J.S. Bach - BWV 617 - Herr Gott, nun schleuß den Himmel auf

[philalire]

Yes i like this performance because it seems to me in the Bach 's mind (spiritus) of his conception of the death moment and sorrow. I'll try playing it like you did. Thank you.

[b0ttomzone]

Rising scale motif in the left hand to symbolize the heavens? And perhaps the frequent leaps in the pedals symbolize the opening up of the heavens

[maxouf1]

@b0ttomzone non exactly. Right hand with perfect chords symbolise the heaven , all the rest then goes on those chords as they listen god's voice ; left hand which is quite staccato (but longer notes than real staccato) stands for time going on (choral is about end of life of Simeon, who is then an old man), and pedal is the labour of men's life, hard work, with those slower steps.

[toxiconegro]

@maxouf1

Thank you very much for your analysis. I think we all should appreciate it.

[b0ttomzone]

@maxouf1 Of course, that makes a lot of sense. Silly me, who am I to associate those low bass pedals with the heavens?!

[1banders]

@maxouf1 Bach's addition of a 2nd voice to the c.f. simply reflects the history of the tune, which was derived from a combination of the top two voices in a 5-part hymn setting from 1620.

I don't see any staccato marks.

The old man must be in good shape to do all those 8ve gymnastics. Is he trying to spring up into heaven from a trampoline?

The chorale is not about the end of Simeon's life. The speaker in the chorale is a believer, who says "let me go like Simeon in peace."

[maxouf1]

@1banders Sure it is NOT staccato, in french Michel Chapuis defined it as "perlé".

"Let me go like Simeon in peace". Ok it doesn't deal with Simeon end of life at all.

Sure it's not "God" voice, better word than "god" is "heaven".

I'm only saying bass pedal isn't heaven voice, it is quite heavy with "croches" at octave distance of each others, while left hand with "double croches" is lighter, more flying, something in the sky.

[1banders]

@maxouf1 Why would time move faster than "the labour of men's life, hard work"? Who is the "they" that are listening to God's voice. Where is God's voice? I read all 3 verses of the hymn and don't fnd it.

[boringalias]

this is a sublime piece, haunting and mystical

[zaarour123]

10x u bach.

[QNWNENRNTNY]

Thank you so much, toxiconegro, for presenting the musical notes parallel to the playing of the Little Organ Book! I for one, do not read them so easily, though I try, and I think I am advancing...

[MikeJohnstonguitar]

always loved this piece...beautiful...thanks for these posts

[anisometropie]

you have very rare pieces of J.S.bach ! thank you