This seemed to fit in with a lot of what we've been talking about here on the 'Spill. It represents (to me) one of humanity's higher creations, which might help to justify our existence. It's an example of a piece played on an original instrument, in a wonderfully sensitive performance.
Bach's patron went to take the waters, and, of course, Bach was required to accompany him. When he returned he found that his wife was not only dead, but also buried. He wrote this. It starts out minor, switches to major at some point, and at around 10 minutes, just before it switches back to minor, a bass line emerges--this moment has been known to make people very weepy.
2 comments:
I brought some Bach solo cello music with me when I came to Germany, (sounds perverse, I know). I liked the music already but what really blew me away was listening to it while walking through a nearby forest one day- there suddenly seemed to be a synergy between music and environment. A very powerful moment.
My favourite composer ever. Combines mathematical structural precision with utter soul and beauty. If you don't have it (suspect you do) listen to the double violin concerto in D minor -that second movement is what angels making love sounds like. And I should get the sheet music for this piece - I could just about manage to play it. The double stopping (two notes at once) is a bit tricky but I could always cheat and leave them out.
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