Bela Fleck And Edgar Myer
...on Sunday, November 20th 2005 at 6:00pm, in the Concert Hall. The program consisted of original works by Mr. Fleck, who plays the banjo, and Mr. Meyer, who plays the bass, and some classical selections as well. (The pieces included some from their recently released duo, "Music For Two") In this paper I will focus on the classical renditions of Johann Sebastian Bach's "Three part invention No.10 in G Major , and Peter Tchaikovsky's "Melody in E-flat".
Johann Sebastian Bach was born, in 1685 in Eisenach, into a musical family and he received his first instructions from his father. But his father passed away in 1695, so Bach moved to Ohrdruf, to live with his older brother Johann Christoph, who he studied the organ from. Bach's first permanent job's were as an organist in Arnstadt (1703-1707) and Muhlhausen (1707-1708). After that, Bach was employed by Duke Wilhelm Ernst of Weimar from 1708-1717. During this time Bach composed many of his best organ compositions. Bach's style was influenced by his study of many Italian compositions. (Especially Vivaldi concertos) From 1717-1723, Bach was the music director for the Prince Leopold of Cuthen. During which there was no need for church music, so his works were primarily for instrumental solo or ensamble, to be used as court entertainment or for instruction. (Among those was the "Brandenburg Concertos") In 1723, Bach was appointed cantor at the St. Thomas Church and School, and Director of Music for Leipzig, positions which he retained for the rest of his career. During his first six years in Leipzig (1723-1729) Bach's most impressive compositions were his cantatas (Four year cycles) and the St. John and St. Matthew Passions. In 1729-1739 and 1739-1741, Bach was Director of the Leipzig Collegium Musicum. (an organization which had been founded by Telemann in 1704.) During Bach's last decade...
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