Yester-day I listened to Corelli's 12 Concerti grossi, Op. 6. I noticed something in the first movement of the last concerto (No. 12 in F major), but it's not so much something I want to point out as it is something that confused me.
What I thought I heard (and what checking the score revealed to be true) was pairs of notes played at alternating octaves that trace a diatonic descent. In the example below, it's in the cello part in measures 19 and 22-23:
(notation found here)
It sounded familiar to me because this is the fourth classical piece I've found that feature in. I first read about them in Bach's cantata Christ lag in Todes Banden, BWV 4 in John Eliot Gardiner's Bach: Music in the Castle of Heaven, and then I discovered they're also in Bach's Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068:
(notation found here [BWV 4] and here [BWV 1068])
Then about four months ago, I found the same feature in Grieg's From Holberg's Time, Op. 40:
(notation found here)
At the time, I was reading a book of Grieg's letters and found one where he mentions Bach's cantatas. Since he was obviously familiar with Bach and since the Holberg Suite was meant to be written as an evocation of an older style, I postulated that Grieg took that octave-skipping feature from Bach. Now that I've found it in an-other piece from the same era (the early 18th century), I'm not so sure about that. As a composer, Bach wasn't well-known in his lifetime, so I don't think that the same feature showing up in Corelli's piece is evidence of his influence. It seems like that octave-skipping might just have been a common baroque feature.
Every other year, I listen to all of the music in my collection. Often, I discover new things about music I'm familiar with or learn new things about songs I'm not as familiar with. This is where I'll be documenting that.
Showing posts with label From Holberg's Time Op. 40. Show all posts
Showing posts with label From Holberg's Time Op. 40. Show all posts
Monday, January 25, 2016
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