J.S. Bach: "Sheep May Safely Graze" from Cantata No. 208 (Synthesized)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 พ.ค. 2015
- For those who enjoy the Music Animation Machine MIDI Player visualization, this version of the video is alternately presented so you are able to follow along with the music.
The voicing is listed as follows:
Recorders - Orange
English Horn - Lime Green (also doubles as Reed Organ)
Strings - Turquoise (also doubles as Organ)
Cellos - Purple (also doubles as Organ Pedals)
Bass - Pink (also doubles as Organ Pedals)
Although best known for it's ninth movement (the most familiar aria "Schafe können sicher weiden" ["Sheep May Safely Graze"]), Cantata No. 208 (BWV 208) is described as Bach’s “Hunting Cantata” - a reference to its secular opening lyrics: "The lively hunt is all my heart's desire."
Composed in 1713, it is understood that Bach was commissioned to write this cantata by his employer Duke Wilhelm Ernst while at his post as Weimar’s court organist. The musical offering was a part of the celebration for Duke Christian of Weissenfels, 31st birthday; with lyrics in praise of both hunting and of the Duke. The text was written by Salomo Franck (1659-1725), who was also employed at the Weimar court as secretary, librarian and poet. Bach used Franck's texts for all the other cantatas he wrote in his Weimar period. The cantata was first performed at the Duke’s hunting lodge (Jaegerhof) in Weissenfels and because of the occasion, it is also knows as the “Birthday Cantata.”
"Sheep May Safely Graze" is sung by Pales, the ancient Roman goddess of shepherds, flocks and livestock, and accompanied by a pair of recorders or flutes and continuo. Although secular in character, the words describe how well a faithful shepherd keeps watch over his flock (and hence has obvious allusions to the teachings of the Christian church) but also (unabashedly) praises the Duke, describing the good character of the nobleman watching over his peaceful nation.
Schafe können sicher weiden,
. . . (Sheep can safely graze)
Wo ein guter Hirte wacht.
. . . (where a good shepherd watches over them.)
Wo Regenten wohl regieren,
. . . (Where rulers are ruling well,)
Kann man Ruh und Friede spüren
. . . (we may feel peace and rest)
Und was Länder glücklich macht.
. . . (and what makes countries happy.)
According to author Klaus Eidam (“The True Life of Johann Sebastian Bach”), the cantata was a Tafelmusik (literally, "table-music," describing mid-16th century music played at feasts and banquets), dinner-time entertainment. Because Duke Wilhelm Ernst, was invited to the birthday celebration, he took his musicians along with him. Bach not only composed the cantata, he also conducted the first performance, presumably with four singers and instrumentalists (2 Corno da caccia, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 1 Oboe da caccia, 1 Bassoon, 2 Violins, 1 Viola, 1 Cello, Violone grosso, Basso continuo).
This simple “da capo” aria (with repeating thematic passages) has the quality of a restrained chorale prelude with Bach managing to combine a sense of rustic idyll with one of religious awe. Perhaps it is this combination of hymn-like melody with recorders acting as one instrument, all supported by a gently throbbing bass line, that has endeared this aria to so many. As with a number of Bach’s large (i.e. over a dozen movements) secular cantatas, BWV 208 has been criticized as not wholly consistent in quality. But it still provides much to enjoy and remains a triumph for an ambitious man, not yet thirty years old.
Unlike Wendy Carlos’ arrangement of “Sheep May Safely Graze” from her 1973 recording on Switched-On Bach II, I have left my “instruments” to sound more familiar. The scoring is basic, featuring recorders, strings, cellos and bass, with an English horn as the soprano voice (a tricky timbre to create!). I have broadened the performance with the addition of another instrument (you’ll have to listen for it - and be cautious of your volume and bass setting) to add to the majesty of this glorious piece of music.
As always, the use of headphones will greatly enhance the listening experience. - เพลง
Just amazing! A wonderful way to understand a genius like Bach! Thank you for this great work!
Thank YOU for your very kind comment. :)
I was looking for Carlos for childhood memories when I stumbled upon this... Well done! I like the visualisation a lot.
Thank you very much. I hope you find other pieces on my channel that you will enjoy. I don't try to copy Carlos but do music using new technology in a more "expanded" way than her incredible, yet "minimalistic" style.
This is how one would wish to put music together ❤ a marvelous study. Thanks again.
I once sang this tune for a friend of mine...
"Jesu, Kind Shepherd, be Thou Near Me,
"As I walk along life's way...
Jesu, Good Shepherd, be Thou near me,
Be my guiding light, now and always!
"Though the Evil One should stalk beside me,
Though temptations should betide me,
Stay with me with Thy Love always,
Stay with me through Thine Infinite and Merciful Love always!
"Jesu, Kind Shepherd, be Thou near me,
As I walk along life's way,
Jesu, be my joy and strength always!"
It's all about 'You', isn't it, luv.
Elysabeth Schwarzkopf Washington the best .
Sorry .I apologize Elysabeth Schwarzkopf was definitely the best to sing that musical from Bach
Vuelvo y vuelvo a escucharla ; Excelente composición de Bach , me representa totalmente , “Definitivamente es mi estilo”👏🎵❤️
Hermoso como retorna y retorna a la frase original que se necesita volver a escuchar luego de las variaciones ... la melodía la pide....❤️
"Hal, play the classical recordings through the ships PA system, please."
I used to hear this music when I was 10 years old.
This always brings tears to my eyes.
Awesome!! Extraordinary!!
amazing visualizations, and of course amazing music
Very good! Such a nice melody:)
absolutely lovely; many thanks, Carey.
Thank you RR, for letting me know you enjoyed it.
I LOVE this. Thank you!
Thanks so much for listening and for taking the time to comment. It keeps me coming back to do more. :)
Excellent! Music for modernity
Thank you for the kind remark. I hope you find other music on my channel to enjoy.
Mmm Classic music and ive NEVER heard this before and yes i use the headphones
Congratulations¡
Además de la interesante presentacion visual, considero que estas interpretaciones con sintetizador realzan con mucha claridad las distintas líneas melódicas y por ello resultaría de especial interés y utilidad para introducir a los más jóvenes en la música clásica. 😘
Bachtastic kapelmeister !
Thanks.
Really love the sound; the harmonized lead synths are ear candy for me.
+JoeBee9 Thank you so much for the comment Joe. I usually try to stay away from the pieces that Wendy Carlos already did but I wanted to try something a bit grander and take it from a chamber piece and give it a full-on cathedral performance feel. I am really pleased with the way the arrangement worked letting me expand several sections by developing different timbres for the manuals, especially the "nasal" reeds, "great" and pedals.
Carey R. Meltz
Glad you made it; would love to hear more like it if you ever feel inspired to make any more. Any other songs you know of use synths like that?
+JoeBee9 Lots more music in the works!!! Another piece of mine with "recorders" playing against "oboes" is Purcell: Come Ye Sons of Art (Z.323), 5. Strike The Viol, Touch The Lute (Synthesized) or perhaps the opening Allegro or closing Presto from Bach's Brandenburg #4. Hope you enjoy and thanks again. :)
Finally I can get to explain to people how I hear music - thank you so much :)
Thank you for taking the time to comment Andrew. I get so many people commenting and messaging me about this particular visualization.
Andrew Knowles This is how I see music as well but only in the sense of the sequencing (not the colours) as I have trouble with maths and reading music.
with your ears, presumably?
I think Bach would really like this. The synthesizer is a perfect instrument for his music.
Gracias, gracias, graaaciaaas!! SuperLike!!
Rosamaria Valencia Estoy tan feliz de que te haya gustado Rosamaria. Yo siempre agradezco sus amables comentarios. :)
I'm so happy you enjoyed it Rosamaria. I always appreciate your kind comments. :)
ElectroBach, c'est toujours du Bach, l'un des plus grands génies de la musique. Celle ci nous élève. Meme si Elysabeth Schwartzkopf a su donner à cet air une dimension inégalée à mon humble avis d'amateur.
what wondrous thought s must have gone thru his mind
Great
MotorFlaps Thank you Rodrigo!
Carey ! I've enjoyed this video many times, and once again I am always impressed, (especially today) . Was checking out Yeol Um Son's version of this,... played very nicely Petri version, and was bothered by the static quality of bass on the 4th measure before the cadence,... then checked out every other Petri version,...that seventh is missing in every one... one note can spoil the whole thing! one little E flat. Bach's version has the E flat (of course)and so does Levin's transcription for piano. Of Course so do YOU,.. as always I can count on Your good ear !
Thank you, as always, Geoffrey. You always have such insight and kind words. To be honest, I sometimes make note changes when something doesn't sound right - regardless if it's in the version of the sheet music I'm using for reference. In the new pieces I'm working on (Handel's "Water Music" suite from Carlos' "Well-Tempered Synthesizer," There are all kinds of things I'm changing up from the score to add more references to the orchestration changes she made in the "Air," and particularly in the "Allegro deciso." It's been a bit of a challenge but a lot of fun too - and - a good learning experience as to how she approached a piece where multiple instruments from different categories (i.e. brass and strings). To get her crisp sounds, she would omit some of these duplicates and often create a hybrid timbre so that the piece wouldn't get too "muddy" with all the various waveform harmonics overlapping each other. I'm still trying to get that right but it's getting better and while my pre-sets aren't as minimalistic as hers I'm trying to broaden the sound yet still trying to keep it simple. There's definitely more ""brass" in her version but I've added the necessary hocketting and extra notes to reproduce the departures in her score from the original. The Timpani track, in particular was completely created from scratch and I feel that I've nailed it. I'm hoping to get the 3-piece suite up soon. The "Boureé" is done, the "Air" is almost ready to be mixed-down and I'm closer to finalizing the mix-down for the "Allegro deciso" after a number of trials. Will let you know once I've posted. I'm also trying to get Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" done - in the style of Tomita - a tribute to his work, and I'm trying to do something of a "space fantasy" with it. I am really pleased to have been able to recreate some of his stock sounds and there'll be lots aural references to the work he did in "The Planets."
I'm amazed by Your good ear. Also amazed sometimes at what seasoned professionals miss.
Thanks my friend. :)
this shit goes hard. Great work.
+SemlisR LMAO! Love your comment!!! And thank you for taking the time to do so. I really like this one.
amazing :O :'(
Glad to know it brought a tear to your eye. :)
This method of showing how Bach wrote must be universally distributed to schools everywhere and immediately. It shows the method of composition and if explained to young children using these graphics we might end up with a future generation of people who understand music. Unlike the apparently tone deaf who appreciate the rubbish out there at the moment, and believe me 98% of it is rubbish.
@Miguel Mouta Mouta A very sad comment but absolutely true.
You prolly dont care at all but does any of you know a method to log back into an Instagram account..?
I stupidly lost the account password. I would love any assistance you can offer me.
@Alfredo Johnathan instablaster =)
The diagram looks like how one might explain a musical score to a computer, pitch, sequence, dynamics and such, or perhaps to someone who does not know how to interpret a score. Most curious.
What a great description Lawrence. I get this kind response so often. While I'm a bit bored with the visualization (so many more vibrant and exciting ones to use), I get this requested so often - for the very reasons you mention. I have received many messages from people (particularly educators) who use my videos to help introduce Classical music to their younger and even "special needs" students. I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Thank you. :)
Switched on Bach two
Indeed, the original version that inspired me to do the piece was released on S-OB II.
@@CareyRMeltz after his first huge success of SOB and WTS i dont think SOB 2 was big seller but the music arrangement was fantastic
Switch on Bach 11
+andrew baker Not sure what you mean by your comment but the original "Sheep May Safely Graze" was released on Wendy Carlos' "Switched-On Bach II" in 1973. (This is my version - not Carlos').
@@CareyRMeltz sorry for my four year reply LOL switched on bach 2 1973
Earth is flat, praise the Lord.
LMAO!