Secrets of Organ Playing Week 66 –Bach – Erbarm dich, Herre Gott BWV 721

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(Edited)

This work survives in a copy by Walther and has been attributed to Bach as a youthful work. What is unusual is that the choral is very simply state in minims ie in a very bare form. There is a throbbing accompaniment not unlike a string ensemble.

In performance terms, I had one of two paths to follow. One was to perform it exactly as written in its bare form or, and in keeping with the spirit of the Baroque, freely ornament it. I embarked on this latter path. It is true to say that no two performances of a work are alike. In this way, I have endeavoured to give s sense freshness to this work.

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Coincidence or not, today I worked on BWV 583, with the same philosophy: improvise ornamentations while playing. Also as entry for the secrests of organ playing contest.

So a big bravo from me for this experiment. Even though I think this piece is meant manualiter and not pedaliter. But of course, that's just one opinion...

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Very interesting indeed. I have heard of people having the same idea at the same time and I believe that is called morphic resonance! Interesting that you should mention manualiter as I happened to a see such a version on IMSLP.

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I like your diminutions and ornaments in this piece...

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Thank you. I have been experimenting quite a bit!

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