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The Stop
The Brandenburg Concertos are a collection of six concerti grossi1 written between 1711-1720 by the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750).2 Considered ‘masterful examples of balance between assorted groups of soloists and a small orchestra,’ these outstanding Baroque3 compositions were dedicated to Christian Ludwig - Margrave4 of Brandenburg and the younger brother of King Frederick I of Prussia - in 1721. Ironically, because the size and expense of the orchestra required to perform them was outside of Ludwig’s resources, it is likely they were never actually performed at the Brandenburg court.5
In 1719, Bach was the music director at the court of Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen - a fan of travel, fine art and - especially - music. Leopold and Bach had an ‘excellent working relationship’ with the prince not only respecting and encouraging the composer’s work, but occasionally participating in court concerts on violin, viola da gamba or harpsichord. Advantaged by an ‘excellent set of instruments and a group of fine players,’ Bach (who was paid the second-highest salary of any of the court employees) was remarkably productive, writing many of his greatest works for keyboard and chamber orchestra during this time.
Sent by Leopold to Berlin to purchase a new two-manual harpsichord, Bach was asked to play for the Margrave who was so impressed that he commissioned a set of compositions. However, the death of Bach’s infant son and wife soon afterwards meant that he was unable to fulfil this request until two years later. When looking for a new court position,6 he chose six of his finest concertos, copied them out meticulously and sent them to Christian Ludwig in an expensively bound volume in the hope of securing employment. In the end, this attempt failed - which for Bach fans worked out well as in 1723 he became Cantor of the Thomasschule in Leipzig where he composed the majority of his most famous church music.
The best way to appreciate the Brandenburg Concertos is, of course, to listen to them. I’ve included a link below to my favourite recording, but it’s important to note that - in addition to their brilliance - Bach’s compositions are unique because of the number of soloists each requires. Concerto No. 1 has solos for a violin, three oboes, a bassoon and two horns, while Concerto No. 2 has a ‘perilously high’ trumpet solo and ones for recorder, oboe and flute. Concerto No. 3 has three solos each for violin, viola and cello and Concerto No. 4 features two flutes and a violin. Concerto No. 5 focuses on flute, violin and harpsichord, while Concerto No. 6 includes no violins at all, instead featuring the ‘lower strings’ and harpsichord.
The Detour
Today’s Detour is to a video (16:21) from Epicurious - ‘4 Levels of Baked Ziti: Amateur to Food Scientist.’ It’s a challenge where three cooks of different skill levels - amateur, home cook and professional chef - make their best version of baked ziti. Once they’ve plated their dishes, a food scientist examines the choices each made - and why they do or don’t work. If you do any cooking at all, it’s an entertaining - and actually quite interesting - watch.
4 Levels of Baked Ziti: Amateur to Food Scientist
The Recommendation
Today’s recommendation is the film Amadeus (1984). Though not about Bach, I thought it an appropriate companion to today’s Stop. Based on the 1979 play by Peter Shaffer and directed by Miloš Forman, it is a biographical drama about the life, success and troubles of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The story is told by the composer Antonio Salieri, one of Mozart’s contemporaries, who was deeply jealous of the younger man’s success and cannot understand why God gifted Mozart over him. Profoundly angered, Salieri renounces his Catholic faith and sets about taking revenge on God by destroying Mozart.
Starring Tom Hulce as Mozart and F. Murray Abraham as Salieri,7 there remains some controversy over its historical inaccuracies. Nevertheless, the film works very well as a ‘divinely diabolical myth of genius and mediocrity, buoyed by inspired casting and Mozart’s rapturous music.’8
The Sounds
Today’s playlist is composed of five other compositions by Bach: ‘Concerto for 4 Pianos in A Minor I: Allegro’ (BWV 1065), ‘Harpsichord Concerto No. 1 in D Minor I: Allegro’ (BWV 1052), ‘Organ Sonata No. 4 II: Andante [Adagio]’ (BWV 528), ‘The Art of Fugue: Contrapuntus I’ (BWV 1080) and ‘Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme IV: “Zion hört die Wächter singen”’ (BWV 140).9
The Thought
Today’s Thought is from Amadeus. After debuting an opera for the Emperor Joseph II, Mozart is thrilled to receive his praise. However, the Emperor has one issue with his composition to which Mozart gives a cutting response with which I think we’d all agree:
Emperor Joseph II: ‘My dear young man, don’t take it too hard. Your work is ingenious. It’s quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that’s all. Just cut a few and it will be perfect.’
Mozart: ‘Which few did you have in mind, Majesty?’
If you have a thought on this Thought - or any part of today’s issue - please leave a comment below:
And that’s the end of this stop - I hope you enjoyed the diversion!
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Until the next stop …
Literally ‘big concert,’ this was a popular form of Baroque music in which the melodies pass between a group of soloists and the larger orchestra.
For more information about Bach, see: J S Bach (Britannica).
For more information about Baroque music, see: Baroque Music.
Margrave was a hereditary title in German nobility - ranked below duke but above count and equivalent to marquis.
I love Bach, and when I was in the 9th grade I went through a phase of listening to nothing but Bach. Seriously - in the 8th grade it was Casey Kasem’s Top 40 radio and the next thing I knew it was 100% Bach. I don’t know why this happened (and I remember definitely not mentioning it to my friends), but for about a semester it was Bach or nothing and from the Brandenburg Concertos and Christmas Oratorio to the Partitas for Harpsichord and St Matthew’s Passion, I ended up with a pretty good collection of his stuff on vinyl as this was before CDs. I only wish I had those records today. Sources for today’s Stop include Brandenburg Concertos (Britannica), JS Bach/Brandenburg Concertos (Classic FM) and Brandenburg Concertos (Outhere Music).
Leopold’s new fiancé was ‘horrified by the amount of money channelled to musical entertainment at the court’ and Bach realised that as soon as she was in, he’d be out.
The film won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Actor (Abraham).
All of these are great, but in my opinion the Organ Sonata - transcribed for piano - is sublime. BWV stands for Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis, a catalogue of Bach’s work first created in 1950.