: What is this chord in Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2? Can anyone tell me what chord Bach notated in the second half of measure 91 in the score below? I can see that the first chord in this measure is FMaj7, which is the

Vote Up Vote Down   0 Reactions

Login to give Reaction!

Since we're moving from a VI chord in A minor (first half of m. 91) to a V chord (first half of m. 92), standard practice suggests that the second half of m. 91 will be a chord that smoothly connects VI to V. Without even looking at a score, my guess is that the chord will be either a subdominant or supertonic of some type.

Looking at the score, the B in the bass strongly suggests a supertonic chord. Looking above it, we have B D F A, which pretty clearly lays out a Bø7 chord. With D in the bass, we're looking at Bø6/5.

The Cs in the trumpet are non-chord tones, either passing or neighbor depending on the circumstance. The same is true of the Es and Cs in the oboe.

Notice, then, that the circle-of-fifths progression that led into m. 91 continues, because F goes down a fifth to B, which goes down a fifth to E, which will ultimately go down a fifth to A.

Vote Up Vote Down   0 Reactions

Login to give Reaction!

the modulation from F to am is introduced by Bm7-5 (am:IIm7b5)

(F:I => am: VI-ii-V-I46-V-I)

there is no F Maj7 in measure 91, and the f# on the last 8th note of measure 92 is the augmented 6th of the melodic monor scale.