Discovery of Bach's Bible: over 400 notations

mpr.org ^ | Mar 2002 | MPR

[ninenot]

he Magnificat is a very interesting piece. Thoroughly Marian. JSB also expected a great deal of his audience. In one portion of the M., an oboe plays a line which is a Gregorian chant tune--and is really quite obscure because it is only used one time per year, even though it is a Vespers tune.

After checking with a local Musica Sacra expert, I found that the tune's TEXT is a perfect offset to the text in the M. which is being sung at the time by the soloist.

Many argue that people living in Bach's time were mostly ignorant peasants. Perhaps.

But if JSB expected them to know and understand the reference to the Chant (from Catholic vespers, in LATIN...) then how ignorant were THEY in comparison to US???

Latin RULES!!

[Savage Beast]

Yes. It is absolutely my favorite piece of music.

BTW, Bach used the St. Matthew Passion as a job application. They turned him down in favor of somebody else. Whey first choice accepted another offer, they reluctantly hired Bach. How blase' can you get?

[Savage Beast]

I don't remember the names and places well enough to take a chance on them, and I'm too lazy to look 'em up. It might have been Buxtahude. Sorry I'm such a slob. --Beast

[RightOnline]

Neat post. :) Best of luck in obtaining your Doctorate.

[Terriergal]

LOL! Figures!

[Aggie Mama]

Well, although I don't want to get into a musical pissing match, I have to respectfully disagree. I love the Brandenburg concertos and the cello suites (I'm a cellist), but to me, for pure emotion, nothing comes close to Mozart. I took my husband to an opera for the first time last year "Cosi fan Tutte" and he loved it. He said he had no idea that opera could be funny. I guess that's why I love Mozart, his music runs the gamut from playful, to ponderous, to passionate.

[SerpentDove]

>>When Satan listens to music, I think he might prefer Rap.<<

LOL

[aruanan]

I love the Brandenburg concertos and the cello suites (I'm a cellist), but to me, for pure emotion, nothing comes close to Mozart.

Ha ha. I remember my brother in 7th grade practicing the cello part to 3rd B.C.. I didn't mean to say that Mozart isn't emotional. His music is very emotional. It just appears to be facing a different direction than the music of Bach. Mozart appears to be expertly conveying everything the sun reveals as it illuminates for him the musical landscape. Bach appears to be looking directly into the sun. In some ways the result is less beautiful at the same time it is more sublime.

[slimer]

When Satan listens to music, I think he might prefer Rap.

Particularly, Gangsta Rap!

[cornelis]

I guess that's why I love Mozart

Bach was in the tragic mode.

[ppaul]

Bach
BUMP

[Registered]

Great thread. Ever been to the Scriptorium?

[Chemist_Geek]

When Satan listens to music, I think he might prefer Rap.

That's music?

[cornelis]

Which Scriptorium? Online?

[Registered]

This one. It contains the Van Kampen collection. Previously located in Michigan and now in Florida.