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Ricercar a 3

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

Instrument: Percussion Trio

Level: Intermediate

Published: 2018

Price: €23.00


Item details

  • Description +
    • Duration: 5 min.
      Arranged by Michiko Noguchi
      Performing Artists: Makoto Nakura, Baku Nakata & Michiko Noguchi

      The Ricercare was a form of instrumental composition popular in the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries, the name of which means ‘to search out’.  It later developed into the fugue.  On May 7th, 1747, the sixty-two year old Bach was invited by King Friedrich II of Prussia to visit the Royal Palace in Potsdam, where his son Carl Philip Emmanuel was employed at the time as a member of the royal orchestra. The king, himself a flautist and supporter of the arts, gave Bach a theme for a fugue (which Bach later named ‘Thema Regium’ or ‘theme of the king’), to which he responded with an improvised performance, which is thought to be the basis of this three-voice ricercare. He later added a six-voice ricercare, a trio sonata, and a series of canons, and published the set under the title “A Musical Offering”. This, and the subsequently composed ‘Art of the Fugue’, are recognized as the culmination of contrapuntal writing.

      All Bach repertoire was arranged for the purpose of recording the CD "Back to Bach" which was released in November 2017 in Tokyo.
      The repertoire performed by marimba players today are mostly modern original pieces. However it is very important to get to know classical music, especially that of Bach. It is my wish to to make marimba ensemble more popular and provide music which is not too difficult technically, yet contains high artistic quality. This was my motivation to release this Bach series, Music,and CD. The title "Back to Bach" reflects this wish, and repertoire on the CD was performed by world renowned marimba performers.♪ iTunes :http://qq1q.biz/JT5D

      Note: This trio can be played on two marimbas (5.0 Octave and 4.0 Octave Marimba). 

      Bach didn't specify the instrument, therefore one can play this piece on any instrument. So, you can play with Vibraphone, Violin, Flute etc.  

      Since this arrangement is for marimba trio, I added some rolls.  Baroque music was played without "Legato" but "Messa di Voce", separating each note and play like reading poem.

      Michiko Noguchi

  • Instrumentation +
    • This trio can be played on two marimbas (5.0 Octave and 4.0 Octave Marimba).

  • About the composer +
    • Johann Sebastian Bach (31 March 1685 – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the Baroque period. He enriched established German styles through his skill in counterpoint, harmonic and motivic organisation, and the adaptation of rhythms, forms, and textures from abroad, particularly from Italy and France. Bach's compositions include the Brandenburg Concertos, the Goldberg Variations, the Mass in B minor, two Passions, and over three hundred cantatas of which around two hundred survive. His music is revered for its technical command, artistic beauty, and intellectual depth. 

      Bach's abilities as an organist were highly respected during his lifetime, although he was not widely recognised as a great composer until a revival of interest and performances of his music in the first half of the 19th century. He is now generally regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time.

  • Credits +
    • Front Cover graphics and layout: Ronni Kot Wenzell
      Engraving: Michiko Noguchi
      Printed in Copenhagen, Denmark
      Copyright © 2018 Michiko Noguchi
      www.editionsvitzer.com