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Toccata and Fugue in d minor -Johann Sebastian Bach
How does Bach's organ piece continue to resonate in our modern culture?
Listening Activity
Toccata and Fugue in d minor -Johann Sebastian Bach
Did you know that this monumental organ piece associated with spookiness and Halloween may not have been written for organ originally, and even so, maybe not by the grandfather of western music (Bach) himself? Even though the piece was not popular after Bach's death, the German composer Felix Mendelssohn helped to reignite people's interest in Bach's music through a series of concerts, including Mendelssohn's performance of the piece in an 1840 recital. No original manuscript existed; Only a copy made by a student of a student, Johannes Ringk.
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Compare and contrast
Listen to a recording of Susanna Malkki conducting the BBC orchestra in Royal Albert Hall in London, England by tapping/clicking on the player below. Listen especially for:
1. which instruments are playing. (You should hear around 20 instruments.)
2. The moods of this piece?
3. How Holst creates these moods by how we writes it.
Now share your knowledge and insights by tapping/clicking on the button below and filling out the form.
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