Something for a Friday: All of Bach

[EdgeleyRob]

BWV 769a

Well Padraig,were you in class ?,today we had,to give it's full title -

Some Canonic Variations on the Christmas hymn "From Heaven above to Earth I come". For organ with two manuals and pedal, by Johann Sebastian Bach, Royal Polish and Electoral Saxon Court Composer, Kapellmeister and Director of the Musical Ensemble, Leipzig. Nuremberg, published by Balthasar Schmid.

Reading up on analysis of this it seems very complicated,so I gave up and wallowed in it's beauty.

[Padraig]

Sorry I'm late ER. I was listening then, and you beat me to it. Yes, it is very difficult for me too; I could not follow the lines easily and lost my place frequently. reference was made somewhere to The Art of Fugue and to The Musical Offering, which I find 'easier', but then I have listened to those two for years and have heard the organ piece for the first time. I must find time to hear it again - I have it on two other discs so there's no excuse. And here - it's nearly Friday again.
PS I got Angela Hewitt and The Art of Fugue for Christmas. I love her playing and her lines sound clear to me. Even when I get lost she brings me back.

[Padraig]

And here - it's nearly Friday again

It is Friday and it must be your good news day ER - Organ Music. This one, BWV 659, I really enjoyed listening to.The accompanying notes were very useful to me - essential even, as they articulated clearly what I was only half-hearing on my own.

[hmvman]

I've been doing a bit of catching up over the Christmas break and what a delight it's been! I've particularly enjoyed the performances of Ich Habe Genung, Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 62 and the 'cello suite. The little videos of the artists talking about the music and their performances have been fascinating. Particularly fascinating for me was Thomas Bauer, the baritone in BWV 82, talking about using the old German word 'genung' rather than the modern 'genug' because it fitted Bach's music better and allowed more artistic freedom.

[EdgeleyRob]

It is Friday and it must be your good news day ER - Organ Music. This one, BWV 659, I really enjoyed listening to.The accompanying notes were very useful to me - essential even, as they articulated clearly what I was only half-hearing on my own.

A lovely,quiet,piece Padraig.
Could feel the stress of the crap working day melting away.
Listened more than once,really enjoyed following it here

[EdgeleyRob]

I've been doing a bit of catching up over the Christmas break and what a delight it's been! I've particularly enjoyed the performances of Ich Habe Genung, Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 62 and the 'cello suite. The little videos of the artists talking about the music and their performances have been fascinating. Particularly fascinating for me was Thomas Bauer, the baritone in BWV 82, talking about using the old German word 'genung' rather than the modern 'genug' because it fitted Bach's music better and allowed more artistic freedom.

It's the most wonderful thing isn't it hmvman ?

[EdgeleyRob]

Organ music again,which is good.

'Nun komm der Heiden Heiland', the BWV 660 one.
So much going on in just 3 minutes,again the analysis is fascinating,but a bit beyond me.
I get the dark to light,2 battling bass lines and the melody above those in contrast.
The music,just brilliant.

[hmvman]

It's the most wonderful thing isn't it hmvman ?

Yes, and it's wonderful to think that something this good can still be done in the 21st Century!

[teamsaint]

Yes, and it's wonderful to think that something this good can still be done in the 21st Century!

totally agree.
Had my first look at it last night. Wonderful.

By my reckoning, they should be finished in not much more than 20 years time ......

[Padraig]

So much going on in just 3 minutes,again the analysis is fascinating,but a bit beyond me.
I get the dark to light,2 battling bass lines and the melody above those in contrast.
The music,just brilliant.

Three minutes - a significant interval in the history of recorded music! Another First for JSB.
A further fascinating interval, an augmented 4th, occurs right at the beginning in the so called motif of the cross. Once heard never forgotten - it seems to dominate the harmony of the piece and provides some dissonance - though the ear does get used to it quickly enough.
Nice to see hmvman and teamsaint join this happy few.

[hmvman]

[QUOTE=Padraig;460771...Nice to see hmvman and teamsaint join this happy few.[/QUOTE]

Thank you - and it's thanks to this board that I found out about the AOB project.

[EdgeleyRob]

Thank you - and it's thanks to this board that I found out about the AOB project.

All thanks to Hitch who started the thread.
I think AoB should be in the reference library (Admin ?).

Anyways,today 'Nun komm der Heiden Heiland' part 3 (BWV 661).

This is the full fat one,full blooded,full on,bloomin marvelous.
For those of you who can play this stuff,and have a church organ to hand,all the music is here http://www.bh2000.net/score/orgbach/
I like just looking at it !

[Padraig]

Thanks for that latest link ER. It helped me to see the overall context of these three chorale preludes. I played them all in one go which emphasised the contrasts between them. At a superficial level it enabled me to recognise the features of each that appealed to me as a listener. Of course you are right to appreciate that they have to be played, and there I have to bow out of further participation. A listener ( apart from a few bits and pieces of piano) I shall remain, and grateful for the enjoyment I continue to derive from all of Bach.

[EdgeleyRob]

Thanks for that latest link ER. It helped me to see the overall context of these three chorale preludes. I played them all in one go which emphasised the contrasts between them. At a superficial level it enabled me to recognise the features of each that appealed to me as a listener. Of course you are right to appreciate that they have to be played, and there I have to bow out of further participation. A listener ( apart from a few bits and pieces of piano) I shall remain, and grateful for the enjoyment I continue to derive from all of Bach.

Did the same myself Padraig,playing them all in one go works very well.
They almost sound like different pieces played together.
I'm also not a player but get a thrill just looking at the printed music.

[Padraig]

At this time, 14.40, the new number has not yet appeared - merely an observation.