The WTF Bach Podcast

Thanks for all your support during The Bach Store! If you’re in NYC on Friday, come to Le Poisson Rouge at 158 Bleecker Street at 7pm.Be sure to mark your calendars: April 24th, 2024, my new albums will be on PRE-sale. It marks the beginning of my most ambitious project to date: a very thorough, if possible, ‘complete’ set of the keyboard works of Bach. I will certainly send another reminder as the date approaches.And now for a brief journey into Bach around this date in 1724: today’s episode covers the cantata for the second Sunday after Easter, BWV 104, Du Hirte Israel, höre. Unlike the other cantatas I have recently discussed, this cantata is not based on a chorale melody. And don’t miss out on your WTF Bach merchandise! Here are seven magnets for your fridge. Send me a note to arrange a sale (T-Shirts, Pins, Bags, 3D Printed Heads, Lighters, also available).How To Support This Podcast:https://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbachor become a paid subscriber at wtfbach.substack.com Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

You read correctly: The Bach Store is back. In Erfurt, Thuringia, the state from where the Bachs hail. I will play for five hours, March 14-28, 12.00-18.00 GMT +1 (7AM-1PM EST.) You can (hopefully) stream the whole run on my youtube. Subscribe HERE.Or go to: www.youtube.com/@wtfbachHere is the latest video I mentioned in the podcast.Bach Store Merchandise is available on request. Send an email to bach (at) wtfbach (dot com)—Meanwhile, the music in today’s episode comes from the “Neumeister Collection,” a collection of over 80 chorale preludes from multiple composers, published for the first time in 1985. More than 30 of the pieces come from J.S. Bach ca. 1700, when the composer was only 15 year old. Hence one of the newest Bach discoveries showed us the youngest portraits of the composer. I played three of them, one on a ‘real’ organ (Saint Anne’s, London) and two on Organteq (by Modartt.) —How To Support This Podcast:https://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbachor become a paid subscriber at wtfbach.substack.com Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

This week I’ll be performing some flute chamber music in Santa Barbara, California. I realize I’ve never specifically mentioned Bach’s wonderful flute repertoire on this podcast. We tackle here what I find is the most complex composition in the repertoire: the first movement of the b minor sonata, BWV 1030.Pieces heard:BWV 1030.1 Source P. 1008, early version, harpsichord part.BWV 1030.2 The later version, arranged as a flute sonata.Articles:Contentious writing on flute vs. recorderYour Support Is What Keeps Us Alive!https://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbachCheck out WTF Bach’s Youtube!New videos appearing soon.Join the mailing list for very occasional blasts: wtfbach.substack.comWrite us:bach (at) wtfbach (dot) comConcepts Covered:Bach’s flute sonatas stand as essential works in the Baroque flute repertoire, with the B minor sonata, BWV 1030, being one of the most important. This masterpiece of Bach’s chamber music showcases intricate counterpoint and structure, making it a highlight of flute repertoire. Through an exploration of Bach’s early drafts, such as BWV 1030.1, we uncover Bach’s approach to flute sonata composition. The discussion of flute vs. recorder further enriches our understanding of Baroque music history and performance practice. Whether analyzing Bach’s compositions or appreciating the beauty of music for flute, this sonata remains a testament to Bach’s genius. Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

This is the final episode introducing Bach’s cantata cycle of 1724. In the first four cantatas of the cycle, we heard how Bach used Lutheran hymnal melodies as cantus firmi in different voice parts in each opening movement (sopranos, followed by altos, followed by tenors, followed by basses.)Here, the next two cantatas see less predictable treatments of the old melodies. Bach evidently valued these two cantatas, as later in life he arranged single movements from both BWV 10 and BWV 93 into his publication of organ music known as the “Schübler Chorales.” Pieces heard:BWV 10, Meine Seel erhebt den Herren (Full Performance of the cantata)BWV 648, Meine Seel erhebt den Herren (Organ version)BWV 93, Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt waltenCheck out WTF Bach’s Youtube!New videos to start appearing soon.Your Support Is What Keeps Us Alive!https://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbachCheck this playlist:I mentioned this playlist in the episode: all the cantatas in the 1724 cycle. Love to my fans!The book I mentioned on the use of ‘Tonus Peregrinus”Join the list for updates if you haven’t already:wtfbach.substack.comWrite us:bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

Last episode we introduced Bach’s second cantata cycle from 1724. We saw in the first cantatas of the cycle, Bach used a church melody as the cantus firmus first in the sopranos, then the altos. This episode we will explore the next two cantatas where Bach sets the cantus firmus in the tenors in BWV 7, and the basses in BWV 135. About the melody you may know as “O Sacred Head Surrounded” Pieces heard:BWV 7, Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam (Full Performance)BWV 135, Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder (Full Performance)Oh, you don’t follow WTFBach on Instagram? For shame! Posting almost daily music from the keyboard repertoire.We Need Your Support!https://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbachCheck this playlist:A fan of the show made this great Spotify playlist with all the cantatas in the second cycle! Thank you! Love to my fans-Join the list for updates if you haven’t already:wtfbach.substack.comWrite us:bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

Peter Schickele was one of my idols. He died on Tuesday, January 16. His creation, P.D.Q. Bach, helped bring much needed self-effacing humor to the world of classical music. Links below to help you get into his (and Victor Borge’s— another giant of classical music parody—) life and work:Peter Schickele’s Obituary, NY TimesBeethoven’s 5th announced as a baseball game (a classic!)The Short-Tempered ClavierReport from Hoople (full album- the Beethoven sketch is included)The Definitive Autobiography of P.D.Q. Bach (1807-1742?)and we should also mention,Victor Borge (anything you can find will amuse you!)Good Ol’ Piano SlapstickMozart OperaInflationary LanguageTelevision Special (75+ Min) Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode we delve into Bach’s second cantata cycle begun in 1724. The first two cantatas are briefly covered, (with two further cantatas to follow next episode) as well as the connection between the Lutheran church melodies and the significance of the year Bach began this ambitious project.Pieces heard:BWV 20, O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort (Click here to see the live video)BWV 2, Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh dareinBWV 684, Chirst unser Herr zum Jordan KammSupport us:https://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbachJoin the list for updates if you haven’t already:wtfbach.substack.comWrite us:bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com(@wtfbach on instagram) Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

I rarely just play on this podcast, but that’s how I’d like to package this little present for my listeners. Rather than spending days researching and writing, today I will play four fugues and introduce them only briefly. It’s some twenty minutes of music I hope you can enjoy during your holidays. The quote I read to introduce this short concert is by Mortimer J. Adler.Bach wrote this music before 1717 (at the latest.) These are fugues whose themes originated in the work of other composers. Bach borrows these themes and creates his own work. These fugues are not commonly played which make them all the more fun to listen to and study.As always, thanks for listening, thanks for spreading the word and supporting this podcast. I’m looking forward to 2025 with you Bach enthusiasts.Fugues I performed:Fugue in C major, BWV 966 (on a theme by Adam Reinken)Fugue in C major, BWV 946 (on a theme by Tomaso Albinoni)Fugue in a minor, BWV 965 (on a theme by Adam Reinken)Fugue in A major, BWV 949 (probably on a theme by Tomaso Albinoni)Support us:https://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbachWrite us:bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s episode we have a look at one of Bach’s Arnstadt masterpieces, the fugue in c minor BWV 574 on a theme by Giovanni Maria Bononcini (The composers Giovanni Bononcini and Antonio Maria Bononcini were his sons.) According to the Neue Bach Ausgabe, this fugue is the first double fugue in history.Here is a picture of the title page in his brother’s hand with the erroneous attribution to Legrenzi:You can download the music to the fugue here. (The MIDI version I created at the end of the episode is BWV574b.) Today’s sponsor is Modartt. I am playing the organ using their wonderful software, Organteq. Read about the physical modeling here. Thanks to them, and thanks to all my listeners.Support us:https://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbachWrite us:bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

EDIT June 2024. I have misunderstood the term ‘Applicatio’ in this episode. I now understand it to refer to the fingering and not the application of ornaments— despite the fact that many ornaments are ‘applied’ in the piece. ‘Applicatio’ as I now understand it sometimes referred to the hand position on a string instrument, or here, where to ‘apply’ the fingers. This video highlights the correction. -e.s.Firstly, here is the image of what’s in question:If you’ve ever wondered what all the ‘squiggles’ are about over certain notes in sheet music, this episode will you give you a good idea. Here is the ‘Applicatio,’ the little piece which would have shown Bach’s son (and other future students) how to apply these ornaments- notice the fingering and the ‘J.N.J.’:Just a quick episode today! Stay tuned for more writings and longer episodes soon.Support us:https://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbachWrite us:bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach? at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe