comments on later generations
rekindling interest
[1] In the half century after johann sebastian bach's death, his music was largely neglected (but it is worth noting that the greatest musicians of that era-Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven greatly appreciated Bach's talent). The new music style is developing, and Bach's "old-fashioned" music is silenced for a while. But after 18, people became interested in Bach's music again, and since then, his reputation and fame have been increasing day by day. In today's secular era, Bach is far more famous than during his lifetime. A composer who was regarded as old-fashioned in style and theme 2 years ago is widely praised today.
The highest-level artist
Bach is the highest-level artist among all famous composers. He is familiar with all the music forms of his time, and he can use any one of them freely, reaching the point of perfection. For example, his mastery of the melody combination method (the method of playing two or more different tunes at the same time) is unprecedented. In addition, his orchestral works are highly logical, varied, touching in theme and rich in melody, so he is praised more and more.
status
Bach's music can be said to be an important pillar of the European music hall. For the music of the whole baroque period, Bach's musical achievements can be said to be the dome on this hall; For the subsequent development of European music, although Bach did not have a real influence until the 19th century, once this influence was generated, it had a far-reaching impact on the development of European music. Only when Bach has new cultural significance in the new historical and cultural background can his music works have "apocalyptic" significance to modern music. For future generations, it is impossible to understand European music without studying Bach; Without in-depth study of Bach's works, it is difficult to become a rigorous and proficient musician; If we can't experience the deep thoughts and feelings contained in Bach's music through its simple form, refined skills and even the "shell" of religious music form, it will be difficult to thoroughly understand the essence of Bach's music.
characteristics of life times
in the era of Bach's life, Germany was in a state of political separation and economic backwardness, and its culture and art were bleak. Foreign cultures, such as France, Italy and English, have an absolute advantage in Germany, while their own national culture is despised. Engels once described, "Since then, sticks and whips have occupied a dominant position in China; Like Germany as a whole, German farmers have been reduced to a very humble position. " Under such circumstances, the church has naturally become a place where people place their spiritual feelings. In Thuringia, Germany, "Bach" once became synonymous with musicians. This is because the Bach family can be traced back to several generations, and their occupation is a music occupation that forms a guild. According to family legend, they belong to a special social class such as musicians. In the Lord's court, Bach's social status is servant, and he is listed on the same list as the cook. He doesn't have the social status of a freelance musician, and his works can't directly become the source of his economic income, but belong to the lords. Even if he became the court musician of Thomas, it was difficult for him to maintain his life in Leipzig, and he had no legacy after his death, unlike Beethoven who left stocks after his death. His works were rarely performed at that time except in the church, and he was unknown for a long time after his death. Many of his works are written for the rulers and eulogize them, but he is not satisfied with his humiliating position and present situation, so he constantly changes his benefactor and seeks a place where he can better play his artistic talents. He even said that he had to live in an environment where people hated and envied him, and he also had conflicts with patrons in the court and church, so he also had an arrogant and stubborn side. Bach worked as an organist in the church in Arnstadt in 173, and also composed music for the court. Since then, he has written many famous works. Tokata in D minor, written in 174, has some power, as if speaking in a very powerful language. In the middle, he used many MINUS seven chords brilliantly, which was as powerful as a gale. In the past, some people thought it was his later work. Just because he took the woman who later became his wife to sing in church, he resigned automatically after being listed as a crime by the city Council. In 178, he worked as an organist at Weimar Palace. At this time, although his status was also very low, as an organist, his status and reputation gradually improved. In Dresden, Bach was invited to compare and compete with French musicians for improvisation. Although the Frenchman ran away, he became a good example for German musicians and foreigners to win the first competition. In 1717, Bach became the music director of Quetta Palace for the first time in his life. Because the Duke of Quetta is very fond of music, he even spent one-thirtieth of the state expenditure as a fund to form an 18-member band. Bach served in Quetta Court for six years, and all his important instrumental music creations were completed during this period. The Brandenburg Concerto, which he dedicated to the Marquis of Brandenburg, is full of life breath and also has a proud and gorgeous aristocratic character. In addition, he also wrote Fantasia and fugue for chromatic scale, three sonatas for solo violin, and three Partita. In addition, in 1721, Bach wrote orchestral suites in C major and D minor and French suites. In 1722, he wrote the first episode of piano music with equal rhythm, and in 1723, he wrote two and three creative songs, and so on. The creation of this period is considered to have broad and bold ideas and technical techniques. Bach arrived in Leipzig, a prosperous commercial city in 1723, which was also a free city at that time, and could not accept the rule of Herzogtum Von Sachsen there in the legal system. There, he played a self-created cantata of the church, which made the city's members listen to it very much, so he got the job of music director of St. Thomas's church. In addition, he is the music director of three other churches. During this period, he wrote many good music works for the church, such as the famous Passion of John and Passion of Matthew. In addition, in order to get the position of court composer, he once wrote a great work, Mass in B minor. This work, like Passion of John and Passion of Matthew, is a religious work, but its musical spirit is so broad that it seems to speak to all mankind, which has far exceeded the limitations of religion.
Johann Strauss II (1825 ~ 1899), the eldest son of Johann Strauss I, was a famous Austrian composer, conductor, violinist and an outstanding representative of the Strauss family. Born in a musical family in Vienna where dancing is popular, he has the same name as his father. Known as the "king of waltzes" by the world. In 1844, he formed his own band and played the works of himself and his father. From 1855 to 1865, he was invited to conduct a summer concert in St. Petersburg for ten years, and from 1863 to 187, he was the director of the royal court ball. Later, he was engaged in the creation of operetta. His creations are famous for more than 12 Viennese waltzes, such as Blue Danube Waltz, Story Waltz of Vienna Forest, Enjoying Life Waltz, Where Lemon Trees Bloom Waltz, Artist's Life Waltz, Rose Waltz of South China, Waltz of the Sound of Spring, etc., and he was named the "King of Waltz" by later generations. He once led the band to visit European countries and made the Viennese waltz popular all over Europe. His waltz is unique, melodious, soft and beautiful, with free rhythm and full of vitality. It is the main repertoire of the Vienna New Year Concert every year. He also wrote more than 12 French and Bohemian Polka dances and dozens of other dances, such as Chatting Polka and Sparking Polka. Since 187, he has composed sixteen operettas, such as The Bat, The Carnival of Rome, Alibaba and the Forty Thieves, and The Baron Gypsy, which have a far-reaching influence on the development of European operettas. In October, 1844, johann strauss, who was only nineteen years old, led his band to make its debut in a first-class hotel in Vienna, which caused a great sensation. A waltz "father-son war" began. Old John used his connections to stop entertainment venues from hiring his son's band to perform, but smart John began to gradually cultivate audiences different from his father. He turned his attention to young people and nationalists and created early music works such as Young People in Vienna, March of Serbia and Czech Polka. In 1873, Johann Strauss II played the blue Danube Waltz (Op.314), which was popular all over the world.
Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor and music activist, one of the main representatives of romantic music, is known as the "king of piano" (also known as the piano devil). Franz Liszt was born in Raiding, Hungary on October 22nd, 1811. At that time, Hungary was a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Liszt's father was Hungarian and his mother was German in Austria, so he had two names, namely Hungarian and German spelling. Liszt spoke German with his mother since childhood and didn't learn to write in Hungarian until his later years. Liszt began to study music at the age of six, and moved to Vienna shortly thereafter. He was successively a disciple of Antonio Salieri (or salieri), Carl Czerny, Severiano Reija and Bael. In 1823, Liszt came to Paris. Influenced by the thoughts of romantic writers and artists such as Hugo, Lamartin and chateaubriand, he yearned for the bourgeois revolution. Musically, he advocated title music, and initiated the genre of symphonic poetry, including 13 symphonic poems such as Tasso, Prelude and Hungary. Under the influence of Paganini, Liszt wrote nineteen hungarian rhapsody, twelve piano etudes and superb etudes. He established a new romantic principle which was opposite to the college atmosphere and the citizens' habits, and supported the creation of composers such as Albertnis, Smetana, Chopin, Berlioz and Wagner. Since 1848, he has lived in Weimar, served as the court music director of Weimar, and frequently traveled between Rome and Budapest. In 1876, he founded the Budapest National Conservatory of Music and served as its director. On July 31st, 1886, Liszt died of pneumonia in Bayreuth. The tendency of progressive democracy in Liszt's creative activities is largely related to Hungary's national liberation movement (including socialism). The piano piece hungarian rhapsody is inseparable from the name of Liszt, just as waltzes and Strauss, symphonies and Beethoven are inseparable. Liszt's works are colorful and imaginative, which fully tap the acoustic function of the piano and put forward high requirements for the performer's skills. As the most outstanding pianist of that era, he made great contributions to the development of keyboard music. In his later works, he first used the harmony language which was widely used in the 2th century. Its piano music has been included in the literature treasure house of world classical piano music. The nineteen piano pieces "hungarian rhapsody" composed by Liszt occupy a particularly important position in his piano works. These works not only give full play to the musical expression of the piano, but also set an outstanding musical model for the creation of rhapsody, a musical genre. These works are based on the folk songs and folk dance music of Hungary and Hungarian gypsies, and are processed and developed artistically, so they all have distinct national colors. These pieces of music are refined in structure and rich in musical thoughts. The musical language and expression method are closely related to Hungarian country dance music and urban rap music. Although the form of music changes from time to time, the musical image is always bright and simple, which embodies the perfect unity of natural beauty and artistic beauty. He was the first national musician to raise the Hungarian national voice to the world level. He had patriotic thoughts and democratic thoughts, enthusiasm for changing his life, and negative emotions of doubt and disappointment, but the former was often the dominant position, not the latter. Liszt is a contemporary of Chopin, but he left the motherland earlier than Chopin, so his thoughts and creations cannot be simply included in the "national music school". However, as a Hungarian, Liszt is sincerely concerned about the cause of the motherland; The history of the nation, heroes, the tone and rhythm of folk music are vividly reflected and used in his creation; In addition, his strong support and encouragement to young composers from Eastern Europe, Northern Europe and Russia made him play a positive role in promoting the development of European national music schools. In his motherland, people always respect him as a great "national artist". He wrote 13 symphonic poems and was one of the creators of modern piano technology. He composed more than 7 pieces of music in his life.