The Trio Sonata in G - Dieterich Buxtehude
Continuing the trend of broadening our 'Monday Madrigal' series to encompass any and all secular early music, I offer for you today (yeah, I know it's Tuesday) a lovely piece by Dieterich Buxtehude: The Trio Sonata in G.
Strangely, a trio sonata requires four players: Two upper melodic instruments (in this case, violins); a melodic bass instrument (generally cello or gamba); and a chordal instrument (most commonly harpsichord or organ, though theorbo, lute or guitar are also possibilities) to supply the fundamental bass line throughout and to fill in the harmonies.
It's a genteel (in the best sense of the word) format, intimate and encouraging what one might call 'musical conversation'. As you'll see and hear, in Buxtehude's hands the conversation is by turns lively and thoughtful, the instruments joining all together at times, at others giving way one to the other for the special thoughts or feelings of a soloist.
And you'll also notice that the eight movements are brief, each developing a theme or germ of an idea, some movements fast, some slow; some intimate, some more extroverted; some with learned counterpoint, some more free.
In recent years I have developed more and more of a passion for Buxtehude. I think I can see and hear a bit of what drew the young Bach to his much older colleague. There is in Buxtehude's music always a combination of head and heart, technique and expression, serious intent and sense of humor. And everywhere, if you listen closely, there is love. Normally we don't talk about that--how the heck can you quantify it? But it's there, and it makes all the difference in the world.
See if you agree. At this link you'll find a wonderful performance on YouTube, complete with scrolling score. I am attaching a score, in case you want to see it separately. Listen to the piece over your cup of coffee or tea. It might well make your day!
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I am dearly hoping that many of you will be able to make our 'World of Wonder' concert this Saturday at 3 pm, in Schroeder Hall at the GMC. Two wonderful (and very different) pieces by Buxtehude are included in the program, in company with many other vocal and instrumental pieces from the seventeenth-century. The band and the singers couldn't be better.
What better soundtrack for a Sonoma County Saturday afternoon than the peerless music of D. Buxtehude and company?
Continuing the trend of broadening our 'Monday Madrigal' series to encompass any and all secular early music, I offer for you today (yeah, I know it's Tuesday) a lovely piece by Dieterich Buxtehude: The Trio Sonata in G.
Strangely, a trio sonata requires four players: Two upper melodic instruments (in this case, violins); a melodic bass instrument (generally cello or gamba); and a chordal instrument (most commonly harpsichord or organ, though theorbo, lute or guitar are also possibilities) to supply the fundamental bass line throughout and to fill in the harmonies.
It's a genteel (in the best sense of the word) format, intimate and encouraging what one might call 'musical conversation'. As you'll see and hear, in Buxtehude's hands the conversation is by turns lively and thoughtful, the instruments joining all together at times, at others giving way one to the other for the special thoughts or feelings of a soloist.
And you'll also notice that the eight movements are brief, each developing a theme or germ of an idea, some movements fast, some slow; some intimate, some more extroverted; some with learned counterpoint, some more free.
In recent years I have developed more and more of a passion for Buxtehude. I think I can see and hear a bit of what drew the young Bach to his much older colleague. There is in Buxtehude's music always a combination of head and heart, technique and expression, serious intent and sense of humor. And everywhere, if you listen closely, there is love. Normally we don't talk about that--how the heck can you quantify it? But it's there, and it makes all the difference in the world.
See if you agree. At this link you'll find a wonderful performance on YouTube, complete with scrolling score. I am attaching a score, in case you want to see it separately. Listen to the piece over your cup of coffee or tea. It might well make your day!
---
I am dearly hoping that many of you will be able to make our 'World of Wonder' concert this Saturday at 3 pm, in Schroeder Hall at the GMC. Two wonderful (and very different) pieces by Buxtehude are included in the program, in company with many other vocal and instrumental pieces from the seventeenth-century. The band and the singers couldn't be better.
What better soundtrack for a Sonoma County Saturday afternoon than the peerless music of D. Buxtehude and company?