ENDNOTES  page 187

<A>

organ fugue: *

Fugue in G minor, BWV 578, (“the Little Fugue”), organ music by JS Bach, composed at Arnstadt (1703–1707).  It is one of Bach's best known fugues and has been arranged for other voices, including an orchestral version by Leopold Stokowski.  Bach was famous as an organist as well as a fugue composer.  He shaped his works on older composers notably Pachelbel (1653-1706).  With the decline of sophisticated styles at the end of the baroque period, the fugue's central role waned, eventually giving way as sonata form and the symphony orchestra rose to a dominant position.

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<B>

cantata & Mass:

Bach, is the most significant contributors to this genre, composing over 200 cantatas; written for a baroque orchestra with a string section, oboe section, and a continuo group; on festive occasions such as Easter or Xmas  timpani & brass were added; the vocal forces consisted of a 4-part choir and soloists; he also wrote for only 1 solo singer.

Bach also produced one of the most famous masses- the Mass in B minor, a musical for the Latin Mass.  Completed in 1749, a year before his death.  It gave new form to vocal music that Bach had composed throughout his career, dating back to 1714, but extensively revised.  To complete the work, in the late 1740s Bach composed new sections of the Credo such as "Et incarnatus est".  As it was unusual for Lutheran composers to compose a Missa tota, his motivations are debated.  It was never performed in its entirety during his lifetime; the first known full performance took place in 1859.  Since the 19th century it is recognized as one of the greatest compositions in musical history.

 

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<C>

music (late 17th century instrumental) * see Endnote <D>

This century saw new instruments & new roles for instrumental music, new genres & styles.  Secular instrumental music achieved equality with sacred vocal music; more & more works were published.  At the start of the century, composers did not specify instruments, but as the century advanced music was written specifically for organs, harpsichords, improved wind instruments & violins.  Three types of instrumental music were composed: Variations Abstracts Dance.  Northern Germany produced organ works on pre-existing melodies, Chorales, Chorale variation or partita Chorale fantasia & Chorale prelude.  The Toccata became a major form, the main improvisionary genre for lute and keyboard harpsichord (chamber music) or organ (church music).  In France music for the lute developed; ornamentation was popular & influenced keyboard music; eventually the harpsichord displaced the lute as main solo instrument.

 

This period saw the creation of tonality, writing music in a particular key; concerts were typically accompanied by a basso continuo group (comprising harpsichordists & lute players improvising chords from a figured bass part) while a group of bass instruments (viol, cello, double bass) played the bassline; composers & performers used more elaborate musical ornamentation (often improvised by performers).  The period saw advances in: musical notation (e.g. figured bass), instrumental playing techniques; established forms opera, cantata & oratorio (mixed vocal/instrumental) and pure instrumental forms (solo concerto & sonata).  Some of the great 17th century composers (born that century) were Monteverdi, Scarlatti, Purcell and Lully.

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D>

altarpiece: *

see illustration & note

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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<E>

saints (9-11 century legends of): *

5 examples of Saints from the 9th to 11th centuries (Faustian culture).

 

St Edmund the Martyr, (841-69) Anglo-Saxon king ruled East Anglia, failed as king but succeeded instead as a saint, defeated and killed by invading Danes, he was remembered as a martyr, his cult promoted by the Danish kings who replaced him.  Bury St Edmunds named after him.

St. Wenceslaus I (907- 935) duke (of Bohemia from 921 until assassination in 935 by younger brother.  His martyrdom & popular biographies created a reputation for heroic goodness; the patron saint of the Czech state & subject of the "Good King Wenceslas", a carol for Saint Stephen's Day.

St Edward the Confessor (1003–1066) pious king, who attracted stories of miracles testifying to his care for his people: purportedly carryied a poor leper into a church where he was cured.

St. Ladislaus I of Hungary (1040 –1095) King of Hungary (1077) & Croatia (1091); warrior king, his most popular legend narrates a fight with a Turkic nomad marauder who abducted a Hungarian girl.  He supported Henry IV's opponents in the Investiture Controversy.  Following civil war he worked to restore public safety.  He introduced severe legislation, punishing those who violated property rights with death or mutilation. He occupied almost all Croatia in 1091, which marked the beginning of an expansion period for the medieval Kingdom of Hungary.  Victories over the nomadic Turks, the Pechenegs & Cumans, ensured the security of his kingdom's eastern borders for 150 years.

St Margaret of Wessex (1045-93) English princess & Scottish queen, sister of Edgar Ætheling (an uncrowned Anglo-Saxon King of England).  Born in exile she returned to England in 1057, but fled to Scotland in 1066 following the Norman conquest.  She married King Malcolm III of Scotland, becoming Queen of Scots. She was a very pious Roman Catholic, and among many charitable works she established a ferry across the Firth of Forth in Scotland for pilgrims travelling to St Andrews in Fife.

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<F>

Gods of India (Vedic): *

see image & note

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