Johann Sebastian Bach (21 March 1685 ? 28 July 1750) was a German composer and organist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity.[1] Although he introduced no new forms, he enriched the prevailing German style with a robust contrapuntal technique, an unrivalled control of harmonic and motivic organisation in composition for diverse instrumentation, and the adaptation of rhythms and textures from abroad, particularly Italy and France.
Revered for their intellectual depth, technical command and artistic beauty, Bach's works include the Brandenburg concertos, the Goldberg Variations, the Partitas, the Well-Tempered Clavier, the Mass in B Minor, the St. Matthew Passion, the St. John Passion, the Magnificat, The Musical Offering, The Art of Fugue, the English Suites, the French Suites, the Sonatas and Partitas for violin solo, the Cello Suites, more than 200 surviving cantatas, and a similar number of organ works, including the celebrated Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.
While Bach's abilities as an organist were recognized and highly respected throughout Europe during his lifetime, he was not particularly well-known as a composer. His adherence to Baroque forms and contrapuntal style was considered "old-fashioned" by his contemporaries, especially late in his career when the musical fashion tended towards Rococo and later Classical styles. A revival of interest and performances of his music began early in the 19th century, and he is now widely considered to be one of the greatest composers in the Western tradition. (Collapse)...(Read more)
The "Cathedral" Prelude and Fugue is also listed in various Bach catalogs under the nicknames "Little" or "Petite." At about five minutes, it is among...
The "Cathedral" Prelude and Fugue is also listed in various Bach catalogs under the nicknames "Little" or "Petite." At about five minutes, it is among the shorter Preludes and Fugues, and thus its simpler moniker may be more appropriate than the seemingly nondescript "Cathedral," listed in the headnote here. This work was likely written during the first few years that Bach spent in Arnstadt, the city where he served as organist at the Neue Kirche from 1703-1707. It probably preceded Bach's study of Buxtehude's works (begun in 1705), which would have a profound influence on his keyboard compositions.
In one respect the Prelude and Fugue in E minor here is unusual: most such works by Bach contain a slow section (usually the prelude) and a larger fast section (usually the fugue). Here, both are moderately paced, with the opening portion, the Prelude, at times stormy and restless, and filled with much intensity and drama. It is also stately in its seriousness, and contains very little contrapuntal writing, thereby setting the stage for the counterpoint-laden Fugue that follows. If the music in the Fugue comes across as relaxed -- at least by contrast -- it also conveys a busier sense, a feeling the mood is evolving from the serene but earthbound to the inspiring and heavenly. Perhaps the nickname "Cathedral" is not so nondescript after all?
Although originally composed for Organ, I created this modern intrepretation for Brass Quintet (Bb Trumpet, Flugelhorn, French Horn, Trombone & F Tuba).
GUITAR
KEYBOARD
STUDIO
PA
LIGHT
DEEJAY
MIC
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