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RE: Steemit Open Mic Week 45: Courante from J.S. Bach's BWV 996
I can’t help but sense that exquisitely beautiful music such as this is telling a story, speaking directly to its audience, and pleading with them to understand that which the composer is attempting to convey. That’s what I love about classical music and you Sir @oliverwaterman - do a brilliant job in getting that very sense across to me with this wonderful piece… Thank You!
Thank you very much! I've articulated a similar sentiment in a writing I did for my communication theory class.
"...I'm inclined to argue that music delivers a convincing message through what is known as counterpoint or motion, as a means of pleasure. This motion is not dissimilar to a series of codes that our brains process to create feedback loops that tell us whether we like what we hear, or we don't. When our perception of the music has reached a conclusion we can have a number of emotional responses that can be articulated, such as chills, sad or happy. The message of music without words maybe be simple, and the argument only for the benefit of the experience, but it is none the less a rhetorical statement, and the means by which we are able to perceive the message is through a system of information processing. "
I'd further like to say that J.S. Bach is in my opinion the master of the language of counterpoint. So far in my studies as a classical guitarist I've found that many professors and musical academicians including my guitar professor agree that not only was he the best at using formal counterpoint but that his "perfection" transcended the mathematical perfection to a sense of musical narrative. He broke some rules occasionally, like using voice crossing and other frowned upon practices in formal 18th century counterpoint, yet to much of the musical academic world, he is the most "Human" composer that didn't sacrifice articulate complexity of the era.
Loved that! Thanks for sharing that snippet from your theory class. It was brilliant along with your further opinions on the counterpoint language of Bach...
Though I am not formally educated in this and many other realms, I do harbor an innate sense, which enables me to fully grasp and appreciate the very essence of this and other fine topics in both theory and practice. Thank you for bringing some of these finer points to my attention Oliver!
cheers!