Bach: Clavier​ü​bung III

by Jonathan Dimmock

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about

Recorded on two German baroque organs concurrent with the writing of these magnificent 27 pieces, the Klosterkirche in Grauhof (built by Treutmann in 1737) and the St. Wilhadi Kirche in State (built by Erasmus Bielfeldt in 1736), Bach's music comes alive here as in few places in the world.
1739 was an important year both for Leipzig and Lutheranism: It was the bicentenary of Luther's sermon at Leipzig's Thomaskirche, where Bach was Cantor, and was also the bicentenary of the Augsburg Confession. Bach clearly chose to stress some of the major components of the Lutheran faith at this time. So characteristic of the brilliance of this composer, he left us countless clues as to the inner meaning of the pieces, based on his affinity for numerology! Published in '39 (3 squared) and consisting of 27 pieces (3 cubed), the piece is framed by a prelude and a fugue in the highly unusual key of E flat (3 flats). The final fugue has a triple subject, all three of which come together in the end. It is safe to assume that the work is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. (No other composer has done that before or since.)

The symbolism goes on and on. The title page contains 53 words, Bach's age at the beginning of 1739. And most significantly, each of the internal chorale preludes is presented twice, once for manuals only, and once for manuals and pedal, possibly symbolizing the dual nature of Christ, both God and man, or referring to Luther's Small and Large Catechisms.

On the title page, Bach mentions that the publication is "particularly for connoisseurs of such work." The pietistic movement in Leipzig in the mid-18th century was opposed to overly ornate music; even the role of music as indispensable to the liturgy was under threat in Lutheran Orthodoxy. This publication might represent Bach's stand against that idea. (He had just been accused of composing music that was "bombastic, artificial, and unsingable."

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released November 25, 2021

Recorded and Edited by Erik Sikkema

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Jonathan Dimmock San Francisco, California

Jonathan Dimmock (www.JonathanDimmock.com) is an internationally renowned concert organist. He is the Principal Organist of the Legion of Honor Museum, Organist for the San Francisco Symphony, and Director of Music at Congregation Sherith Israel. He was Organ Scholar of Westminster Abbey. and worked at 3 cathedrals - St. John the Divine (NYC), St. Mark’s (Mpls), and Grace (San Francisco). ... more

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