Festive horn calls ring out from the opening measures of J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F Major. Rousing and raucous, this is joyful music of the hunt. As the Netherlands Bach Society observes,
On turning over the impressive title page of the ‘Brandenburg’ Concertos, two hunting horns immediately blare through the rest of the music – calling everyone to gather together! Bach deliberately lets the persistent horns disturb his music. Just listen to how they play three against four with bravura, and even clash with the harmony.
Scored for two natural horns, three oboes, bassoon, violino piccolo (tuned a minor third higher than the normal violin), strings, and continuo. It is a thrilling musical conversation made up of three instrumental choirs: strings, woodwinds, and brass. Bach adapted the Concerto from the opening Sinfonia from his 1713 secular “Hunting” Cantata, Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd, BWV 208, which includes the soprano aria, “Sheep May Safely Graze.”
The second movement (Adagio) moves a world away to melancholy D minor. The oboe and violin enter into a lamenting duet. The music is filled with mournful sighs. In the final mysterious moments, the strings and oboes separate into choirs, with single chords drifting into haunting silence.
The third movement (Allegro) is a jubilant courante set in 6/8 time. It feels as if it could be the finale. But Bach gives us one more movement: an elegant Minuet. It includes a Polish polacca, set over a drone. In the second trio, we return to nature with boisterous, celebratory hunting horns.
Compiled in 1721, Bach’s six Brandenburg Concertos represent a glorious summation of the Baroque concerto grosso of Corelli and Vivaldi. Each of the Concertos is scored for a magical combination of “diverse instruments.” Bach submitted the collection to Christian Ludwig, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt, as a kind of job application. Apparently, Bach received no response or money. It is possible that the bundle of music was never opened. Regardless, it is likely that Christian Ludwig lacked musicians who were skilled enough to perform the virtuosic works.
After falling into obscurity, the Brandenburg Concertos resurfaced as a gift to posterity. This performance features Bojan Čičić and the Netherlands Bach Society:
Featured Image: “Life-Size Horse with Huntsman Blowing a Horn” (1732), John Wootton