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Topic: What did Bach think of music from the classical period? (Read 1522 times)

contrapunctus1

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Posts: 10

What did Bach think of music from the classical period?

on: May 01, 2022, 02:15:44 AM

So, I came across some article which said that Bach's sons viewed their fathers music as "old" and preferred the early classical style of composition, which is easily noticed by listening to their works. Also C.P.E Bach was apparently the one meant when music lovers in the second half of the 18th century referred to the "Great Bach".
So now my question:
If J.S Bach was alive and well between the transition from baroque to classical, why didn't he compose anything that can be viewed as "early classical" ? (If I'm wrong and there actually are pieces that fit this description, let me know !)
Also do we have any knowledge on what he thought of this "new movement" ?

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lelle

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Posts: 2348

Re: What did Bach think of music from the classical period?

Reply #1 on: May 10, 2022, 12:52:55 PM

I have not heard anything about what he thought, apart from him trying out fortepianos and either, depending on the source, disliking them or thinking they are cool

so not much to go on there.

One could assume, since he continued writing in the idiom he had mastered, that he wasn't too interested in the newly developing classical style. (Which, if you listen to his sons compositions, often retain many baroque traits albeit in a simpler style, and at the same time anticipate Mozart as a clear possible influence on him.)

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contrapunctus1

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Posts: 10

Re: What did Bach think of music from the classical period?

Reply #2 on: May 13, 2022, 10:50:59 PM

Quote from: lelle on May 10, 2022, 12:52:55 PM

One could assume, since he continued writing in the idiom he had mastered, that he wasn't too interested in the newly developing classical style.

That could be it.
Although one cant say that Bach wasn't experimental with the music he created. Like with the Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D Minor or (little geek fact) if you look in bar 20 of the e major prelude from the well tempered clavier book 1 he used a Gmaj7#5 chord which is out of the melodic minor scale and which wasnt again used in music until the 20th century

So what I like to think is that maybe the early classical music just wasn't his cup of tea.
Who knows maybe he would have been into atonal music tho (although I doubt it)

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lelle

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Posts: 2348

Re: What did Bach think of music from the classical period?

Reply #3 on: May 13, 2022, 10:55:06 PM

Quote from: contrapunctus1 on May 13, 2022, 10:50:59 PM

That could be it.
Although one cant say that Bach wasn't experimental with the music he created. Like with the Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D Minor or (little geek fact) if you look in bar 20 of the e major prelude from the well tempered clavier book 1 he used a Gmaj7#5 chord which is out of the melodic minor scale and which wasnt again used in music until the 20th century
So what I like to think is that maybe the early classical music just wasn't his cup of tea.
Who knows maybe he would have been into atonal music tho (although I doubt it)

While he might not have been into atonal music - as I have understood it he considered the perfection of the tonal harmony system as a miracle of God - he does not shy away from producing some crunchy, gnarly dissonances at times! He just makes sure to eventually resolve them.

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lostinidlewonder

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Posts: 7656

Re: What did Bach think of music from the classical period?

Reply #4 on: May 27, 2022, 10:55:02 AM

JS Bach was an organist for churches so would have lingered in the Baroque period for a lot longer because of his work.

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