Bach & his Contemporaries Session Three: Germany. Plan for Session

Transcription

1 Bach & his Contemporaries Session Three: Germany A LIFE Institute Course Bob Fabian Spring 2015 [LIFEcourses.ca] Plan for Session Introductory Material Significant People / Events Martin Luther Years' War Samuel Scheidt Dieterich Buxtehude Johann Pachelbel Johann Sebastian Bach Georg Philipp Telemann Johann Friedrich Fasch Johann Joseph Fux

2 Why J S Bach? Viewed by many as our greatest composer My interpretation Musically (conceptually) dense Too dense for easy appreciation Different ideas come to the fore Difficult to hear more than three simultaneous musical lines But for many - not always easy to appreciate! Different lines heard with each hearing "Rarely does a day go by when I don't do some Bach. And when I do it it's never the way I did it the time before." Aaron Rosand v=dtjyw7hf9ry&feature=youtu.be Germany 1745

3 Bach's Neighbourhood Martin Luther Friar, priest and professor of theology Opposed selling indulgences (pre-approved sin) 1517 Ninety-Five Theses A more personal and a more personally musical church No longer one universal truth (throughout Europe)

4 Thirty Years' War Whose truth should prevail (in Germany)? Widespread famine, disease, destruction Perhaps 25% of Europe died in conflict Peace of Westphalia Catholic & Lutheran can co-exist (but no other religions) Samuel Scheidt Born in Halle, studied with Sweelinck Kapellmeister for the Margrave of Brandenburg Key to establishment of North German style of music Example: Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland - Samuel Scheidt v=xohyklpkulm

5 Dieterich Buxtehude His father, Johannes Buxtehude, was an organist His last post, from 1668, was at the Marienkirche, Lübeck Bach travelled to Lübeck, had 1 month leave, stayed 3 months Example: Dieterich Buxtehude Membra Jesu Nostri v=bwbbk2pojle Johann Pachelbel Peak of south German organ tradition Emphasized melodic & harmonic clarity, less virtuosic and less adventurous harmonically than Buxtehude In 1677, moved to Eisenach where he he tutored Johann Ambrosius Bach's children (including J.S.?) Example: Canon in D Major v=jvnqlj1_hq0

6 Johann Kuhnau In 1680, moved to Zittau, Dresden was with the plague. Studied French & Italian, translated Hebrew, Greek & Latin Cantor of the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, from 1701 to 1722 Example: Magnificat in C major v=gj-wr1d4_f4 Johann Sebastian Bach Family was full of musicians Father, uncles, grandfather, cousins Bach, at 10, moved in with his elder brother, Johann Christoph Sebastian was a famous organist, often used to evaluate new organs Cantor of the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, from 1722 to 1750 After 1750, his music was studied, but rarely played

7 Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis BWV 1224 are cantatas BWV , large-scale choral works including his Passions BWV , chorales and sacred songs BWV , organ works BWV , other keyboard works BWV , lute music BWV , chamber music BWV , orchestral music BWV , canons and fugues Brief Bach Sampler Magnificat in D major, BWV 243 Bach's calling card in his new position in Leipzig, revised several times The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I v=5ol_qskpeik v=zj6wmoyspyq Studied and played by Mozart & Beethoven in salon in Vienna

8 Georg Philipp Telemann Family wanted him to go into law, he went into music In 1721 he became music director of Hamburg's five main churches Friend of Sebastian Bach, godfather of Carl Philipp Emanual Bach In 1722 offered position in Leipzig Example: Burlesque de Quixotte, TWV 55G10 v=kn253fralqu Johann Friedrich Fasch Studied with Kuhnau in Leipzig In 1722, he accepted the position of court Kapellmeister at Zerbst Though invited to apply, he did no seek the position in Leipzig Example: Concerto for two transverse flutes - FWV L,D9 v=rxegj7eilwm

9 Johann Joseph Fux Austrian composer, music theorist and pedagogue Author of Gradus ad Parnassum, a treatise on counterpoint used extensively in the 19th century In 1698, Emperor Leopold I hired him as court composer in Vienna Example: Kaiserrequiem, K 5153 v=iau0chhfxdk Next Week England: Germans & Italians, plus some local talent End Note: J S Bach Toccata & Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 v=f4jqzb83occ