Passacaglia
Image: Public domain: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AutograafBach582_2.jpg
On my Mother's 60th birthday I decided to surprise her. Quite a few winters ago I was scheduled to play an organ recital in one of the churches in my home city exactly on her birthday. I will never forget her facial expression, surprise and tears, when the concert host announced that the event was dedicated to her, made her stand up, and thanked her publicly for supporting me in becoming a professional musician. All accompanied by a loud cheer from about 200 gathered folks.
My mom is not a musician, yet she is sensitive and musical. What I am most grateful for is that she was attentive and wise to listen to one of the Kindergarten teachers who advised her to send me to a music school. As a result, she spent countless hours taking me to or sitting through music lessons, ensemble rehearsals, and theory classes on many afternoons and evenings week by week during my early years. She has been my champion ever since.
One of the pieces on her birthday program was Passacaglia in C minor BWV 582 by J. S. Bach. After the recital my mom said that for her this piece is a metaphor for life: it starts simply, slowly gets more intricate, twisted, complex, dramatic. The theme gets all possible treatment, sometimes is really obvious, sometimes barely recognizable or completely hidden. It has a convoluted path and if played with passion various emotions are expressed on the way. But, what gave her the most satisfaction, it all ends well!
For me, it is one of the most monumental and iconic pieces in the organ repertoire. As you know, Bach was considered not only an extraordinary musician, church musician and composer, but also a theologian. All Bach's music is written to the glory of God. Passacaglia consists of the famous theme and 20 variations, followed by an intricate and virtuosic fugue. Despite its secular title, it is one of the deepest pieces written by Bach, both emotionally and intellectually. The path that the main theme takes on is lengthy and complicated, but leads to one of the most glorious final C-major chords written in the history of music.
With its colors and independent stops, beauty, and might, our sanctuary organ Richards, Fowkes & Co. op. 14 does a splendid justice to it. I have recently recorded and shared it with the wider public. Please enjoy this rendition of Bach's Passacaglia on the fabulous instrument at Pinnacle.