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It is documented that Bach was a great improviser, much like his contemporary Handel, and others who came after him (Mozart, Beethoven, and Schumann). Improvisa
by becga 8y ago
It is documented that Bach was a great improviser, much like his contemporary Handel, and others who came after him (Mozart, Beethoven, and Schumann). Improvisation has since been lost in the Classical World but is alive and well in the Jazz world. In Jazz, the term 'vocabulary' is often used to describe styles or influences within the genre. With Bach, he literally built and refined the language from which all other vocabularies stemmed from.
- Doctor_Fegg 8y agoBach was a church organist, and improvisation absolutely hasn’t been lost in the church organ world. Basic improvisation is a skill expected of every organist: this morning I needed to “cover the action” when the offertory hymn didn’t last as long as the offertory itself. But in the hands of a master - an English cathedral organist, or a French titulaire, particularly Saint-Sulpice or Notre Dame - it’s high art in its own right.
- organsnyder 8y agoThe improvisation concerts at American Guild of Organists conventions are mind-blowing. Performers are given a tune and improvise a work (toccata, theme and variations, etc.) on the spot. Even knowing the tricks they're using—such as having a general outline mapped out ahead of time that can be used with any tune—I'm still in awe. I got pretty good at improvising (and sightreading) when I was the primary organist at my church. Not having much time to practice (young kids, a different full time job), I did what I had to to get by.
- InGodsName 8y agoYeaa improvising can really produce good stuff. See: https://youtu.be/lHXkQDanKow https://youtu.be/lHXkQDanKow Neither improvising is lost in East.