Thanks so much for making this available. Since I first heard it, the Ciaconne has made me want to leap for joy and weep; it is like Bach's other greatest instrumental piece--his Passacaglia and Fuge in C minor--the two greatest pieces of music yet composed (imho), both based on a simple "theme", with which, when it seems that all has been said, Bach said something else, something new and completely unexpected, but at the same time fully complementary to what has already been said. I also resonate with the refusal to assign beauty to an "upper" or "educated" class--much Stone Age pottery was decorated. And thank you, Sarah--that was stunning.
Agreed, as I’ve followed McGilchrist’s work for years. Although I’ve worked with many genres and expressions of music across four decades, I find this puzzling change in popular music. Since popular music became a thing (leaving the art aspect aside) with the advent of recording technology, a style or preference used to substitute the prevailing every one to three years. Around the mid 90’s, this pattern slowed down - and to some extent just froze around the time of the ‘08 financial crisis. By this time, “retro” became a thing, and people relate to 20 to 60 years old recordings. I’ll spare people for the socio-economic aspects, business or “politics” - but posit that this profound change isn’t just from “left brain” distractions. I think the dialectic to those are how too many can’t _imagine_ their nearest future. To me at least, this creative stagnation is the alienating outcome from individualism and ever present reductionism - a deceptive hunt for the “correct recipe”. Luckily, especially pre-classical music is indeed finding wonderful ways to evolve, through period instruments, personal artistry or less “dogma” - making it timeless, present and beautiful in every expression. 😊
The young Menuhins Father Moche witnesses his sons lesson on the Chaconne with teacher Louis Persinger. Menuhin biographer notes that when the divine moment of the return to D major arrived the boys eye pupils dilated.
