WTF Bach

Last Episode WTF Bach explained how computers, using MIDI, could help us understand Bach in a unique way. Here then, is a brief episode of four Bach MIDI files, played with very basic computer operations (quantized 16th notes, panning between speakers, mechanical slowing down and speeding up).  It's likely you've never heard Bach in this way before. The question therefore is, 'Did you learn someth...

How can computers help us understand Bach? What is MIDI?  In this episode we learn how MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) files, that is, a sort of sheet-music for computers, can help us explore Bach’s music in modern and novel ways.  If you don’t read music or play an instrument, MIDI files might be your way into Bach’s mind. Even if you are a virtuoso Bachian, there will be something in...

Two episodes ago we covered the first movement of the fifth Brandenburg concerto up to the famous harpsichord cadenza. In this episode we look at the two existing versions of the famous cadenza: an early version a mere 18 measures, and the the famous one, more than three times as long.  Alfred Cortot Glenn Gould’s video mentioned is here: https://youtu.be/gvs4v_aswfk Ton Koopman’s featured live pe...

In this episode, we will look at: The genesis of the Brandenburg concerti, What Bach’s job was like when these compositions came about, Who his employer was then, How much music Bach was composing at that time, Why a Baroque composer writes anything at all, The difference between a modern composer and one in the Baroque.   Then finally, we will disprove another famous Bach myth: ‘Bach composed the...

This episode and the next two will cover the first movement of the fifth ‘Brandenburg’ concerto, BWV1050, a concerto for solo flute, violin and harpsichord.    The recording featured in this episode is Il Giardino Armonico (probably my favorite recording of all six Brandenburg Concerti). This is the YouTube link.   Thank you for your emails, your donations and your suggestions. Keep ‘em coming Bac...

GUESS WHO'S BACK? BACK AGAIN?  THE BACH STORE is in GERMANY March25-April8. Stream it here: Twitch.tv/wtf_Bach Let's kick off this season discussing the fugue for violin in G minor BWV1001, and its arrangement for Organ BWV539. There is also one for lute (perhaps lute harpsichord) BWV1000.  Donate to this podcast:  https://www.patreon.com/wtfbach https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtf...

So! We've done it: Looked in depth at every fugue, every canon, solved the mysteries, busted the myths, sent the Bach heretics back to whence they came. And now? Let's just enjoy...  Topics covered: The golden sections in other Bach pieces and how this could help us find the golden section here, even in this fugal fragment.  'God the Father' 'God the Spirit' 'God the Son' as three themes. -- THE L...

This is the final fugue of The Art of Fugue, the famous 'unfinished' fugue, number 14. We discuss how one could have understood this fugue to have been unfinished in earlier periods in musical history (it was finished) and what exactly is missing.  THE LAST PAGE ! CLICK HERE to see the 'corrupt' staves on which it would have been impossible to complete such a dense fugue. **Note the staff three fr...

Guest Interview: Christoph Wolff, Former Head of the Bach Archive in Leipzig.  I had the privilege of speaking to Christoph Wolff, certainly the most distinguished Bach scholar of the 20th century, even until today. From Jimi Hendrix to Rudolph Serkin, from the music Bach's composed which is lost, to the famous "Seal of 1722", this interview has it all folks. Take a listen! Browse Mr. Wolff's Book...

This is the eighth bonus episode. Was Bach dictating this? Blind? On his deathbed?  Printed as the original conclusion to The Art of Fugue, "Wenn wir im höchsten Nöten sein" was not meant to be part of the work, but was meant to be compensation for the missing fugue. Even with this piece, there are myths surrounding it. Let's debunk. -- Follow me on instagram: @wtfbach   Thank you, THANK YOU, for...

Rather than moving on to the final fugue, we have a brief visit to the final canon of the four canons in "The Art of Fugue." Canon per Augmentationem in Contrario Motu (Canon in augmentation and contrary motion [inversion]).  This form of this canon is very similar in construction to the previous ones, though rather than increasing the interval of imitation, the following voice appears in inversio...

This is the seventh bonus episode. Among the errors in the assembly of the first printing of The Art of Fugue was the inclusion of an arrangement of fugue number 13 for two harpsichords. We look at the music, how it differs from the original 13th counterpoint (for one harpsichord) and how such an error could have been committed. It appears under the title, 'Alio Modo' ...another way. It contains a...

Question: If a piece of music is perfect both on its head and also its feet, which one is the inversion? In the previous fugue, fugue twelve, we saw Bach took four voices, a turned everything upside down: 1234 became 4321 and what went up came crashing down. Now, fugue 13 is again a 'mirror' fugue... or is it? This thirteenth fugue is in three voices and uses a technique almost identical to it's s...

This is an interview with mandolinist/composer/singer  Chris Thile . Our conversation on May 14, 2021 spanned many diverse topics from how he felt about growing up in a religious community, to his favorite barrel aged spirits.  -- Musicians/Bands mentioned (Alphabetically): Bach, Beethoven, Bela Fleck, Bill Monroe, Edgar Meyer, Glenn Gould, Mike Marshall, Mozart, Nickle Creek, Radiohead, Richard G...

Question: If a piece of music is perfect both on its head and also its feet, which one is the inversion?   A few important things I neglected to mention in the 11th counterpoint, but where to go after that 11th fugue anyhow? Into the mirror… Look into *CLICK* the mirror !  Bach, not satisfied with creating a triple fugue whose subjects were the same three subjects of the previous triple fugue- inv...

Rather than moving on to the twelfth fugue, we have a brief visit to the third of four canons from "The Art of Fugue" by J.S. Bach: Canon alla Duodecima in Contrapunto alla Quina (Canon at the twelfth in counterpoint at the fifth).  This canon is very similar in construction to the previous canon, though at the larger interval of the 12th.  -- Evan is now mid-49 days of toccatas every day on his i...

I don't know if you are already hip to it, or if you're just catching on, but it seems like releasing music as 'NFTs' could be in our futures. I wanted to have the first NFT version of The Art of Fugue. Check the auction out here:   https://mintable.app/music/item/JS-Bach-The-Art-of-Fugue--Electronic--The-First-Ever-Bachs-Music-as-NFT--Presented-by-WTF-Bach/f9CWCc0ho7bbad8 Get full access to W.T.F...

The closing of our chapter on compound fugues, contrapunctus eleven, a powerful, complicated, and long fugue. Two expositions of the first theme? One in inversion? And wait, this is a triple fugue where all themes come in inversion and… also not in inversion? Holy B***!    Topics covered: The original order of the fugues found in P 200 (the autograph score). The 11th fugue as a possible early fina...

Two fugues in original print are essentially the same: these are both this 10th contrapunctus. This fugue is a double fugue with counterpoint at the tenth (alla decima)  Topics covered: What does it mean when music is in a 'key' what keys did Bach often write in, and does it mean anything special that The Art of Fugue is in the key of d minor?  Follow Evan on Instagram for even more Bachian conten...

Back to four voices! Bach begins yet again another fugue with a unique theme. The fugue will become a double fugue with our well known ‘Art of Fugue’ theme. The counterpoint then begins to appear in two ways: either on the same note or at different notes which are related to the perfect 5th, or 12th, as the title of this fugue (Alla Duodecima) suggests. Not only is this double counterpoint, but do...

This is an interview with Jack Stratton of Vulfpeck. I loved our conversation during the summer of 2020. See some of the topics covered below and stay tuned for the next episode which will feature his arrangement of the ninth contrapunctus from The Art of Fugue. It was great to speak to a non-classical musician so eager about classical music and so involved with Bach.  -- Sleepify (Silent album by...

Back to it! Opening a new chapter in The Art of Fugue, this new chapter is one based on compound fugues, that is, our beloved ‘Art of Fugue Subject’ will now began to be combined with other new and unique themes.    Instead of going from a ‘simple’ to a double fugue, Bach drops a voice (all previous fugues were in 4 voices) and composes immediately a triple fugue for three voices. Like perfectly s...

Ein Musikalisches Opfer BWV 1079— such an enigmatic, endlessly fascinating work. Was Bach warning King Frederick about being gay? Was Frederick jealous of Bach’s talent and looking to embarrass him? No. This is a modern interoperation with our cinematic visions placed upon an 18th century event. Let’s examine these faux theories. ‘ Evening in the Palace of Reason ’ is a piece of Bach fan fiction,...

This is the fourth bonus episode.   Two episodes ago, I began with a quote from Aldous Huxley. That quote came from an article written in 1985. The article focused on Bach's relationship to words and various writer's relationships with Bach. The whole article is fascinating and, well, I read it to you.    A piece of what I consider 'good scholarship', it takes stabs at what Bach playing would be l...

This is the third bonus episode.   You know how at the end of every episode, Gaby says, "Want to have evan analyze a specific piece of Bach... just for you?"   Boom: Listener's choice volume one.   Three pieces you requested were: Prelude and Fugue in E minor, BWV855 (Book one) Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp minor, BWV849 (Book one) Capriccio on the Departure of the Beloved Brother, BWV992   -- Forg...