However you wish to refer to it, I fell in love with this piece of music as a kid.
Asheville, NC's ABC affiliate, WLOS-TV, used it in station identification spots during the holiday season for much of the early 80s. I remember, the first time I heard it, it stopped me in my tracks (I probably was shuffling across the living room carpet in sock feet, trying to build up a static charge to shock my dad—a favorite pastime of mine in the winter). It was quite possibly the most joyous, beautiful piece of music I'd ever heard.
Although Bach composed it as a chorale (and I've sung it as such many times), I actually prefer it the way I first experienced it: as an instrumental.
When it's played correctly, that is.
By that, I mean conductors and performers tend to have two tendencies when performing this piece of music: a) they drag the tempo so much that it sinks under its own weight, or b) they take it at such a breakneck pace that the notes completely blur. Really, the song should take about 3:45 - 4:00 to perform. Not 7:00. Not 2:00.
Also, this composition (like many others of his) is a dance. And as with any dance, it's meant to have a little bounce to it when performed. You should be able to not only hear but also feel the basso continuo in every Bach song—especially this one.
Anyway, nearly 30 years after I first heard this piece, I'd venture to say it is still my favorite J.S. Bach composition—maybe even my favorite classical composition—of all time.
Although Bach composed it as a chorale (and I've sung it as such many times), I actually prefer it the way I first experienced it: as an instrumental.
When it's played correctly, that is.
By that, I mean conductors and performers tend to have two tendencies when performing this piece of music: a) they drag the tempo so much that it sinks under its own weight, or b) they take it at such a breakneck pace that the notes completely blur. Really, the song should take about 3:45 - 4:00 to perform. Not 7:00. Not 2:00.
Also, this composition (like many others of his) is a dance. And as with any dance, it's meant to have a little bounce to it when performed. You should be able to not only hear but also feel the basso continuo in every Bach song—especially this one.
Anyway, nearly 30 years after I first heard this piece, I'd venture to say it is still my favorite J.S. Bach composition—maybe even my favorite classical composition—of all time.
No comments:
Post a Comment