Welcome
Information:
- Source: Approved Measures Notebook
- Key: D minor
- Measures: 54
- Parts: Cello and Piano
- Duration: 3:11 min
- Pages: 4 Pages
“Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends. We’re so glad you could attend, come inside, come inside.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson could have easily been talking about Bach’s music when he said those words. “The show that never ends” reference is what makes me think of Bach. Now, there’s a lot written about the composer, his biographers do not have it easy, there is so much extraordinary music left behind, but very little of his personal life. So, a lot of it is pure speculation.
Music, as life itself, is similar to a first act scene that never ends; only the actors are being replaced. There are no second nor third acts. I think of it as a playlist set in an endless loop that creates an ostinato pattern, for the only purpose to delight, or to annoy the listener.
I personally cannot imagine life without music, but; life without the music of J.S. Bach would be unbearable. His entire catalog overflows with all kinds of dances, as well as arias, operas, cantatas, concertos, symphonies, oratorios. There is a lot of music for us to chose. The celebrated variations he wrote, specifically for Goldberg, weren’t only for him, today, all the world benefits, because, the artistic value of them have no price.
With great expectation, I’ve always welcomed baroque music into my life, there is so much music to discover. Anna Magdalena’s book, for example, was and STILL is for me, an introduction into the baroque music, because, even after all this years playing the material, I consistently discover and rediscover new and old emotions. All of which are hidden in the melodies and rhythms of each composition.
Bach’s music is_ after 300 years_ very much alive. All his music had been played countless of times. It had been analyzed, criticized, scrutinized and played all over again. Along with this letter, I am introducing a composition, notably the piano part was inspired by a minuet in D minor from the famous notebook of Anna Magdalena Bach.
I wanted to capture a brief moment that encapsulates the ease I experience every time I hear Bach’s music; a sense of detachment from all the “horse manure” in the world. All at the same time, I was hoping for an accessible sound and welcoming feeling, perhaps even happy.
Bach’s music is full of surprises, whether is a symphony or a simple march; it seems he did not leave anything at random. Bach believed that the music was not to bring glory to the performers or the conductor (or even to Bach, as the composer). This music was crafted for the glory of God.
To each his own, and, not wanting to be controversial, but I believe, humans are by far the ones glorify by his musical genius. Apart from that, it is hard to imagine, in our day, any God rejoicing to hear a piano arrangement of Jesu Joy of Man’s desiring, and, the same God covering his ear, insufferable, the very next day, to the music of Bjork; for example.
But please, let’s not assumed I know it all, because I don’t. But I am sure we all can agree that Bach’s music is a big part of any serious musician’s life, Bach is_ if I dare said_ a synonym of Baroque. One of the most celebrated composers of the era. Bach’s music welcomes you to the biggest show any human can experience.
Welcome, enjoy the show!!, Yes, since we are born; we are given tickets to attended the greatest show we call life. But despite all the irregularities in this show, one can find a great amount of enjoyable activities to do, pleasant undertakings that allow us to endure.
To endure, I encourage you to listen to baroque music, if you do, I hope you will take to heart the warm and inviting welcomed to the greatest show, the show that never ends: Bach’s Music!
Enjoy!