Bach chorales
Spot the mistakes
Be the examiner. Each of these 16-bar chorales has had mistakes written into it on purpose. Find each one, say what kind of mistake it is, then check your marking. The melody is always correct: look in the alto, tenor and bass.
Bb major, 16 bars, 14 mistakes
Chorale 1 in B flat major
Fourteen mistakes, one of every kind: start here.
Mark this chorale
C major, 16 bars, 12 mistakes
Chorale 2 in C major
Twelve mistakes in the easiest key to read.
Mark this chorale
G major, 16 bars, 13 mistakes
Chorale 3 in G major
Thirteen mistakes, with two sets of consecutive 5ths.
Mark this chorale
A major, 16 bars, 14 mistakes
Chorale 4 in A major
Fourteen mistakes in a sharp key. Watch the accidentals.
Mark this chorale
What to look for
- Consecutive 5ths or octaves
- Doubled 3rd, leading note or 7th
- 6/4 chord used wrongly
- Note that does not belong, or no 3rd
- Spacing, crossed parts or range
- Suspension or 7th not prepared or not resolved
- Leading note does not rise
- Awkward leap in one part
- Weak progression or cadence
Not everything unusual is wrong. Each chorale also has a prepared suspension and 6/4 chords that are used correctly. The rules sheet tells you which is which.
Using this in a lesson
- Put a chorale on the board, or print it, and give the class time to mark it on their own.
- Under “The answers”, show the mistakes one at a time. Each is numbered in the score, its notes turn red, and the fault and the correct notes are given.
- “Show the chords that were intended” puts the Roman numerals under the score.
- Finish with the correct version, to see how each mistake is avoided.
- “Print the answers” gives you a sheet with every mistake marked in the score, the list of answers and the correct version.
Every answer comes from the Chorale Checker: each mistake is one the checker reports, and it finds nothing else wrong.