Something for a Friday: All of Bach

[Padraig]

Short and sweet Padraig.

JSB's organ music has rather got under my skin,in a good way.

I enjoyed today's offering. I went straight to the performance for a change. The presentation was enough to sell this prelude and fugue to me, and I feel I was taught things about organ performance that I had not known, and which enhanced my appreciation.Why do I keep repeating that mantra - "Inform, educate, entertain" to myself? Who knows? Anyway I'm off to view the rest of the lesson on BWV 535.

[EdgeleyRob]

I enjoyed today's offering. I went straight to the performance for a change. The presentation was enough to sell this prelude and fugue to me, and I feel I was taught things about organ performance that I had not known, and which enhanced my appreciation.Why do I keep repeating that mantra - "Inform, educate, entertain" to myself? Who knows? Anyway I'm off to view the rest of the lesson on BWV 535.

Brill.

Can't get that fugue thingy outa my head now,daaa daaa daaa daaa da da da da daaa,not complainig though.

[Lento]

Brill.

Can't get that fugue thingy outa my head now,daaa daaa daaa daaa da da da da daaa,not complainig though.

Definitely qualifies as a classical ear-worm in my book. What's this business with the idle foot, btw??

[Padraig]

Definitely qualifies as a classical ear-worm in my book. What's this business with the idle foot, btw??

When listened to again on a different organ it's like hearing an old friend.
I suppose Bach might have said that the devil makes work for idle feet, so watch where you rest them.

[Padraig]

Nice to be able to put a name to the cellist from the Netherlands Bach Society ensemble. Lucia Swarts introduced informatively and performed beautifully the Cello Suite No I in G. Well worth watching too.

[EdgeleyRob]

A bit miffed because I had to listen to my Friday JSB on a Sat'dy.
For some strange reason couldn't get the site to load yesterday.
Worth waiting for mind.
These Cello Suites are music from another universe.

[hmvman]

Having only found out about this project quite recently (that'll teach me for not reading this forum properly), I've been catching up with the series by listening on a Saturday evening and picking 3 or 4 works. Most enjoyable! I really enjoyed the performance of the Magnificat. The video quality is superb too.

[Padraig]

BWV 62
Not surprisingly I was listening to this during the week. I must say that I have taken more of an interest in the cantatas since this project began, now that a bit of discipline has been introduced to my listening habits. I was expecting, however, the next Cello Suite so it was pleasant to recognise the music that was circulating in my head, and to have the added advantage of hearing some salient points from conductor and bass soloist. This music to my ear and soul is joyful, not steeped in blame or guilt.

[EdgeleyRob]

BWV 62
Not surprisingly I was listening to this during the week. I must say that I have taken more of an interest in the cantatas since this project began, now that a bit of discipline has been introduced to my listening habits. I was expecting, however, the next Cello Suite so it was pleasant to recognise the music that was circulating in my head, and to have the added advantage of hearing some salient points from conductor and bass soloist. This music to my ear and soul is joyful, not steeped in blame or guilt.

Another gem Padraig,detailed analysis here http://www.jsbachcantatas.com/docume...-27-bwv-62.htm

[Padraig]

Thank you ER. I hope you're not going to quiz me on it.
But, I am getting the hang of the shape of these cantatas and I find your earlier link useful to this.
'Keep 'er lit' as my Irish tutor says by way of encouragement. Do you need a translation?

[EdgeleyRob]

Thank you ER. I hope you're not going to quiz me on it.
But, I am getting the hang of the shape of these cantatas and I find your earlier link useful to this.
'Keep 'er lit' as my Irish tutor says by way of encouragement. Do you need a translation?

I won't be asking questions Padraig,I'm relativley new to this music analysis malarkey (and to JSB).
Keeping going right to the end myself.
Did this great man write any rubbish ?

[Padraig]

Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 538.
Not that one, as I discovered; an even 'better' one; one which justifies the soubriquet 'King of Instruments'.
Over to you ER.

[EdgeleyRob]

Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 538.
Not that one, as I discovered; an even 'better' one; one which justifies the soubriquet 'King of Instruments'.
Over to you ER.

Good evening Padraig.

For me the best Friday JSB so far.
Certainly puts the instrument and player through it's paces.
A few versions on the web,anything from 13 minutes to 15 minutes-ish,I think it's better quicker,but what do I know.
Known as the Dorian because it has no key signature,not sure what that means,one for the musical Q&A thread.

[Padraig]

I seem to remember a scale called the melodic minor which at the time I associated with the Dorian mode; in any case, D minor is near enough for me.

Yesterday's Cantata was BWV 132, Prepare the ways. I am finding that I need several plays with a fairly close reading of the text - in translation. For that I use the link given by ER,* and I click on 'Eng 3' at the appropriate page. This gives me pairs of German and English lines, which I find more helpful than solid English throughout. I have to listen again, but I can say that I think that this was a bravura performance by this very impressive bunch of musicians - singers and instrumentalists. The soprano deserves a medal!
One aspect of modern Bach performances puzzles me. Why aren't there more women singing the alto parts? If there is one voice I personally like it is the lower register of a woman's voice. I'm probably the only person who doesn't know the answer to my question.
What did you think, ER?

* See EdgeleyRob message 54

[EdgeleyRob]

I seem to remember a scale called the melodic minor which at the time I associated with the Dorian mode; in any case, D minor is near enough for me.

Yesterday's Cantata was BWV 132, Prepare the ways. I am finding that I need several plays with a fairly close reading of the text - in translation. For that I use the link given by ER,* and I click on 'Eng 3' at the appropriate page. This gives me pairs of German and English lines, which I find more helpful than solid English throughout. I have to listen again, but I can say that I think that this was a bravura performance by this very impressive bunch of musicians - singers and instrumentalists. The soprano deserves a medal!
One aspect of modern Bach performances puzzles me. Why aren't there more women singing the alto parts? If there is one voice I personally like it is the lower register of a woman's voice. I'm probably the only person who doesn't know the answer to my question.
What did you think, ER?

* See EdgeleyRob message 54

Hi Padraig.

I also don't know.
We need a Roehre,Ferney or a Vinteuil to answer that.

I didn't get chance to listen yesterday (on the ale with work mates) so just heard this piece for the first time.
An appropriate work for the time of year but is the music a bit less inspired than we are used to from the great man?
Can't put my finger on why.