Speaking of the “Three Masters of Classicism”, one can easily recall the three great music giants Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. Few people can remember Bach’s name. John Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), who lived half a century before the “Three Masters of Classicism”, was regarded as the “father of modern Western music”, and the same name was not important at that time. Bach established the basic rhythm system of European music with his “Collection of Piano Pieces with Average Rhythm”, known as the “Old Testament” in music, and he also became a master in the eyes of music masters. Ironically, 86 years ago, Zhu Zaiyu, the son of the Ming Dynasty’s Prince of Zheng, first proposed the “twelve average law”, which inspired Bach, who was himself a mathematician.
In history, there have always been some unfortunate people who, because their ideas and skills are so far ahead of the times that they are acceptable, stand still in life, but shine brightly after death. Two of the most typical examples are Bach and Van Gogh. Bach was even more unfortunate because it was not until 100 years after his death that his works gradually became accepted and recognized by the world.
Bach, who had never enjoyed great fame during his lifetime, spent his impoverished and impoverished life in the remote city of Leipzig, and his musical talent could only support his family. At that time, composers such as Bach were mostly employed by nobles, but not all employers could appreciate their talents. When he was about to resign as an organist and lead violinist in the Duke of Weimar’s court and seek a new position, the Duke was so angry about it that he even put him in prison. Bachdo was released after a month in prison. The Leipzig Church hoped to hire a “first-class musician”, but they were unable to hire the two initially identified candidates, and only reluctantly appointed Bach as the lead singer in the singing class.
Even if a genius is not born in an extremely poor class, it must experience the hardships and bitterness of life. It seems that only after experiencing the teasing of fate can God lift his eyes. In Bach’s life, poverty and death closely followed like a terrible shadow. Not only did he never enjoy a comfortable and wealthy life, but he began to feel the gloom of death from the age of 9 due to the successive deaths of his parents. As a father, he witnessed 11 children buried in the grave.
According to legend, at a court dance, Bach’s cello was rigged, and all the strings except the G string were broken. When everyone was ready to watch Bach make a fool of himself, Bach improvised an aria with just one G string, which is today known as “The aria on the G string.”. However, it was not until 100 years later that Mendelssohn’s interpretation made it popular in the world. Today, the poetic melodic beauty of this piece has made it a popular classical masterpiece. Before being hit in the head by the apple of history, great people were also unknown little people.
The beginning of the music is a soft and faint long note, like the breathing of a sleeping baby. The breath gradually turns strong from extremely weak, and then slowly descends, completing a prayer like chant. In 1830, when Mendelssohn played “The Song of the G-string” on the piano to Goethe, Goethe said, “At the beginning, it was so magnificent and solemn that one could imagine a large group of prominent figures fishing down a long staircase.” Goethe was indeed a person who exchanged souls with the devil, and the “meanness” and “calm magnificence” of this music made it impossible for anyone to ignore its existence.
The first time I heard “Aria Sul G” was during the evening of my sophomore year, when I was studying by myself in the dormitory and watching “The Seven Deadly Sins” with my good friend Cui Huanlong. The suspense atmosphere of the movie was such that the lights in the square of the second canteen reflected the flickering light and shadow in the dormitory. Suddenly, I remembered the sound of “Dudu” knocking on the door and the sentence of “Discipline Inspection Committee” checking the dormitory: “Classmate, open the door, I know you are inside…” Long Er and I hid in the darkness, holding our breath, As helpless as drowning. “It was only after repeatedly confirming that the pace of the” Discipline Inspection Meeting “was gone that the play button was pressed, and Morgan Freeman slowly opened the pages of the book in the deserted library on a rainy night. It was this song,” Aria Sul G, “that gradually sounded.”. It was an unspeakable tranquility and tranquility that permeated my mind, becoming more and more soothing and profound. Without any gorgeous dazzling skills, it is simple but directly touching the soul.
Looking through the comments under classical music on the music app, you can often see the following text:
For the first time listening to classical friends, the old driver will show you the way: Bach anti restlessness, Haydn anti depression, Mozart anti insomnia, Beethoven anti depression, Tchaikovsky anti hunger, Mahler anti sleepiness, Rachmaninov anti loneliness Finally, it is necessary to point out one of the most effective: Brookner, to resist the adverse emotional reactions caused by jealousy.
Yes, in the hearts of the audience, Bach always ranks first.
Bach’s works are known for their strictly symmetrical polyphonic beauty, and many people evaluate his works as more rational and restrained than lyrical self-expression. In fact, he implicitly conveyed his philosophical and religious ideas: humility, restraint, peace, desire rather than desire, love but not desire to possess. This is also the reason why his works are anti restless. Many airport railway stations like to use Bach’s works as background music to relieve the tension of rushing and soothe the fatigue of traveling.
“I have never seriously studied music, and I can still appreciate the beauty of classical music with its huge structure, serious narrative, powerful emotions, and elegant rhythm, but it is also difficult to appreciate its grandeur.”.
Just like “Aria Sul G”, many of Bach’s works do not mark the playing speed and emotional tone, so they do not have a subjective emotional mapping, like the unconscious shallow humming and singing when waking up from a nap. “Just letting future generations express their joys and sorrows, and letting the audience see themselves clearly in the rhythm, is precisely the most precious musical experience.”.
When later Mozart indulged in the prosperity and romance of Vienna, Beethoven persisted in the struggle against unfair fate, which formed the characteristics of their works. I am curious about why Bach, who is constantly ravaged by poverty and death, can live in peace and contentment, peacefully creating the beauty of melody.
I think it’s probably religion and love, because of pious faith and kind love.
——Two Rivers Salt Transport Division, “The Distinctive Sound on the G String – Aria Sul G”
