Trio super: Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 664 by Johann Sebastian Bach
David Kriewall, organ
University of Washington graduate recital
Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, Seattle
June 8, 2014
Full recital: • 2014 Graduate Recital ...
Program notes:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) wrote a set of 18 chorale preludes (a short liturgical composition using a chorale, or hymn tune, as its basis) for organ in the final decade of his life. Known as the Great Eighteen, the works form an encyclopedic collection of large-scale chorale preludes in a variety of styles. One such style, the chorale trio, has the form of a trio sonata in which the upper parts are played on two keyboards of the organ and the basso continuo is played on the pedals.
This chorale trio is based on the chorale Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr (All Glory Be To God On High). It is inventive, scintillating, and concerto-like; the two independent solo parts and the pedal continuo are based on elements from the chorale tune. The first two phrases of the chorale tune are only heard right at the end of the piece, in the pedal, before the final pedal point and coda. The chorale prelude is in three parts: six fugal statements of the ritornello; a series of brilliant violinistic episodes with suspensions, sixteenth notes and prolonged trills, punctuated twice by the ritornello in the minor mode; and a return of the ritornello over the chorale tune, ending in a long pedal point.
9 авг 2014
