Rhetoric and Affect in Bach

Cactus Wren

unread,

Oct 10, 2012, 6:25:15 PM10/10/12

to

I am intrigued by the idea that Bach's music is inspired by or reflects these ideas. Any standard works that deal with this relationship?

Of course, should any informed RMCGers (*cough* JonLorPro) care to weigh in, it would be much appreciated!

thomas

unread,

Oct 10, 2012, 7:05:27 PM10/10/12

to

On Wednesday, October 10, 2012 6:25:16 PM UTC-4, Cactus Wren wrote:
> I am intrigued by the idea that Bach's music is inspired by or reflects these ideas. Any standard works that deal with this relationship?
>
> Of course, should any informed RMCGers (*cough* JonLorPro) care to weigh in, it would be much appreciated!>

Dick Grove once told me that when he wrote a chart he was thinking: "This one's my house payment", or "This one covers my alimony." I suspect Bach's motivations were equally instrumental.

Fadosolrélamisi

unread,

Oct 10, 2012, 8:24:43 PM10/10/12

to

Le mercredi 10 octobre 2012 15:25:16 UTC-7, Cactus Wren a écrit :
> I am intrigued by the idea that Bach's music is inspired by or reflects these ideas. Any standard works that deal with this relationship?
>
>
>
> Of course, should any informed RMCGers (*cough* JonLorPro) care to weigh in, it would be much appreciated!

I do not know anything about rhetoric and affect but, the other day I went to a guitar concert, Michael Kolk, and he played among other pieces the prelude and fugue from the BWV 997 ... all that to say that I have never heard these pieces played so well! (Even by Bream!) He presented the arr. as being the one made by Frank Koonce ...(First or second edition I do not know) ...in one word it was simply (for lack of better word) amazinger!

Andrew Schulman

unread,

Oct 10, 2012, 10:45:59 PM10/10/12

to

On Oct 10, 6:25 pm, Cactus Wren <elegantspanishgui...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> I am intrigued by the idea that Bach's music is inspired by or reflects these ideas. Any standard works that deal with this relationship?
>
> Of course, should any informed RMCGers (*cough* JonLorPro) care to weigh in, it would be much appreciated!
>
>

Try this if you haven't already read it:

http://www.amazon.com/Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Learned-Musician/dp/0393322564

Andrew

Douglas Seth

unread,

Oct 11, 2012, 9:28:22 AM10/11/12

to

On Oct 10, 6:25 pm, Cactus Wren <elegantspanishgui...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> I am intrigued by the idea that Bach's music is inspired by or reflects these ideas. Any standard works that deal with this relationship?
>
> Of course, should any informed RMCGers (*cough* JonLorPro) care to weigh in, it would be much appreciated!

CW,
In the simplest response, rhetoric and affect (affekt) is part of all
of Bach's music. The rhetorical compositional style is the composition
process for Bach's music (and the Baroque style, in general). Affect
is the overall character of a movement or even larger work (suite).
ie. love/hate, joy/anger, hope/doubt. In a practical playing sense,
understanding the dual function of a melodic leap that came about in
the rhetorical style is important to interpreting Bach's unaccompanied
string music. Recognizing when a leap is rhetorical, an expressive
musical gesture, or implying that a new part is entering (implied
polyphony). This function really makes Bach's unaccompanied string
music, self accompanied.

David Raleigh Arnold

unread,

Oct 15, 2012, 6:25:01 PM10/15/12

to

On Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:25:15 -0700, Cactus Wren wrote:

> I am intrigued by the idea that Bach's music is inspired by or reflects
> these ideas.

What ideas? Don't you know what affect and
rhetoric are? Regards, daveA

--
Guitar teaching materials and original music for all styles and levels.
Site: http://www.openguitar.com (()) eMail: d.raleig...@gmail.com
Contact: http://www.openguitar.com/contact.html"