The Daily Bach: week 3 summary

Bach, the father of Jazz, and celebrating the Year of the Rabbit.

What have you discovered in Bach Club’s daily selection of JS Bach’s music?

Bach, the father of Jazz, and celebrating the Year of the Rabbit.

Make sure you bookmark and regularly visit The Daily Bach page that we curate for you, sometimes from a slightly unusual perspective. Listen to our playlist at the bottom of this page.

Monday, 16th Jan

Ich ruf zu dir, BWV 639 (Orgelbüchlein)

André Isoir

“Lord, hear the voice of my complaint” from the Little Organ Book, with deep meaning and emotion. A walking bass-line and a 16c. chorale melody (from Johannes Agricola) are peaceful, but the middle voice meanders anxiously, sometimes with uncomfortable leaps – this is call full of hope out of anguish. This tenor line has a traditional viol-like texture, referencing an old instrumental tradition (that Bach also used in St John’s Passion).

Tuesday, 17th Jan

Allegro assai from Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F Major, BWV 1047

Wynton Marsalis
English Chamber Orchestra

It’s a little known fact that Bach was a precursor of jazz. Well, no. But he was writing walking bass lines all the time, and figured bass is an improvisation upon harmony drafted in numbers. Not a big surprise then to have the director of Jazz at Lincoln Center play a Brandenburg Concerto.

Wednesday, 18th Jan

Dolce for violin & organ from Sonata in A major BWV 1015

Richard Tognetti, Neal Peres Da Costa

Obbligato harpsichord part sounds superbly intimate on chamber organ, and this 2nd of the violin sonatas gains a new, slightly archaic, but also cozy, domestic dimension. Some warmth, very welcome during this cold snap in London, from the musicians of the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

Thursday, 19th Jan

Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 582

Marie-Claire Alain

Laconic, yet lush. So much imagination shines through this masterpiece, a ground bass repeated with obsession, as if infinitely. Bach’s might be the ultimate passacaglia, least because it’s far from the usual descending 4-note motif.

Friday, 20th Jan

Gloria Patri from Magnificat in D major BWV 243

Solomon’s Knot

In this sparkling, live performance, Solomon’s Knot present the piece in their signature chamber setting. Bach, a word-painter, starts the last movement with the powerful “glory” contrasted with the voices rising from our lowly Earth to Heaven. He then re-introduces the musical material of the 1st movement, literally referring to “as it was in the beginning”. The final brushstroke is when the vocal parts unite in an extensively long note: to mark the Glory lasting “throughout ages and ages.”

Saturday, 21st Jan

Es streiten from Cantata BWV 134a

Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman

„In the future there is strife and victory, In the past there is strife and splendour.” Written as a birthday piece for the Royal House of Anhalt-Köthen, this ‘serenata’ was premiered on the New Year 1719. Tomorrow it’s the first day of the Chinese New Year, the year of the Rabbit.

Sunday, 22nd Jan

Week 3 Summary

Bach, the father of Jazz, and celebrating the Year of the Rabbit.

– bookmark this page, and follow @bachdotclub for more inspiration.

Go to summary: https://bach.club/dailybach-week3/

This complete The Daily Bach playlist also includes selection from other weeks.

Which was your favourite? What would you like to see? Let us know on social media or in a comment!

If you enjoyed reading this magazine, why not

Pawel Siwczak

Pawel Siwczak is a Polish & British musician with a passion for historical keyboards, concert artist and a teacher at the Royal Academy of Music. Pawel puts emphasis on music as the language; to communicate expressively with the audience is key to him.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Keep in touch

Our sporadic newsletter is free to join – subscribe now to stay informed about concerts, new releases and upcoming projects.

Thank you! You have successfully subscribed. Please look out for a message from us soon!

Notify me when available Please leave your valid email address (and a mobile number if you wish) to be notified when tickets become available.
0

Basket