A Little Humor: P.D.Q. Bach

     I just cannot resist posting this utter silliness. This link will allow you to stream a 1972 program by Peter Schickele. Listen closely, though - about 5 minutes into the broadcast, Schicklele makes a very valid point about how his satire makes classical music more accessible to us all. Mostly though, this is just solid fun. Kick back and prepare to smile:


http://archive.org/download/MC_1972_11_27/MC_1972_11_27_vbr.m3u
Program note from archive.org:
     "The eminent musicologist and humorist Peter Schickele, discover of P.D. Q. Bach talks with conductor George Cleve about the works of this obscure, umpteenth child of J. S Bach. Best described as a manic plagiarizer P.D.Q. Bach has been entertaining audiences with his music for decades. The occasion for this broadcast was a preview of a concert Schickele was about to give with the San Jose Symphony Orchestra."

Let's Listen to Some Vocal Music

   

     Bach also wrote wonderful music for voice, for groups, as well as soloists. Enjoy this soothing chorus from his oratorio, St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244-63, recorded in 1973 by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, (conductor: Sir David Willcocks).
     An "oratorio" is a large, long work, often based on a religious story, that is written for a choir accompanied by an orchestra. It's made up of many sections (called "movements"), each its own separate, little gem of a work. Today, oratorios are often performed in scaled-down versions, accompanied by an organ or a chamber orchestra (little orchestra), rather than full orchestra, and fewer movements. There are still many full-length performances, as well. Colleges and community groups, as well as professional groups, often cooperate to perform full oratorios.

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Let's Listen: That Sheep May Safely Graze

             

     This is an instrumental version of the popular aria (vocal solo) from Bach's Hunting Cantata, Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd (The lively hunt is all my heart's desire), BWV 208. This delicate rendition was performed by Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, conducted by Sir Neville Marriner.
     A cantata is, typically, a work with several movements, featuring singers accompanied by a chamber orchestra. Like an oratorio, several of the movements highlight voices in solo (one) or duet (two).

Do You Hear Voices?

     "Counterpoint" is the word used to describe a composer's technique of layering individual  music voices over one another within a piece.  Bach was most expert at this.  He could move the melody from one voice to another, or even have two or more melodies going at once, and still keep the piece seamless and unified.
    This animation, featuring the Little Fugue in G BMV 578, is part of the AP Anderson Project.  Anderson represents each voice with a different colored squiggle, moving along in perfect synch with the fugue.  Listen closely to that first melody, and see if you can count how many times it recurs, and in how many variations.

Let's Listen: Partita No. 3 in E, BWV 1006

     This is a continuation of yesterday's point regarding Bach's ability to compose for the unaccompanied soloist. Nathan Milstein (d. 1992), violinist, glided through this movement with sparkling energy, conviction, and grace.
     Often, you will see cryptic-looking numbers next to titles of classical works. These are catalog numbers. Since there are so many classical pieces with the same generic titles (such as Air, Suite No. 3, Concerto No.1), catalog numbers ensure that each work has its own distinct identification. Bach's works are cataloged using the preface "BMV," which stands for Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis ( Bach Works Catalogue).

Welcome to Music Appreciation!

     Welcome to my one-year Classical Music Appreciation course!  This course is designed for people who like classical music and would like to know more about it.  I will feature one composer each month for the next year.
     May's composer will be J.S. Bach, and the first lesson will be a short biographical sketch, suitable for all ages.  Please join me for this lesson, even if your English is limited, as the language will be very simple.  I wish to reach as many people as possible with these wonderful composers and their music.
     Thank you for sitting in on my course!