Sur un prelude de Bach

rovikered

New member
jhnbrbr said:
Isn't music wonderful?

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x85f4v_bach-prelude-n-1-clavier-tempere_music

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x38tqs_ave-maria-bach-gounod-bobbymcferrin_music

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6i5zl_maurane-catherine-lara-sur-un-prelu_music
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Very interesting, and in their own way very appealing.
Interesting because the two transcribed popularisations demonstrate how well the music of J.S. Bach can be adapted and used as a basis for musical compositions in other contrasting styles and genres. Appealing because of the contrasting sound effects, presentation and romantic/emotional interpretation.
The examples also underline the fact that when lacking original ideas and inspiration, those working in the varied areas of popular music often fall back on the music of great composers of the past. Not all such great composers can survive unscathed the exaggerated treatment some of their music suffers, but I never feel this about J.S. Bach and his music. Not only does he always come through unscathed, but such treatment, transcriptions, variations and re-arrangements demonstrate the measure of this composer's supreme genius.
 

jhnbrbr

New member
Thanks for your comments, Rovikered. I agree so much about Bach surviving unscathed, perhaps because the musical ideas are so strong in themselves and don't rely on the effects of any particular instrument. I know it's stretching a point to put Maurane's song on the classical forum, but it seems to me it's just as sincere a tribute as Gounod's and in a way goes one better since the song isn't only based on the prelude, it's actually about the prelude.
 

rovikered

New member
jhnbrbr said:
I agree so much about Bach surviving unscathed, perhaps because the musical ideas are so strong in themselves and don't rely on the effects of any particular instrument.
Click to expand...

That, I believe, is true. Such strong musical ideas produce great music which has not only the flexibility to be transcribed and re-arranged but cannot be confined to a single medium and demands to be re-scored and interpreted in other media. Bach himself was not only a great composer but also a great transcriber/arranger often re-arranging/'recycling' his own music and re-scoring it for performances on other occasions elsewhere, as well as transcribing the music of other composers from time to time (e.g. Vivaldi).
So I think it's quite acceptable to transcribe Bach's music or use it as a basis for other compositions, and I do not think Bach would always object to that.

jhnbrbr said:
. . it's stretching a point to put Maurane's song on the classical forum, but it seems to me it's just as sincere a tribute as Gounod's and in a way goes one better since the song isn't only based on the prelude, it's actually about the prelude.
Click to expand...

'Stretching a point' ? I don't think so. Bach has inspired many musicians working in differing genres including jazz, and whenever his influence is evident by the use of one of his melodies/themes then I think that should be seen as a sincere tribute. I agree on the sincerity of Maurane's tribute.
 
Mat

Mat

Sr. Regulator
Staff member
Sr. Regulator
Regulator
Since rovikered mentioned jazz, I think I should mention Jacques Loussier. He arranged lots, and I mean lots of Bach's pieces and also music of different composers of the Baroque era, so you may want to give him a listen.
 
rojo

rojo

(Ret)
Indeed it is John. What a fun thread. :)

Admirable vocal skills, that McFerrin.

*goes to further investigate artists mentioned in thread*
 

jhnbrbr

New member
Thanks Mat and Rojo. Yes, I must find out more about Jacques Loussier. As for McFerrin, people often refer to the voice as an "instrument" but it seems especially true for him. Quite a brave thing to attempt with a live audience- and a cold and damp live audience at that! (Must have been filmed in the UK :cry:)
 

jhnbrbr

New member
How fascinating, Mat! I've never seen anything like that before, but according to the YT comments it's a Japanese "Chromatone" keyboard which allows you to use the same fingering, regardless of key. Sounds like a bright idea to me, but it will certainly have an uphill struggle knocking the conventional keyboard off its perch! Unfortunately the wrong notes aren't a very good advertisement for it, but otherwise I quite like her style of playing the prelude. It's amazing how many different ways people find to play this apparently simple music.
 
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