Saturday morning music, courtesy Bach and Respighi
by David Atkins
A little change of pace for everyone this Saturday morning to lift the mood and spirit, courtesy of J.S. Bach and Ottorino Respighi. Below are two versions of Bach’s famous and extraordinary Passacaglia in C Minor.
A “passacaglia” is an old Spanish musical form best noted for its use of ostinato, or sequentially repeated melody, usually in the bass line. Bach’s famous C Minor passacaglia repeats this melody with variations no less than 21 times, with 12 variations on a related fugue theme interlaced as well.
The first version here is played masterfully by Ton Koopman as Bach originally wrote it for solo organ. It’s one of the greatest pieces ever written for the organ. Listen for the simple 16-note melody that begins the piece, and for the mesmerizing repetition of that melody line again and again even as the higher treble notes increase in rhythmic and melodic complexity.
It’s such a powerful piece that numerous later composers arranged it for a full orchestra. Probably the most famous of these orchestrations was created by Ottorino Respighi, commissioned by Arturo Toscanini. Respighi’s orchestration is magnificent and somewhat more accessible to a modern ear than Bach’s original, while still capturing the beautiful simplicity of the passacaglia form.
I’ve had Bach’s ostinato base line from the Passacaglia as an earworm for the last several days, but I don’t mind. It’s a gift worth sharing. Enjoy your Saturday!
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