyphonic essay written in a two- or three-voice warehouse. This name refers only to 15 plays, Bach nicknamed the rest with fantasies or symphonies. They represented special genres, but did not correspond to the status of an "independent polyphonic work." Some belonged to the fugues, others were canons.
In several compositions, close to the fugue, the topic at the beginning sounded not in the form that everyone was accustomed to in the Bach classic of the genre. One voice immediately matched a melody separate from the main theme.
As in other numerous works, Bach's polyphony in inventions also possessed characteristic features only for them. For example, the symphony in F minor had elements of a two-part sonata form.
It is a known fact that the composer, writing inventions, brought to the fore not only the artistic aspect, but also the pedagogical one. With the help of them it was possible to hone the technique of polyphony and clearly demonstrate the methods of melodious, coherent and melodic conducting of voices.
Inventions represent freedom of form, even if intermediate. They are considered reference patterns of Bach polyphony.
Two Part Invention in F Major No. 8.
Mass in B minor
The work, which was the greatest achievement of the composer and his confession, was Mass in B Minor. It was written for a vocalist, choir and orchestra. The choral rooms are saturated with polyphonic texture.
It consists of 5 texts:
- "Lord have mercy" - 3 numbers.
- Glory - 9 rooms.
- "I believe" - 9 numbers.
- "Holy" - 4 rooms.
- "The Lamb of God" - 2 numbers.
During the life of JS Bach, the work was never performed in its entirety. Only in 1859 in the city of Leipzig was the Mass able to debut under the direction of Karl Riedel.
Total
The polyphony of the fugues and chorales of Bach's music was a kind of endless source of inspiration, which continued to flow in the works of subsequent composers.