Bach in Lighter Mood
"THE Trio from Bach’s "Musical Offer‘ing’ was recently an offering in the "Masters in Lighter Mood" session from 1YA. I wonder how Bach would have regarded this classification of one of his last and greatest works. "The Musical Offering," you will: remember, was a flattering tribute to Frederick, King of Prussia. "As the notes, so may the King’s welfare increase" wrote Bach over one of the canons; and again, "May the King’s glory soar with the ascending modulation." The thought and labour that produced this quintessence of contrapuntal writing are incalculable qualities of genius; hardly, one would think, the concomitants of a lighter mood, To suggest, however, that the seriousness of conception implies an absence of lightness in the music is to confuse the means with end. This is Bach enjoying himself, revelling in the unfolding of beautiful patterns. The "Musical Offering" is a tremendous trifle.
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 14, Issue 354, 5 April 1946, Page 11
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150Bach in Lighter Mood New Zealand Listener, Volume 14, Issue 354, 5 April 1946, Page 11
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