"Air on a G String" is the popular nickname for the "Air" from Orchestral Suite #3 in D Major, BWV 1068 by J. S. Bach
Duration: 5:53 (taking both repeats). Level: Intermediate and up. Programming: Great choice for recitals and very useful for almost any church service, reception, wedding, or any event where insightful meditation is desired. This music is very well known and admired by nearly everyone, so you will have an advantage in providing something familiar and well cherished for your audience.
This is the piece to demonstrate dynamic control, tone quality, and strategic phrasing of long melodic lines.
Air on a G String
Bach: Air on a G
String -
Bach: Air on a G String - ~ Bach composed three
noteworthy Orchestral Suites. He wrote his third orchestral suite, BWV 1068
in D, for his Collegium Musicum. The Overture of the suite features a
double-dotted rhythm in the French style and employs the entire ensemble:
trumpet trio, timpani, oboe duet, and strings. The strings were the typical 2
violin parts, viola part, and continuo of cello and harpsichord. "Air" -
the title of the second movement, is, by contrast, scored only for the strings.
It seems like this work was entitled "Air on a G
String" not by Bach, but by a nineteenth-century violinist named August
Wilhelmj. He arranged the Air such that the first
violin part was performed by a single soloist and entirely on the G String.
Bach Overview
Bach: Air on a G
String -
First of all, Johann Sebastian Bach is
maybe the greatest composer in music history. Certainly, he was prolific.
As a result, everyone has heard of his works. Furthermore, these works number
well over a thousand. It seems like people are probably most familiar with the
instrumental works such as the Brandenburg Concertos, and the Goldberg
Variations. But, similarly famous are such noteworthy works as the
Well-Tempered Clavier, the Musical Offering, and certainly the Art of Fugue.
Seems like his most famous vocal works include the most noteworthy Mass in B
Minor. Also, most noteworthy, though, are the St. John Passion, and certainly
the Christmas Oratorio.
History
Bach came from a long line of musicians and above
all, composers. Consequently, he, first of all, pursued a career as a church
organist. So as a result, he gained employment in various Protestant churches
in Germany. For a while, he worked as a court musician in Weimar and Köthen.
Here he probably developed his organ style and likewise his chamber music
style. Eventually, he, therefore, gained an appointment as Cantor of St. Thomas
in Leipzig. Here he worked until difficulties with his employer
ultimately drove him away. The King of Poland finally appointed him as court
composer.
Style
It seems like Bach created a fascinating
new international style. He synthesized elements of the most noteworthy
European music ideas into his new style. Even more, this new style was probably
his synthesis of European musical rhythm and form. Furthermore, in addition to
his complete mastery of counterpoint and motivic development, his
sense of harmonic organization probably propelled him to the top.
Revival
Mendelssohn conducted a Bach revival in the nineteenth century.
His effort probably helped to re-familiarize the public with the magnitude of
Bachs works. During this period, scholars published many noteworthy Bach
biographies. Moreover, Wolfgang Schmieder published the BWV (Bach
Werke Verzeichnis). As a result, this is now the official catalog
of his entire artistic output. The BWV number allows us to locate a work in the
catalog. Sometimes scholars will simply use an "S" (Schmieder) as an
abbreviat
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