The WTF Bach Podcast

EPISODE TWO: On the back of his own personal copy of the 'Goldberg Variations', Bach notated an additional fourteen canons. These were discovered only as late as 1974(!) and are among the most interesting compositional exercises we know from the composer. From eight bass notes (the first 8 notes of the 'Goldberg' Aria- the structure in a sense,) Bach creates, yes, fourteen other canons. In this episode, we discuss engraving and canons 5-9.Here is what they look like as seen on the back of Bach's own copy:and HERE is the link to engraving- you can see how Balthasar Schmid (I accidentally added an 'S' to his name in the episode) engraved Bach's BWV988.Support us:https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbach Ideas? Wanna sponsor an episode?Write us:bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

I was recently asked to explain chromaticism, so I thought I'd give it a try here.Bach's fugue based on a theme by Tomaso Albinoni in B minor, BWVs 951, and 951a: the subject itself contains a chromatic descent (B, A#, A, G#, G, F#) and though Albinoni himself wrote it, it was Bach who brought the ideas behind such chromaticism to the next level. HERE is the recording which I was not able to credit. If you know whose recording this is, please write me, I'll fix it!and HERE is the version (BWV 951, not BWV951a) which I played on the MIDI harpsichord, highlighting the chromatic lines on one of my favorite youtube channels. As always, thank you for your support, your feedback, your passion! -esSupport us:https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbach Ideas? Kvetches?Write us:bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

On the back of his own personal copy of the 'Goldberg Variations', Bach notated an additional fourteen canons. These were discovered only as late as 1974(!) and are among the most interesting compositional exercises we know from the composer. From eight bass notes (the first 8 notes of the 'Goldberg' Aria- the structure in a sense,) Bach creates, yes, fourteen other canons. In this episode, we introduce the history, the idea behind the canons and the first four canons.Here is what they look like as seen on the back of Bach's own copy:and here are the Handel variations on the Chaccone of which I speak in this episode:https://youtu.be/X_Lp9ZWWI-Q?t=73 Support us:https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbach Ideas? Kvetches?Write us:bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

This episode was inspired by my recent discovery and purchase of an Encyclopedia Britannica. It's a fascinating collection of knowledge and I highly recommend finding some volumes and reading them. This is the Bach article appearing in the EB from as early as 1926 even until the 1960s, written by D.F. Tovey. We also listen to fugue BWV 959, very early, very wild, very W.T.F. in unequal temperament. More episodes on the way! Spread the love!--LINKS:The text of the Borges story I mentionedDonald Francis Tovey (author of the article I read)The archived scan of a 1926 Encyclopedia Britannica volume containing, "Bach, J.S.Homepage of the EB: https://www.britannica.com--Support us:https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbach Complaints? Confusions?Write us:bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

More than simply, “in tune” or “out of tune” a temperament is a solution to the ancient problem of creating a circle out of a spiral. By the time Bach had his shake at this problem, the musical world had advanced far enough, setting the stage for his great mind to create a well-tempered solution that allowed him to compose in all 24 keys. Not all keys sound the same in the vast majority of temperaments, in fact, in only our modern equal-tempered one do we find all keys equal. Does our insistence on this system destroy the whole point of temperament? Or is it the most perfect arrangement of tones? Plus: -Actually listen to a pythagorean comma, the root of the problem...-The circle of (pure) fifths-Bach chorales in different temperaments-The Art of Fugue, 6th fugue in a funky temperament Try the frequencies experiment yourself! Pull up multiple windows on: https://onlinetonegenerator.com Support us:https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbach Complaints? Confusions? Want to sponsor us?Write us:bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com  Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

How much more famous can music be than that one Prelude in C?The Prelude BWV 846, the first prelude in the Well-Tempered Clavier, is heard everywhere, but why? How? What purpose could such a piece have served in Bach's day?We discuss two early, shorter versions of the prelude, and one erroneous version with an inauthentic bar (the 'Schwenke measure' - be on the look out if your copy has 36 bars and not 35!)Answering, "How has this prelude influenced musicians even today?" we explore modern versions by John K. Stone, Elaine Comparone, my challenge to Brad Mehldau, and invert this prelude (and a few others) note for note to hear the 'photo negative'. Links:'Jesu Joy' in a Japanese Forest (Cell Phone Ad)John K. Stone's 'Fantasy on a Bach Prelude'Elaine Comparone's version of the same prelude As always: Thank you for listening!Support us:https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbach Got suggestions? Complaints? Confusions? Want to sponsor an episode?Write us:bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

It started with an Instagram Post, but like all questions about Bach, to answer the question of Bach's 'longest' piece required posing further questions:  Longest how? Minutes? In terms of Measures? In terms of the longest single piece on a concert? ...wait, what is a 'piece' anyhow? Does one of the passions count as a single piece? What about just the amount of notes? You may be surprised to hear the answers... or maybe you've know the answer in your heart of hearts all along.Follow Evan on Instagram for interactive content: www.instagram.com/WTFBachSupport us:https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbach Suggestions? Want to sponsor an episode?Write us:bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

A brief analysis of Cantata 147, Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV147. Such a large piece of music, it gets it own episode. Will I continue to devote episodes to the cantatas? Read the bottom of the description. The work is famous for, if nothing else, the two chorales that we know as 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring.' As it was suggested by a listener, this is part two of the previous listener's choice episode. --People or Music mentioned:Rudolph LutzJoshua RifkinRobert Bridges (English poet laureate)Wendy CarlosLady Lynda (Song by The Beach Boys)Myra Hess--Thank you to each of you who donate to these episodes:https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbach--WTF Bach and the Cantatas:These are daunting pieces with very complicated histories, hence the delay in getting this episode to you. As is the case with all research, one has to be rather careful before making even the simplest of statements about a piece of Bach. The cantatas are largely orchestrated pieces as well, for many instruments, which makes a 'dissection' of such a piece much more difficult. Due to their numerous sections, they are often longer in length compared to a prelude and fugue or many other instrumental pieces. For many (if not most) people who enjoy Bach, their 'ignorance' of his music usually falls somewhere within the cantatas. This is all to say, on a personal note, that while creating this episode, I spent some five times longer than I normally would. I enjoyed doing this as everyone needs to brush up on the cantatas, still, as I always love hearing from you, send me a note: let me know if you want more episodes on the cantatas and I will find a way to make these episodes come quicker. As always, sincerely, -e Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

SPOILER ALERT! I split this episode into TWO! The NEXT episode will cover cantata BWV147 exclusively. --To begin your week! Three pieces you requested were: Toccata in g minor BWV915Allabreve in D major BWV589Cantata BWV147 (NEXT EPISODE!)--Please enjoy my brief analysis of these pieces which, in their own right, could take up many episodes each, and THANK YOU for suggesting I cover them. Please keep your suggestions coming! --Bach's Music Floating in Outer SpacePerformers featured today were, in order:Trevor PinnockChristine SchornsheimTon KoopmanSimon Preston--Thank you to each of you who donate to these episodes:https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbach Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

It was brought to my attention that, yesterday, at the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, there was only one non-Biritsh piece of music included. It was of course penned by our beloved J.S. Bach, whose inclusion in the royal festivities made an impression on me.The piece was this gorgeous fantasy for organ BWV 562, discussed in this episode. Enjoy!The unfinished harpsichord fugue discussed by me Marie-Claire Alain's performance of BWV 562Martin Lücker's performance of BWV 562 I know I said this last time but for real this time:NEXT EPISODE IS LISTENER'S CHOICE- SEND ME YOUR SUGGESTIONS Thank you to each of you who donate to these episodes:https://www.patreon.com/wtfbachhttps://www.paypal.me/wtfbachhttps://venmo.com/wtfbachhttps://cash.app/$wtfbach Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe