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JS BACH ON DRUMS
Original New World
Instrumental arrangements
Bach
produced
a
huge
volume
of
classical
instrumental
music
for
the
most
advanced
musical
instruments
of
his
day
and
now
we
have
produced
some
new
transcriptions
arranged
on
New
World
instruments
in
MP3
format.
In
the
seventies
Wendy
Carlos
used
Moog
synthesizers
to
produce
albums
of
re-
interpretations
of
some
of
this
music.
Here
we
are
offering
a
fresh
approach
based
on
combinations
of
some
of
the
latest
synthesizer
instruments
to
bring
fresh
colours
to
the
music
and
highlight
the
dazzling
counterpoint.
For
the
Fugues
we
hark
back
to
Wendy
and
have
combined
Mega
Moog
Synthesizers
with
Steel
Drums
which
heighten
the
drama
and
emphasize
the
sunnier
side
of
his
work.
For
the
Toccatas
and
Brandenburg
Concertos
on
the
other
hand
we
have
used
combinations
of
Marimba
and
Steel
Drums
to
create
a
really
cool
sound.
Toccata
were
originally
composed
for
the
Harpsichord
and
so
it
is
not
surprising
that
they
respond
well
to
a
percussion
treatment.
They
are
early
works
where
the
composer
was
able
to
give
free
reign
to
his
musical
imagination
and
virtuosity.
Toccata No1 in F# Minor BWV 910
Toccata No2 in C Minor BWV 911
Toccata No3 in D Major BWV 912
Toccata No4 in D Minor BWV 913
Toccata No5 in E Minor BWV 914
Toccata No6 in G Minor BWV 915
Toccata No7 in G Major BWV 916
By
contrast
JS
Bach
made
the
Fugue
his
own
and
we
have
created
some
examples
presented
on
electronic
musical
instruments
which
aim
bring out the excitement of the chase.
Bach Art of Fugue BWV 1080
Fugue in E Minor 'Wedge'
Prelude and Fugue in F Major BWV 556
Fugue in D Minor BWV 565
Donationware - How it works
Copyright: we retain the copy right on
our arrangements for public performance
or any other commercial application but
grant you the right to download it free of
charge for your own personal use.
Donation: If you enjoy the music I would
be grateful if you would make a donation
to the charitable Trust Fund run by
Croydon Whitgift Rotary Club.
Our
Air,
Fantasy,
Invention,
Partitia
&
Dance
pieces
present
some
rather
playful
interpretations
of
Bach's
original
material.
Starting
with
the
Choral
Prelude
we
have
used
a
couple
of
''humorous'
Brass
synthesizers
on
the
Moog
-
not
quite
Herbie
Flowers
but
interesting.
In
the
Fantasy
arrangement
we
used
a
somewhat
brighter
synth
to
augment
the
Steel
Drums
because
that
seemed
to
fit
better.
Then
as
a
contrast
the
Minuett
uses
a
Celtic
Harp
and
Marimba
combination
with
the Harp very much to the fore.
For the Double Violin Concerto we have
used two different Steel Drum synthesizer
combinations to distinguish the two voices
and the Marimba takes on the Orchestral
part which T Walter had transcribed for Piano.
This is made possible by the use of two
''slow' lush synth's to complement the
Steel Drums and the Marimba taking over in the
legato passages. It is recorded as a single file rather
than 3 separate movements.
Double Violin Concerto in D minor BWV 1043
The Flute concerto is a more straight forward
arrangement with the Steel Drums taking the
Flute part supported by a slow synth, the
Marimba taking the main orchestral parts while
another slow synth fills in for the Cello and the
Log Marimba makes its first appearance as Basso
Continuo.
Flute Concerto in A minor
1st Movement 2nd Movement 3rd Movement
The Brandenberg Concertos were composed in
1721 for the Magrave of Brandenburg by way of a
job application - it is not clear that they were
performed until after the Magrave's death when the
manuscripts were found by a pupil of Bach who
appreciated their true value.
They represent different interpretations of the
orchestral or 'grosso' approach to the concerto
form rather than the solo/orchestra and they have
responded well to a simplified percussion interpretation
involving Steel Drums, Marimba and Vibraphone.
Brandenberg No 2 in F Major BWV 1047
1st Movement 2nd Movement 3rd Movement
Brandenberg No 3 in G Major BWV 1048
1st Movement 3rd Movement
Brandenberg No 4 in G Major BWV1049
1st Movement 3rd Movement
Brandenberg No 6 in B flat Major BWV1051
3rd Movement
In the Chaconne we simply supported the Steel
Drums with two synth's to give depth and
body to the slower passages leaving out the
Marimba. This approach aims to bring a
freshness to the music, liberating it from the
concert chamber and bringing it out into
sunnier climes.