The Oppositional Principle in Music, Part 7: Masters & God(s)
Sunday, July 4, 2010 at 02:40AM The Oppositional Principle has had many adherents over the decades and centuries. Here’s how the playing of Johann Sebastian Bach was described in his lifetime.
"At the clavichord Bach is virtually still. He plays effortlessly, the movements of his fingers 'hardly perceptible.' Those fingers not in action remain motionless, 'quietly in position.' The rest of his body takes even '[less] part in his playing.' His hands do not contort or register any strain even in the most difficult passages. Bach plays expressively but his body expresses nothing." (Quoted by David Yearsley in Bach and the Meaning of Counterpoint.)
The bad news is that there are no YouTube clips of Bach playing the clavichord. The good news is that there are multiple clips of someone who corresponds to the above description of Bach.
I’m going to let Chick Corea (a master of the Oppositional Principle) introduce the guy in question. There are masters and there are gods . . . most musicians would agree that Art Tatum is a god. Well, no. Art Tatum is God.
In my next post I'll make a detailed study of his playing.
Reader Comments (4)
The bad news is that there are YouTube clips of Keith Jarrett misusing himself to a degree that is cringeworthy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq0EWNuR1H8 It's no surprise that he was cancelling concerts due to "chronic fatigue." I won't say that his misuse of himself was the cause of that condition, but I'm sure it hurt his ability to cope with it.
I think there are two paradigms: the one represented by Keith Jarrett, and the one represented by Chick Corea. I saw the latter play in Minneapolis a few months ago . . . wow.
I am awestruck by the connectedness and creativity, the Love and Good available; the open ended sharing, pure joy!
Thank you so much.
Cathy, thanks for your nice words. Life is good!