Event

Bach's Birthday Concert

Bach probably celebrated his birthday as many people do, with friends, a cake and special music. That's what Early Music Studio has planned for its March 8 performance, Bach's Birthday Concert. They even have a Bach's Birthday cake, candles and balloons--and you can have some too.

One of the world's greatest geniuses of music, Bach was a simple and good-humoured man, who enjoyed family life and getting together with friends. As a young man, he came under the influence of many other fine musicians. They often requested arrangements and new compositions from him. And he obliged by re-working his favourite music from his early years, when his responsibilities were lighter, and he had more time to write music for no other reason than the pleasure it brought him. It was his willingness to write music for its own sake that ensured Bach's place among the world's greatest creators.

One of enduring myths about Bach that came along long after his death, was that he was an old school composer, out of touch with new currents in music and not interested in the 18th Century's hottest property--opera. More recently attitudes to his music and new research has shown that he was on the leading edge of music, that he had instruments designed and built to his demanding specifications, and that the wrote specially crafted pieces for them.

Lutenist Clive Titmuss and harpsichordist Susan Adams explore these ideas in the music they have chosen to play in this concert celebrating his 329th birthday. Just how did his signature style come about, and for whom did he craft his unique and personal early works? By choosing particular pieces and playing them in the lucid baroque style for which they have become famous, the musicians demonstrate the enduring importance of Bach's genius.

Sometime in the 1730's, Bach had a visit from the most highly paid musician at the Saxon court. Sylvius Leopold Weiss was a lute player whose music may have influenced Bach's own writing. During his visit, it is possible that Bach demonstrated a new instrument which he had commissioned, a harpsichord with gut strings which was "supposed to fool the ear of a professional lutenist". It is easy to imagine Weiss' surprise when Bach sat at the instrument and masterfully played passages of his music written to imitate the lute style, but with the speed and bravura of his most difficult keyboard music.

Clive Titmuss plays a group of pieces Bach wrote for the violin as a very young man, which he later arranged for just such a meeting. "Even though I don't feel that the music was written for the lute, I do think it's a convincing imitation of its style. Maybe Weiss was fooled. He must have been astonished, and thought that the ground was shifting underneath his feet. It is a brilliant composition, and Bach was right to re-cast it in a new form twenty years after he originally wrote it", he says.

The same work illustrates how his compositions evolved, as Susan Adams plays one of the dramatic English Suites, written in Bach's mature years, and in his most virtuosic manner. "This piece disproves the old idea that Bach was not interested in theatrical style in his music. The opening Prelude is one of the most gripping thrill-rides I've ever played in a concert!"

Bottega is the perfect quiet and elegant place to enjoy the art of the great Johann Sebastian Bach.

Tickets are also available at Annegret's Fine European Chocolates in the Towne Centre Mall on Bernard in Kelowna. For more information about the music or for directions call 250 769 2884 or visit the Studio website and Facebook page: www.earlymusicstudio.com and www.facebook/earlymusicstudio

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Bottega (View)
5585 Sallows Road
Kelowna, BC V1W 4C2
Canada

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Owner: Early Music Studio

On BPT Since: Oct 13, 2012

Early Music Studio

www.earlymusicstudio.com

Attendees

Torry D.

Kelowna, BC Canada

Mar 08, 2014 12:49 PM

Torry D.

Kelowna, BC Canada

Mar 08, 2014 12:49 PM

Name Withheld

West Kelowna, BC United States

Mar 08, 2014 10:15 AM

Name Withheld

West Kelowna, BC United States

Mar 08, 2014 10:15 AM

Sharla V.

Kelowna, BC Canada

Mar 06, 2014 7:54 PM

View All 21 Attendees

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