Baroque Music Required Discussion Activity

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Listen to the Crucifixus from the High Mass in B Minor by J. S. Bach and use your text along with internet resources to respond to the following questions.

What is the historical context for this composition? When was the piece composed? Where was the piece composed? What was life like for the composer? What historical and cultural events might have influenced the composer to write this piece?

What kind of composition is this? Find a translation of the text, if necessary, and determine what kind of text it is. Where might this composition have been performed? Who might have performed the piece?

Who was J. S. Bach?

Prepare to discuss personal events in the composer’s life that may have influenced him as he composed this piece.

Draw some conclusions as to why the composer wrote this piece.

How does this piece accomplish the composer’s goals? How does the composer express his inner life using the basic musical materials we described in the first course module?

How does Bach use timbre to express his inner life?

How does Bach use texture here?

How does Bach employ harmony here?

How does Bach employ form here?

How does he employ rhythm here?

Post your research and responses to the discussion board so that we can all discuss them.

Here are some useful links:

San Francisco Bach Choir (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

B Minor Mass as Musical Icon (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Depauw University Analysis of the Crucifixus (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Classical Notes (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

The Nicene Creed and its Origins (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.