CE: Chapel of Merton College, Oxford [R] Wed, 13th Jan 2021

[ardcarp]

Yep. Guilty. But I do wonder if we ought to have posted under The Organ. Too late now, but that sub-division is a bit under-used, I think. I do like the ideas in your #14, ocarina.

[Keraulophone]

Sorry I’ve gone right off piste here.

Not at all; very illuminating. Relevant amplification IMV, not really OT (though the chopper has been quite bloodied elsewhere!).

[Caussade]

All the chorale settings in clavierubung 3 (except Allein Gott) have a big version for man+ped and a shorter manuals only version; it’s an intriguing aspect of the amazing structure of the collection. I’m sure I had a discussion on here previously about recordings and groupings and learnt that one of the recordings I have (which splits the collection across 2 cds right between the wir glaubens) actually makes some sense; it’s a point of symmetry. Bach begins the second half of the collection with the 2nd wir glauben in a french style incorporating some elements of overture writing. He does similar in the goldbergs and elsewhere. Apparently a classic rhetorical device, to start again in the middle. Crafty old Bach.

And the pairs of Overtures within the Clavierubung as a whole have a relative key relationship - D (Partita 4) - b (French Overture BWV 831); e (BWV 681) - G (Goldberg 16). Each bit of the Claveriubung has an overture at its centre point, as does the collection as a whole - part 3, the centre point of the 4 parts, starts with BWV 552. Another pleasing point about the planning, from Peter Williams - the tonalities of the 6 partitas, Bb, c, a, D, G, e make a little melody which leads neatly to the downbeat of the Italian overture in F.

[DracoM]

Rpt today [Sun] at 3.p.m.

[mopsus]

O Quanta Qualia was the favourite hymn of John Lucas, a Fellow of Merton who died a few months ago. I suspect though it was just a happy coincidence that it was chosen for this service.