RE: (western) classical music discussion
June 11, 2015 at 1:54 am
(This post was last modified: June 11, 2015 at 1:56 am by Alex K.)
Talking about Walcha and Bach,
Yesterday I listened to his completion of the unfinished fourteenth fugue from art of fugue. How strange after hearing the characteristic unfinished ending a million times before, and hearing the oher voices just go on.
Any of you know it? I thought it was cool to have a complete version where the original first theme is finally reintroduced as a grand finale. But one can't help notice that the style immediately changes where Bach left off. It doesn't "sing" any more like so many of bachs things do, and becomes more of an exercise that makes you feel how complicated it is. The harmonic transitions seem to become more forced and less inevitable. Granted, the fugue does become more complicated, but even in the ricrercar a 6 of the musical offering, there is still an effortlessness that Walcha simply doesn't manage. Still, it is enjoyable to have a completion, if only as an illustration how great the guy was
Yesterday I listened to his completion of the unfinished fourteenth fugue from art of fugue. How strange after hearing the characteristic unfinished ending a million times before, and hearing the oher voices just go on.
Any of you know it? I thought it was cool to have a complete version where the original first theme is finally reintroduced as a grand finale. But one can't help notice that the style immediately changes where Bach left off. It doesn't "sing" any more like so many of bachs things do, and becomes more of an exercise that makes you feel how complicated it is. The harmonic transitions seem to become more forced and less inevitable. Granted, the fugue does become more complicated, but even in the ricrercar a 6 of the musical offering, there is still an effortlessness that Walcha simply doesn't manage. Still, it is enjoyable to have a completion, if only as an illustration how great the guy was
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
