The WTF Bach Podcast

ALBUMS ON PRESALE TODAY! BUY THE ALBUMS HERE! Volume One: Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/pl/album/j-s-bach-complete-keyboard-works-vol-1-five-early-suites/1742017750 Amazon Music: https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0D2384W2F?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_RKDX0CTSrSQOjYLoHcLjwnaal Volume Two: Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/jp/album/j-s-bach-complete-keyboard-works-vol-2-original-compositions/1742025499Amazon Music: https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0D23KCFB2?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_mHA1bzUWmIrfRclqYKWzKynsp Volume Three: Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/pl/album/j-s-bach-complete-keyboard-works-vol-3-misc-preludes/1742020206 Amazon Music: https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0D23VWM3J?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_jOzPVjVDkSiB8t9qwOuFSXrZ8 As for the music covered today, we will hear Doubles layered over their preceding dance movements. A Double is an elaboration on the preceding movement, where the melody is quickened— often twice as quickly. The harmonic structure of the Double and its preceding movement is the same, allowing for one to play both movements at the same time with very interesting results. Pieces studied: Sarabande and Double from Sixth English Suite, BWV 811 Gigue and Double from the c minor lute suite, BWV 997 Partita in b minor for solo violin, BWV 1002 People/places mentioned: Burp Castle at 41 East 7th Street in the East Village of Manhattan (between 2nd Ave & Cooper Square). Paul Spring (guitarist) How To Support This Podcast: https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtfbach https://cash.app/$wtfbach or become a paid subscriber at wtfbach.substack.com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

Thanks for all your support during The Bach Store! If you’re in NYC on Friday, come to Le Poisson Rouge at 158 Bleecker Street at 7pm. Be sure to mark your calendars: April 24th, 2024, my new albums will be on PRE-sale. It marks the beginning of my most ambitious project to date: a very thorough, if possible, ‘complete’ set of the keyboard works of Bach. I will certainly send another reminder as the date approaches. And now for a brief journey into Bach around this date in 1724: today’s episode covers the cantata for the second Sunday after Easter, BWV 104, Du Hirte Israel, höre. Unlike the other cantatas I have recently discussed, this cantata is not based on a chorale melody. And don’t miss out on your WTF Bach merchandise! Here are seven magnets for your fridge. Send me a note to arrange a sale (T-Shirts, Pins, Bags, 3D Printed Heads, Lighters, also available). How To Support This Podcast: https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtfbach https://cash.app/$wtfbach or become a paid subscriber at wtfbach.substack.com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

You read correctly: The Bach Store is back. In Erfurt, Thuringia, the state from where the Bachs hail. I will play for five hours, March 14-28, 12.00-18.00 GMT +1 (7AM-1PM EST.) You can (hopefully) stream the whole run on my youtube. Subscribe HERE. Or go to: www.youtube.com/@wtfbach Here is the latest video I mentioned in the podcast. Bach Store Merchandise is available on request. Send an email to bach (at) wtfbach (dot com) — Meanwhile, the music in today’s episode comes from the “Neumeister Collection,” a collection of over 80 chorale preludes from multiple composers, published for the first time in 1985. More than 30 of the pieces come from J.S. Bach ca. 1700, when the composer was only 15 year old. Hence one of the newest Bach discoveries showed us the youngest portraits of the composer. I played three of them, one on a ‘real’ organ (Saint Anne’s, London) and two on Organteq (by Modartt.) — How To Support This Podcast: https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtfbach https://cash.app/$wtfbach or become a paid subscriber at wtfbach.substack.com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

This week I’ll be performing some flute chamber music in Santa Barbara, California. I realize I’ve never specifically mentioned Bach’s wonderful flute repertoire on this podcast. We tackle here what I find is the most complex composition in the repertoire: the first movement of the b minor sonata, BWV 1030. Pieces heard: BWV 1030.1 Source P. 1008, early version, harpsichord part. BWV 1030.2 The later version, arranged as a flute sonata. Articles: Contentious writing on flute vs. recorder Your Support Is What Keeps Us Alive! https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtfbach https://cash.app/$wtfbach Check out WTF Bach’s Youtube! New videos appearing soon. Join the mailing list for very occasional blasts: wtfbach.substack.com Write us: bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

This week I’ll be performing some flute chamber music in Santa Barbara, California. I realize I’ve never specifically mentioned Bach’s wonderful flute repertoire on this podcast. We tackle here what I find is the most complex composition in the repertoire: the first movement of the b minor sonata, BWV 1030. Pieces heard: BWV 1030.1 Source P. 1008, early version, harpsichord part. BWV 1030.2 The later version, arranged as a flute sonata. Articles: Contentious writing on flute vs. recorder Your Support Is What Keeps Us Alive! https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtfbach https://cash.app/$wtfbach Check out WTF Bach’s Youtube! New videos appearing soon. Join the mailing list for very occasional blasts: wtfbach.substack.com Write us: bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

This is the final episode introducing Bach’s cantata cycle of 1724. In the first four cantatas of the cycle, we heard how Bach used Lutheran hymnal melodies as cantus firmi in different voice parts in each opening movement (sopranos, followed by altos, followed by tenors, followed by basses.) Here, the next two cantatas see less predictable treatments of the old melodies. Bach evidently valued these two cantatas, as later in life he arranged single movements from both BWV 10 and BWV 93 into his publication of organ music known as the “Schübler Chorales.” Pieces heard: BWV 10, Meine Seel erhebt den Herren (Full Performance of the cantata) BWV 648, Meine Seel erhebt den Herren (Organ version) BWV 93, Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten Check out WTF Bach’s Youtube! New videos to start appearing soon. Your Support Is What Keeps Us Alive! https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtfbach https://cash.app/$wtfbach Check this playlist: I mentioned this playlist in the episode: all the cantatas in the 1724 cycle. Love to my fans! The book I mentioned on the use of ‘Tonus Peregrinus” Join the list for updates if you haven’t already: wtfbach.substack.com Write us: bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

Last episode we introduced Bach’s second cantata cycle from 1724. We saw in the first cantatas of the cycle, Bach used a church melody as the cantus firmus first in the sopranos, then the altos. This episode we will explore the next two cantatas where Bach sets the cantus firmus in the tenors in BWV 7, and the basses in BWV 135. About the melody you may know as “O Sacred Head Surrounded” Pieces heard: BWV 7, Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam (Full Performance) BWV 135, Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder (Full Performance) Oh, you don’t follow WTFBach on Instagram? For shame! Posting almost daily music from the keyboard repertoire. We Need Your Support! https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtfbach https://cash.app/$wtfbach Check this playlist: A fan of the show made this great Spotify playlist with all the cantatas in the second cycle! Thank you! Love to my fans- Join the list for updates if you haven’t already: wtfbach.substack.com Write us: bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

Peter Schickele was one of my idols. He died on Tuesday, January 16. His creation, P.D.Q. Bach, helped bring much needed self-effacing humor to the world of classical music. Links below to help you get into his (and Victor Borge’s— another giant of classical music parody—) life and work: Peter Schickele’s Obituary, NY Times Beethoven’s 5th announced as a baseball game (a classic!) The Short-Tempered Clavier Report from Hoople (full album- the Beethoven sketch is included) The Definitive Autobiography of P.D.Q. Bach (1807-1742?) and we should also mention, Victor Borge (anything you can find will amuse you!) Good Ol’ Piano Slapstick Mozart Opera Inflationary Language Television Special (75+ Min) Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode we delve into Bach’s second cantata cycle begun in 1724. The first two cantatas are briefly covered, (with two further cantatas to follow next episode) as well as the connection between the Lutheran church melodies and the significance of the year Bach began this ambitious project. Pieces heard: BWV 20, O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort (Click here to see the live video) BWV 2, Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein BWV 684, Chirst unser Herr zum Jordan Kamm Support us: https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtfbach https://cash.app/$wtfbach Join the list for updates if you haven’t already: wtfbach.substack.com Write us: bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com (@wtfbach on instagram) Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

I rarely just play on this podcast, but that’s how I’d like to package this little present for my listeners. Rather than spending days researching and writing, today I will play four fugues and introduce them only briefly. It’s some twenty minutes of music I hope you can enjoy during your holidays. The quote I read to introduce this short concert is by Mortimer J. Adler. Bach wrote this music before 1717 (at the latest.) These are fugues whose themes originated in the work of other composers. Bach borrows these themes and creates his own work. These fugues are not commonly played which make them all the more fun to listen to and study. As always, thanks for listening, thanks for spreading the word and supporting this podcast. I’m looking forward to 2025 with you Bach enthusiasts. Fugues I performed: Fugue in C major, BWV 966 (on a theme by Adam Reinken) Fugue in C major, BWV 946 (on a theme by Tomaso Albinoni) Fugue in a minor, BWV 965 (on a theme by Adam Reinken) Fugue in A major, BWV 949 (probably on a theme by Tomaso Albinoni) Support us: https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtfbach https://cash.app/$wtfbach Write us: bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s episode we have a look at one of Bach’s Arnstadt masterpieces, the fugue in c minor BWV 574 on a theme by Giovanni Maria Bononcini (The composers Giovanni Bononcini and Antonio Maria Bononcini were his sons.) According to the Neue Bach Ausgabe, this fugue is the first double fugue in history. Here is a picture of the title page in his brother’s hand with the erroneous attribution to Legrenzi: You can download the music to the fugue here. (The MIDI version I created at the end of the episode is BWV574b.) Today’s sponsor is Modartt. I am playing the organ using their wonderful software, Organteq. Read about the physical modeling here. Thanks to them, and thanks to all my listeners. Support us: https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtfbach https://cash.app/$wtfbach Write us: bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s episode we have a look at one of Bach’s Arnstadt masterpieces, the fugue in c minor BWV 574 on a theme by Giovanni Maria Bononcini (The composers Giovanni Bononcini and Antonio Maria Bononcini were his sons.) According to the Neue Bach Ausgabe, this fugue is the first double fugue in history. Here is a picture of the title page in his brother’s hand with the erroneous attribution to Legrenzi: You can download the music to the fugue here. (The MIDI version I created at the end of the episode is BWV574b.) Today’s sponsor is Modartt. I am playing the organ using their wonderful software, Organteq. Read about the physical modeling here. Thanks to them, and thanks to all my listeners. Support us: https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtfbach https://cash.app/$wtfbach Write us: bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

Firstly, here is the image of what’s in question: If you’ve ever wondered what all the ‘squiggles’ are about over certain notes in sheet music, this episode will you give you a good idea. Here is the ‘Applicatio,’ the little piece which would have shown Bach’s son (and other future students) how to apply these ornaments- notice the fingering and the ‘J.N.J.’: Just a quick episode today! Stay tuned for more writings and longer episodes soon. Support us: https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtfbach https://cash.app/$wtfbach Write us: bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

How did Bach understand the concept of Phi? 1.618…? Here are a few examples where Bach highlights the “Golden Section” in a piece through either a fugal technique, a shift in musical language, or something else. Send us your most remarkable golden section moments! For the first episode where I mentioned the golden section and Bach, click here. Pieces covered: Fugue in C major, BWV 846 Invention in C major, BWV 770 Allegro from Sonata in a minor, BWV 1003 Confiteor and Et Expecto from Mass in b minor, BWV 232 Contrapuntus 10 from The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080 Phi as seen as a structural principle in BWVs 1001-1006, The Sei Solo Book One (Violin Sonatas and Partitas) will be written about soon! Fugue in b minor, BWV 869 Performers featured: Trevor Pinnock Nathan Milstein Sigiswald Kuijken (and La Petite Bande) Ralph Kirkpatrick Support us: https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtfbach https://cash.app/$wtfbach Write us: bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I delve into two very diverse chorale preludes: one from the so-called, “Great 18” and one from the individually transmitted. Here is a link to Bach’s own autograph of the Leipzig chorales. Beautiful handwriting! Marie-Claire Alain’s recording of BWV 655 (completely different to Koopman’s) The “Organ Sonatas” I recorded with LH/RH hard panning On Spotify on Apple Music P.S. This is the first episode released on the new substack website- please shout if you experience problems! Support us: https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtfbach https://cash.app/$wtfbach Write us: bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

-- I AM STARTING A SUBSTACK SOON SO JOIN THE FUN: WTFBACH.SUBSTACK.COM -- Thanks for listening! In this episode we discuss the history of the Chorale- how it became called 'Chorale' and how it factors into Bach's music. Pieces featured: BWV 691 and BWV 93 (Chorale) at the same time BWV 651 BWV 682 Performers were: Michel Chapuis, Kay Johannsen -- Here are the links to the cantata cycles mentioned at the end, thank you, Tucker! From the profile you can access different ensembles' complete cantata cycles as well as other great selections. Tucker's Spotify Playlists Support us: https://www.patreon.com/wtfbach https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtfbach https://cash.app/$wtfbach Write us: bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

Though this episode starts with quite the extended introduction, this is in fact EPISODE THREE In a four-part study into the 14 additional canons on the back of the Goldbergs, BWV1087. Here in this video, we dismiss a popular Bach video, and examine which videos are in fact Möbius strips. Here is the disproven crab canon video. Here are two studies which don't quite go far enough: One. I love this channel, don't get me wrong- they just didn't quite examine the consequences of chromatic inversion. Two. The American Mathematical Society publishes similarly. Both studies miss the technical inversions that I have pointed out in this episode. -- And now the blurb from the other two episodes studying BWV 1087: On the back of his own personal copy of the 'Goldberg Variations', Bach notated an additional fourteen canons. These were discovered only as late as 1974(!) and are among the most interesting compositional exercises we know from the composer. From eight bass notes (the first 8 notes of the 'Goldberg' Aria- the structure in a sense,) Bach creates, yes, fourteen other canons. In this episode, we discuss engraving and canons 5-9. Here is what they look like as seen on the back of Bach's own copy: and HERE is the link to engraving- you can see how Balthasar Schmid (I accidentally added an 'S' to his name in the episode) engraved Bach's BWV988. Support us: https://www.patreon.com/wtfbach https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtfbach https://cash.app/$wtfbach Ideas? Wanna sponsor an episode? Write us: bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

Finally! The influential Joshua Rifkin guests on the WTF Bach Podcast. Rifkin made Bach fame with his groundbreaking (and controversial!) theory that Bach’s vocal works (and other 17th & 18th century) composers’ works were sung with only one singer per part. He recorded the b minor mass, several cantatas, and other Bach works in this format. We spoke for almost three hours about ragtime, the Beatles, PDQ Bach (my distant uncle), even crossword puzzles, coffee and meditation. For this episode, though, I culled it quite severely to only that which deals with Bach’s music. It’s fascinating to hear him talk about his scholastic endeavors dealing with first-hand examination of source material. Do you agree with Rifkin? Do you like the sound of one singer per part? - - Follow Evan's instagram, because... well... it's the only one you should follow. - - Support us: https://www.patreon.com/wtfbach https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtfbach https://cash.app/$wtfbach -- Suggestions? Want Evan to analyze a specific piece of Bach? Have other questions for Evan about music or... anything... anything at all? Write us: bach@wtfbach.com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

Q: What if those really slow interpretations of the cello suites from the 30s and 50s could be sped up? A: Exactly. https://www.jsbachcellosuites.com - check out this website! It's a great source on the history of the recordings of these pieces. Thanks for all your feedback, donations, ideas, everything. Please follow @wtfbach on instagram for (almost) daily Bach content. We thank YOU for supporting us! https://www.patreon.com/wtfbach https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtfbach https://cash.app/$wtfbach Write us: bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe

Thanks for supporting us through 50 episodes! What makes Bach, BACH?! As a special celebration, the 50th episode of The WTF Bach Podcast is a live lecture presented by Tonebase. The topic is the ever looming one: why is Bach's importance so great? Studying the ideas behind a few of his instrumental collections, we see that Bach's ideas are always expanding outward, perhaps lending to his all-pervasive influence. Learn more about Tonebase. Support us: https://www.patreon.com/wtfbach https://www.paypal.me/wtfbach https://venmo.com/wtfbach https://cash.app/$wtfbach Ideas? Wanna sponsor an episode? Write us: bach (at) wtfbach (dot) com Get full access to WTF Bach at wtfbach.substack.com/subscribe