His strength lies in HARMONY

ramado · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 3:26 pm Post subject: His strength lies in HARMONY

First, hello to everyone on this forum ...
I am a dj from Canada and have recently been interested in
understanding a part of J.S.Bach's music. I have to admit that I do not have any
knowledge when it comes to classical music so I was hoping some of you could guide
me towards what I'm looking for.

I read an article about Bach which stated the fact that he was the Master of counterpoint,
or I should say Harmony. It also says that it takes a lot of practice to recognoise
complex harmony. Here's what Schumann apparently said :

"250 years later, Schumann, great student of Bach that he was, would declare that
in the chess game of music, melody is the queen but the game depends on harmony,
the king."

I'd like to listen to some of Bach's work that contains complex harmonies ... and was
hoping some of you could tell me what I should start listening to.

Any additional info that could explain Bach's superiority in the understanding of harmony
would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all in advance Smile

Jenny · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:52 am Post subject:

Definitely listen to his harpsichord works like the Well-Tempered Clavier and especially his Concerto for 4 harpsichords if you really want something complex!!

Also, listen to his works for solo violin. You might find those quite fascinating. In these works, Bach has a genious way of making one violin sound like an entire orchestra!! Razz

You can listen to just about any work by Bach and find complex counterpoint.
_________________
"Out of my way, you butterfingered bassoonist!" --JS Bach

mbratt · Newbie Alert Joined: 26 Sep 2005 Posts: 4

When you talk about counterpoint, you are talking about music over time.

Harmony is the vertical aspect of music, time = zero.

Counterpoint is the travelling between different harmonies.

Bach was a visual composer, imo. His contrapunctal lines exist in a certain space over time.

I like to think about what Bach might have been thinking about while writing fugues and such.... "ah there's still more room for music in there.... here comes voice 4 and 5 !"

I just made up that quote.

ramado · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:53 pm Post subject:

Harmony is the vertical aspect of music, time = zero

so couterpoint is when we have 2 (or more) harmonies playing together, in a way that each has it's own part while the other completes it.
and Bach is the King of harmony.
am I understanding it better ?

thank you Jenny for the names ... I haven't got them yet but at least I know that I'll be hearing something that has moved a lot of people Smile

sadus · Newbie Alert Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 1

listen to orchestral suite no2. in Bm..imho is the best and most obvious way to realize the meaning of polyphony.plus thats a genious work

polyphony (almost exact words)- means 2 or more melodic lines wich are not identical to eachother but wich eventually form a whole (arranged in musical intervals).

for example..rondo from the orch suite no.2. in Bm..has
-violin, violin, cello, viola, flute..all doing completely different melodies and accents

ty8131990 · Tadpole Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 23

Tocatta in F-dur is a very complex organ piece. Another well known piece that utilizes many instruments is the first movement from Brandenburg Concerto No.2 - try listening to the melody (violin, woodwind) and the cello part seperately, both blending well together.