Product Description
"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 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.
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
First, Johann Sebastian Bach may be 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 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 unique 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 use an "S" (Schmieder) as an abbreviation for "BWV."
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