Listening InQuizitive 12a: Cantata No. 140, Wachet auf, No. 1

The chorus sings three large sections of music. If we label the first section A, then any other choral section that uses the same music as the first section will also be labeled A. What is the form of this chorale? Bach, Wachet auf, No. 16:08

A-A-B

Which of the following correctly describe the first movement of Bach's Cantata No. 140? Bach, Wachet auf, No. 16:08

Correct: -It is for four-part chorus (SATB) and orchestra. -It contains instances of word-painting. -It is in E-flat major. Incorrect: -It is for three-part chorus (SSA) and orchestra. -It is in E-flat minor.

Listen to the excerpts and then click on the corresponding cards in the order in which they appear in the first movement of Bach's Cantata No. 140. EXCERPT A: Mitternacht0:09 EXCERPT B: Wachet auf1:05 EXCERPT C: Wohl auf2:09

EXCERPT B EXCERPT A EXCERPT C

Match the descriptive words or phrases with the appropriate excerpt from the first movement of Bach's Cantata No. 140.

EXCERPT C: -Word-painting on "Steht auf" ("Arise!") on a two-note ascending motive that is repeated several times EXCERPT A: -Chorus singing "Alleluia" EXCERPT B: -The "watchmen's motive" ("Wachet auf...")

The sopranos enter first, singing slower rhythms than the other voices. Which melody is the soprano section singing? Bach, Wachet auf, No. 11:05

a chorale tune

Listen to the audio then fill in the blank, below. Bach, Wachet auf, No. 16:08 The instrumental section that opens the movement and returns throughout it is called __________.

a ritornello

What performing ensemble do you hear in the opening of the first movement of Bach's Cantata No. 140, Wachet aug? Bach, Wachet auf, No. 10:29

an orchestra with strings, woodwinds, brass, and organ

Which best describes the text setting for the word "Alleluia," heard in this excerpt? Bach, Wachet auf, No. 10:40

each section of the choir enters separately and sings many notes per syllable of text.

The first movement of Bach's Cantata No. 140 is best described as a chorale ___________. The form follows that of the original chorale: A-A-B, which is known as __________ form. Between the sections of text there are instrumental __________ that feature dotted rhythms. The "Alleluia" in the B section is __________.

fantasia bar ritornellos melismatic

In this movement, the sopranos sing the hymn tune; altos, tenors, and basses sing other melodic material; and several instruments play unique melodies. Which best describes the relationship between the voices (the texture)? Bach, Wachet auf, No. 11:05

groups of voices and instruments sing and play unique melodies at the same time

In the music leading up to this excerpt there is Ritornello 1, an A section, Ritornello 2, and another A section. Which best describes the performing forces of the next section of music, a.k.a. Ritornello 3? (Ignore the first second of the excerpt, which is the tail end of the A section.) What do you hear?0:21

orchestra only

Which best describes the texture of the first movement? Bach, Wachet auf, No. 11:05

polyphonic

Here is the full first movement of Bach's Cantata No. 140: Bach, Wachet auf, No. 16:08 This excerpt occurs immediately after the choir finishes singing their first A section ("Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme ..."). What section do you hear here? Bach, Wachet auf, No. 10:27

the opening ritornello again

Here is the full first movement of Bach's Cantata No. 140: Bach, Wachet auf, No. 16:08 This excerpt occurs immediately after the choir finishes singing their first A section ("Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme ..."). What section do you hear here? Bach, Wachet auf, No. 10:27

the opening ritornello again

This next excerpt, the closing section, occurs immediately after the choir finishes singing their third section of music. Which best describes this closing section? Bach, Wachet auf, No. 10:34

the opening ritornello returns

After the orchestral section (or ritornello), a choir enters. The first voices you hear are sopranos. How is the rhythm of the soprano part different from the rhythms of the other voice parts? Bach, Wachet auf, No. 11:05

the sopranos sing more slowly than the other voice parts

In this first movement from Bach's Cantata No. 140, there are four occurrences of the Ritornello. Bach, Wachet auf, No. 16:08 True/False

true

Ritornello 3 is followed by the B section, in which the chorus sings the words "Steht auf!" ("Arise!"). For these words, Bach uses word-painting; he makes the music directly reflect the meaning of the words. Armed with this knowledge, can you tell how the altos, tenors, and basses sing the text "Steht auf!"? Bach, Wachet auf, No. 10:16

with an ascending motive