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Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Why beads matter


I stated in the previous post that I hold the opinion that a tatting pattern should be pleasing to tat in many combinations of materials. I also stated I use beads intentionally in some patterns. BWV 549 is one of those intentional patterns. 

Beads represent when the pedal states the subject and/or motif. You see, Bach used the pedal division of the organ to highlight a compositional idea. On the organs he played, some of the lower pipes (read tuba, double bass viol) spoke very slowly. They always remind me of the lumbering elephants; not unimportant, not without emotion, not flashy or piercing. Other lower pipes (read horn, bassoon, trombone) spoke quickly and pierced through the sound of the rest of the organ. They could accent the piece and be memorable. Bach often used the pedal division to sum up his fugues. The last statement of the subject is powerful and memorable.  


In BWV 549 (Prelude and Fugue in c minor) Bach extends the last fugue subject into a flourish of sound with the pedal leading the way. So beads….

Just enough to be memorable.



1 comment:

  1. Very interesting and informative intro and convergence with threads/beads !!! The visual glimpse is intriguing 😃

    ReplyDelete