J.S. Bach, Toccata in D, "Dorian" - BWV 538

[sir pball]

The lesser-known, but IMO much better, Toccata.

As the Wiki says:

Like the Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 562, it is nearly monothematic. It opens with a motoric sixteenth note (semiquaver) motif that continues almost uninterrupted to the end of the piece, and includes unusually elaborate concertato effects. Bach even notates manual changes for the organist, an unusual practice in the day as well as in Bach's organ output.

The fugue, also in D minor, is long and complex, involving a subject which prominently features syncopations and three upward leaps of a perfect fourth. The strict contrapuntal development is only broken in the final four bars, when a few massive chords bring the piece to a close. The fugue of BWV 538 is very similar to the fugue of BWV 540. They both imply an alla breve time signature; they both use subjects with semibreves and syncopated minims, with a rhythm of constant quavers, rather than constant semiquavers seen in most of Bach's fugues; they both use chromaticism, harmonic suspensions, and uninterrupted succession of subjects and answers.

It's really one of the purest pieces I've ever heard.

[John1956PA]

1. Thanks for posting. The ending is dramatic.

All of us fellows who in our youth enjoyed scary movies were struck by the opening chords of Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (BWV 565) during the suspenseful scenes of those movies. At my present age, I listen to all of Bach's fugues and marvel at the breadth of his mastery of that wonderful musical style.

[MuirHero]

2. One of my favorite JS Bach pieces as well!

JS Bach was a genius who studied under Dietrich Buxtehude. He signed many of his pieces with the Latin phrase "Soli Deo Gloria", To the glory of God alone. He also sometimes included the phrase, "for the refreshment of the soul." In the Lutheran Church Bach's chorales are often sung as part of our liturgy.