Prélude - English Suite No. 2

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Description +
- Duration: 5 min.
  Arranged by Michiko Noguchi
  Performing Artists: Midi Sound
  
  Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen, hired Bach to serve as his Kapellmeister (director of music) in 1717. Prince Leopold, himself a musician, appreciated Bach's talents, paid him well and gave him considerable latitude in composing and performing. English Suites were composed during these period, 1717~1723 (Bach: 32~38 years old). The original title of the piece was “Suites with Prelude,” but because the version copied by Christian, Bach’s son, was noted as written for the English, and also because the style of the piece had been affected by Handel, who at the time was widely successful in England, the piece began to be called “English Suites.”
  
  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: Both parts can be performed on one 5.0 Octave Marimba.
  
  Michiko Noguchi
Instrumentation +
- Marimba Duo (both parts can be performed on a 5.0 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.
Reviews +
- Review (Percussive Notes, August 2020)
  
  Although this arrangement can be performed on one 5-octave marimba by two players, it would be more spacious for the performers to use two marimbas. The two players are essentially splitting the piano part. This creates an interesting arrangement whereas Player 1 has a more active part, and Player 2 acts as more of the accompaniment.
  
  Michiko Noguchi does an excellent job of creating easily readable parts with very thorough phrasing and dynamic markings. Player 1 will need to be very cautious of phrasing and will require technical prowess for performing extended sixteenth-note runs. Player Two will need to be aware of the first part and how the second part interacts with the main voice.
  
  Overall, this is a great arrangement that would be excellent for an undergraduate senior or masters- level recital. The division of the parts would lend this piece to being performed, perhaps, by a younger student with a more advanced student helping to push the younger student to become a better musician through the performance of Bach. Noguchi has contributed another great arrangement to our repertoire that allows percussionists to more easily access the music of the master.
  
  —Josh Armstrong

Prélude - English Suite No. 2

Item details

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