Johann Sebastian Bach: Vor Deinen Thron

Description

One of the greatest innovations of Baroque music is undoubtedly the thoroughbass, or basso continuo, of which Bach himself wrote: “Thoroughbass is the entire foundation of music, it is played with both hands, so that the left hand plays the written notes, while the right hand adds consonances and dissonances, creating an agreeable Harmony to the glory of God and to the proper enjoyment of the senses. Because there is basso continuo, the melody can unfold in all its fullness, with that resonant profile that is so characteristic of the Baroque aesthetic. The great majority of the pieces are Preludes, that is to say, they anticipate a continuation: usually a sung chorale, the theme of which is to be found in the Prelude, where it sets the tone for the assembly; these hymns were sung during Lutheran services. And they are lacking because we have concentrated on the instrumental side. Bach and his composing colleagues have made some small contribution to this, by leaving us instrumental works that directly touch the soul and seem to speak for themselves. The pieces on this CD are taken principally from two collections of Bach’s works: the third part of the Clavier-Übung and the eighteen great Preludes for organ.