Bach, Johann Sebastian : Sarabande g-moll BWV 839
Work Overview
Genre：salabande
Total Playing Time：2 min 10 sec
Copyright：Public Domain
Commentary (2)
Author : Asayama, Natsuko
Last Updated: May 1, 2008
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Author : Asayama, Natsuko
A work whose existence was revealed in 1909 by H. Kretschmar's paper "Zeumerin's Music Book," published in 'Peters' Musical Yearbook.' This manuscript is believed to have originated in the mid-18th century and contains several works attributed to Bach (unfortunately, its current whereabouts are unknown).
However, most of them have been found to be forgeries.
Author : Ooi, Kazurou
Last Updated: October 30, 2023
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Author : Ooi, Kazurou
The key of G minor in Bach's works sometimes conveys profound sorrow. Recall the G minor pieces from the Inventions, Sinfonias, and The Well-Tempered Clavier, etc., to grasp the atmosphere.
In addition to being in G minor, this Sarabande features numerous chromatic progressions. Chromatic progressions were a very special scale during this period, used to express an indirect world or deep sorrow.
The peak points of the phrases in this Sarabande, as seen in the soprano lines of measures 3-4 and 9-10, are locations where a chromatic ascent is repeated twice (F#–G, F#–G). This can be interpreted as depicting human weeping.
The same phrase reappears in measures 26-28. Prior to that, pay attention to the bass movement from measures 24 to 25. This also descends chromatically. Furthermore, in measures 26-27, the bass becomes an inversion of the soprano's chromatic melodic line.
Please perform it with solemnity.