There's a pattern in my family history, at least on my mother's side. On my father's side it's a hodge-podge of tailors, wrestlers, odd-job men, electricians and grocers. On my mother's father's side it's coal miners and coal miners. On my mother's mother's side it's farmers, farmers, farmers and...farmers. The family tree of the greatest composer who ever lived (so far), Johann Sebastian Bach, (1685-1750) is truly extraordinary in the sheer number of musicians perching on its myriad branches. Alas, there are none in mine. There are instrumentalists in orchestras, organists, court kantors, music theorists and composers galore. The remarkable Bach dynasty was flourishing in music for some 250 years.
One of my many musical pleasures is hunting out the other Bachs - i.e. the ones who aren't the greatest composer who ever lived (so far). Several of the sons are quite well-known, but what of the rest? What of those perched higher up the Bach family tree?
This post will attempt to answer such questions and will link to some superb music.
Heinrich Bach (1615-1692), great-uncle of Johann Sebastian
Heinrich's Ich danke dir, Gott comes from the age of Schütz and is a fine example of a vocal concerto from that time.
Ich danke dir, Gott Fugue on "Christ lag in Todesbanden"
Johann(es) [Hans] Bach (1604-1673), great-uncle of Johann Sebastian
Like his brother Heinrich, Johann's music is very audibly of the age of Schütz. The Venetian-born polychoral tradition is still alive and well in the motet Unser Leben ist ein Schatten - a 6-part with a 3-part echo chorus.
Unser Leben ist ein Schatten Sey nun wieder zufrieden
Weint nicht um meinem Tod
Johann Christoph Bach (1642-1703), first cousin once removed of Johann Sebastian (son of Heinrich)
Johann Christoph is a particularly fine Bach. His delightful cantata Es erhub sich ein Streit (which features 22-part writing as well as battle effects) stands where music then stood in Germany, moving from the age of Schütz into the age of Biber and Buxtehude. He has made that move fully by the time of the beautiful Meine Freundin, du bist schön.
Meine Freundin, du bist schön Lieber Herr Gott
Präludium und Fuge in E flat major
Fürchte dich nicht
Wir glauben all' an einem Gott
War Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit
Der Gerechte, ob er gleich
Ach daß ich Wassers gnug hätte
Doric Prelude
Hilft mir Gottes Güte preisen
Prelude in B flat major
Es erhub sich ein Streit
Herr, wende dich und sei mir gnädig
Merk auf, mein Herz
Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
Es ist nun aus
Intonatio in D minor
Der Mensch, vom Weibe geboren
Sei getreu bis in den Tod
Unsers herzens Freude
Die Furcht des Herrn
Mit Weinen hebt sich an
Ich lasse dich nicht
Aus tiefer Not
Aria Eberliana pro dormente Camillo
Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr
Johann Michael Bach, the Elder (1648-1694), first cousin once removed of Johann Sebastian (brother of Joseph Christoph)
Johann Michael devoted himself mostly to writing chorale motets. As you sample his works you will hear a lot of chorale tunes. The motet Halt was du hast, for example, features the well-known chorale Jesu meine Freude set against tunes of Johann Michael's own devising. He is, I think, almost as fine a composer as his brother. Incidentally, his chorale prelude In dulci jubilo might be familiar to you as it was once thought to be be J.S. himself (and given the BWV number 751).
Halt, was du hastIn dulci jubilo
Das Blut Jesu Christi
Liebster Jesu, hör mein Flehen
Herr, du lässest mich erfahren
Ich weiss, dass mein Erloser lebt
Unser Leben wahret siebenzig Jahr
Furchtet Euch Nicht
Auf, lasst uns den Herren loben
Nun komm der heiden heiland
Johann Bernhard Bach (1676-1749), second cousin of Johann Sebastian
With Johann Bernhard we arrive at Johann Sebastian's contemporaries. If the sons of Heinrich were (like Johann Sebastian himself might be said to be) glorious conservatives writing rather behind the times, then Johann Bernhard is a bang-up-to-date Bach, writing music that sounds closest to Telemann. I hear French influences, Vivaldi, etc, flowing in his attractive music. The tuneful Orchestral Suite No.4 (for string orchestra) sounds particularly French.
Johann Ludwig Bach (1677-1731), second cousin of Johann Sebastian
Johann Ludwig's music sounds much closer to Johann Sebastian's manner. Though not in the same league it is, however, full of beauty. If you take a listen to the cantata Der Herr wird ein Neues im Lande erschaffen you will hear just what a fine craftsman Johann Ludwig could be - and that alto aria with the two oboes is delightful, isn't it?
Der Herr wird ein Neues im Lande erschaffen
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (1710-1784), son of Johann Sebastian (pictured above)
The wayward eldest son proved to be (a) wayward and (b) the eldest son in his music. His wonderful music switches back and forwards in a rather schizophrenic way between the style of his father and that of the younger generation (including the likes of C.P.E.). One minute it's as if you are listening to Johann Sebastian, the next you could listening to C.P.E. - and that's sometimes in the same piece. His music tends towards melancholy, his melodies are often excellent and his harmonies are frequently rich and satisfying. For just how satisfying you need only try the splendid F minor Symphony, whose opening movement will I suspect take you by surprise.
Symphony in F minor
Concerto for two unaccompanied harpsichords in F major
Dies ist der Tag
Flute Sonata in E minor
Organ works
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788), son of Johann Sebastian (pictured at the top of the post)
Emanuel is the greatest of Bach's composing sons. His music stretches from the age of his father (just try the delightful and popular Magnificat for example) well into the Classical Era; indeed, he influenced all the great Classical composers. He was the leading composer of the empfindsamer Stil ('highly sensitive style'), suiting the age of Sensibility. Occasionally his music can be blandly conservative, all others it can be excitingly unpredictable and radical (bewildering even), though generally it's just excellent.
MagnificatSymphony in D major, Wq.183/1
Fantasia and fugue for organ in C minor, Wq.119/7
Symphony in E flat major, Wq.183/2
Double Concerto in for harpsichord & fortepiano, Wq.47
Keyboard Sonata in A major, Wq.55/4
Cello Concerto in A major, Wq.172
Symphony in F major, Wq.183/3
Die Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt Jesu
Harpsichord Concerto in C minor, Wq.37
Trio Sonata in C minor, Sanguineus and Melancholicus, Wq.161/4
Symphony in E minor, Wq.178
Fantasia in A major, Wq58/7
Flute Sonata in G major, Wq.134
Symphony in G major, Wq.183/4
Klopstocks Morgengesang am Schöpfungsfeste
Flute Concerto in D minor, Wq.22
Symphony in C major, Wq.182/3
Fantasia in C major, Wq.59/6
Oster-Musik (Easter Cantata)
Symphony in E major, Wq.182/6
Johann Ernst Bach (1722-1777) second cousin once removed of Johann Sebastian (son of Johann Bernhard)
Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach (1732-1795), son of Johann Sebastian
Symphony in E major, Wq.182/6
Johann Ernst Bach (1722-1777) second cousin once removed of Johann Sebastian (son of Johann Bernhard)
From what little of his music I've encountered, Johann Ernst seems to have kept up with the latest trends. Beyond that I cannot say (yet).
Sonata in F major for violin and harpsichord
We don't hear much about J.C.F. but his music is worth getting to know, even if he isn't an interesting a composer as his elder brothers. He seems to have been a transitional figure, moving from the Baroque to the Classical Era as he aged. With late J.C.F. (and his younger brother J.C.) the composing Bachs, who began back in the days of old Schütz, find themselves firmly in the age of Haydn and Mozart and are writing accordingly. If you fancy an attractive, colourfully-scored, none-too-profound symphony, then please the genial Symphony in B flat major, clearly written under the influence of those masters even more than that of his London-based brother.
Symphony in B flat Major
Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782), son of Johann Sebastian (pictured above)
'The London Bach' was almost as influential as C.P.E., particularly with respect to the strong attraction his music had for the young Mozart. Johann Christian pioneered the galant style that Mozart and Haydn would draw on in creating their rich and subtle Classical style. For modern tastes, the intentionally charming music of Johann Christian can seem too simple and over-sweet.
6 Harpsichord Concertos, Op.1
Salve Regina
4 Piano Concertos, Op.7
6 Symphonies, Op.18
Quintet in D major, Op.22/1
Laudate Pueri Dominum
Temistocle
Flute Concerto in D major
4 Piano Concertos, Op.7
6 Symphonies, Op.18
Quintet in D major, Op.22/1
Laudate Pueri Dominum
Temistocle
Flute Concerto in D major
Johann Michael Bach (1745-1820), relationship unknown
It's hard to judge the worth of Johann Michael from just a small sample of choral works. The cantatas sound colourful, the language is firmly Classical and they make for agreeable listening.
Das Volk, so im Finstern wandelt
With Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst the Bach line went out with more of a whimper than a bang. W.F.E.'s Classical Era music is quite dull.
Hope you enjoy exploring all this Bachiana!
No comments:
Post a Comment