BACH

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b - a - c - h in musical

notation Note: The notation BACH does not correspond to the convention according to which tones are written in lower case letters. However, capitalization is popular. Audio sample BACH

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In occidental and occidental music , BACH is a series of notes that give the name "Bach" and have mostly been used as a reminiscence and homage to the composer Johann Sebastian Bach since the 18th century . The meaning is not only revealed in the German-speaking area, but also in other Scandinavian and Slavic countries, but not everywhere (e.g. English B flat or French si bémol for German  B ).

Special features of the musical motif BACH

Symbol of the International Bach Academy Stuttgart . If you read the central note one after the other in the four keys, you get BACH.

It is a rarity that a name can be converted completely into tone letters and thus, to a certain extent, made to sound. The BACH tones also form a cross motif (see illustration below left).

Bach's music was often described by contemporaries as too complicated and mathematical. Indeed, both complex harmonies and complex polyphonic vocal lines are striking in Bach's compositions . Chromatic voice guidance plays a special role here, as it is one of the most difficult musical and compositional tasks that Bach did not shrink from, but rather challenged. The fact that the BACH motif consists of four superimposed halftones places particularly high demands on the compositional implementation.

The opposite notes show a cross connected to each other

Bach dedicated a large part of his work to church music. In his remarks on the basso continuo he writes that music should “only be for God's honor and for the recreation of the mind. Where this is not taken into account, there is no actual music but a devilish banter and Geleyr. ”He used musical symbols in innumerable places in his compositions . The musical symbol par excellence for the Christian faith is the cross motif , consisting of at least four notes, which, when two and two are connected, make a cross. BACH is one such musical cross motif.

Bach's musical approach to his name

Music example from the piece Tristis est anima mea by Johann Kuhnau
Arrangement by Johann Sebastian Bach with the notes BACH

It was common until the 18th century to edit and adapt works by other composers for new use. The example shows an excerpt from the motet Tristis est anima mea attributed to the Leipzig composer Johann Kuhnau (upper graphic).

In the arrangement by Johann Sebastian Bach ( The Just Comes Around ) the piece is transposed from F minor to E minor and expanded with an orchestral accompaniment. Bach added the BACH motif in the alto part (lower graphic) and edited the harmonic movement. He gives the alto as the only voice at this point a syncopated rhythm . Shortly afterwards, the alto continues with the words “and nobody pays attention” - a self-deprecating allusion and an example of Bach's subtle work.

In arrangements for other compositions, Bach often used his name in this way in order to add his “signature” to them. Most of the time, however, the motif is inserted in such a way that it is difficult to recognize just by listening to it, but can be seen better in the music text.

The motif also appears now and then in Bach's own compositions, sometimes transposed . The best known is the inclusion of BACH in the last, unfinished contrapunctus from his art of fugue .

Works by other composers on BACH

Ulrich Prinz listed a total of 409 works on BACH by 330 different composers from the 17th to the 20th century in the catalog for the exhibition "300 Years of Johann Sebastian Bach" of the International Bach Academy from 1985 ( ISBN 3-7952-0459-3 ).

Other use

"Bach is the beginning and end of all music".
Max Reger May 7, 1912
  • The city of Leipzig radio used the motif as a tribute to the former Leipzig cantor announcing its broadcasts.
  • Max Reger first entered the confession in Lisa Hess' family book on May 31, 1906: bach is the beginning and end of all music .

See also

Web links

Commons : BACH-Motiv  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ For the designation of the B see tone designations in other languages
  2. ↑ Max Reger on Wikiquote