Passacaglia?

[Karl Henning]

. . . It's utterly fascinating how Biber sustains the repeated bass line throughout with only one instrument performing, whether it's audible or ghostly floating in support of the melody.

The fascinating compositional game of How do I suggest a harmony, with only one single-line instrument?

[dylanesque]

Thanks for all the great replies folks. I'll have a listen to the examples on the thread.

[Beale]

dylanesque, is your idea of what constitues a passacaglia clearer now than what it was? Let us know before this thread completely turns into an "Passacaglia recordings recommendation thread" .

This sounds like an invitation 
So how about some recommendations for Bach's Passacaglia in C minor piano transcriptions. Angela Hewitt, Evgeni Koroliov, or Piers Lane?

[Parsifal]

My favorite Passacaglia with have to go to Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber and his Passacaglia for Solo Violin in G major. It's utterly fascinating how Biber sustains the repeated bass line throughout with only one instrument performing, whether it's audible or ghostly floating in support of the melody. I know this is not the only solo instrument passacaglia, but IMO it's the best.

That is a beautiful piece.  Now, the question is whether you consider passacaglia and chaconne to be equivalent, which would imply that you think the Biber's piece surpasses even Bach's chaconne for violin unaccompanied.

[Karl Henning]

Parsing any difference between passacaglia and chaconne . . . I'm buying tickets to that event ; )

[Parsifal]

It's already turned into I can't tell you what a Passacaglia is, but I know how to post a YouTube video.

The other thing that strikes me is that 20th century passacaglias (beautiful as they might be) do not really illuminate the intention of  Brahms, who revived the passacaglia as a form of musical composition with his 4th symphony.  Brahms' inspiration was clearly Bach.  He even derived the passacaglia theme from a Bach Cantata (BWV150) which was at the time unpublished.   

[Parsifal]

Why should they do this?

Because that's what the original poster asked for?

[snyprrr]

DSCH Piano Quintet and Piano Trio 2

[TheGSMoeller]

That is a beautiful piece.  Now, the question is whether you consider passacaglia and chaconne to be equivalent, which would imply that you think the Biber's piece surpasses even Bach's chaconne for violin unaccompanied.

As a personal preference. But claiming Biber surpasses Bach is a subject I refuse to touch upon. Not that I swing either way, it's just that Bach is...well, he's Bach.

[Mirror Image]

A little introduction on Britten's Violin Concerto which mentions the meaning of a passacaglia:

http://www.youtube.com/v/yRNi5M26rgM

[Fafner]

There's more where it comes from (both the channel and YT in general). And for those of us who can't read a score, I think this is the next best thing, especially for highly contrapuntal works like Bach's fugues. Of course, for the sake of education, one has to put up with MIDI for a while. A small price to pay.

Thank you for posting this.
What an amazing resource! It makes me see things. I wish I could read the score. 

[Parsifal]

As a personal preference. But claiming Biber surpasses Bach is a subject I refuse to touch upon. Not that I swing either way, it's just that Bach is...well, he's Bach.

No worries, I was just curious if the Biber piece surpasses the Bach piece in the pleasure it gives you.  My memory of the Biber is vague (last listened a while ago).  I'll have to dig it out for a listen soon.

[Opus106]

Thank you for posting this.
What an amazing resource! It makes me see things. I wish I could read the score. 

You're welcome. The other videos I posted, those of a proper recording, come with scores synced (more or less) to the music. The bass line is fairly easy to follow... well, at least until one becomes completely entranced by the music and loses track of the squiggly lines altogether. 0:)

Just a note to dylanesque: the passacaglia lasts until 7:19; after that a fugue begins.

[TheGSMoeller]

No worries, I was just curious if the Biber piece surpasses the Bach piece in the pleasure it gives you.  My memory of the Biber is vague (last listened a while ago).  I'll have to dig it out for a listen soon.

Biber's music has become very special to me, especially the Violin Sonatas. Him being a virtuoso violinist probably aided with composing some wonderful pieces for the instrument. If you get a chance, listen to Sonata No. 3, extremely delightful and very dramatic.

[Parsifal]

Biber's music has become very special to me, especially the Violin Sonatas. Him being a virtuoso violinist probably aided with composing some wonderful pieces for the instrument. If you get a chance, listen to Sonata No. 3, extremely delightful and very dramatic.

I think my favorite recording of Biber is the first I got,



which includes a Passacaglia for solo violin (as well as at least one other passacaglia movement).   

[TheGSMoeller]

I think my favorite recording of Biber is the first I got,



which includes a Passacaglia for solo violin (as well as at least one other passacaglia movement).

I've seen that one many a times but never purchased it, you may have just provided me with that last, final push. 

[Parsifal]

I've seen that one many a times but never purchased it, you may have just provided me with that last, final push. 

What I mainly recall about the recording was a beautiful violin tone.  That may be related to the fact that I am extremely partial to BIS audio engineering.