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SM0475 The O'Farrell Collection Vol. 2 A Baroque Bouquet

The O'Farrell Collection Vol. 2
A Baroque Bouquet

arr. Irish Harp by Anne-Marie O'Farrell

NEW 2014 PUBLICATION printed & distributed by Creighton's Collection:

Cover ImageThis new 2014 publication includes:
1. JS Bach: Prelude no. 1 in C major from Das Wohltemperierte Clavier
2. Polonaise from the Anna Magdalena Notebook
3. CPE Bach: Menuet from harpsichord sonata
4. CPE Bach: Marche from the Anna Magdalena Notebook
5. CPE Bach: Siciliano from keyboard sonata H.16
6. JS Bach: Prelude no. 3 in C minor BWV999
7. Christian Petzold: Menuet from the Anna Magdalena Notebook

 

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Performance note & Preface

Performance note

1. Bach's famous Prelude in C major from Book I of Das Wohltemperierte Clavier dating from 1722 is a study in harmonic tension and resolution. Just as many preludes written by Bach address particular technical demands, this one provides a useful introduction to frequent left hand lever changes voiced in a consistent pattern. This piece was also copied into the Anna Magdalena Notebook, illustrating its usefulness and versatility.

2. Although this Polonaise is included as item no. 10 in the Anna Magdalena Notebook, it is not believed to have been written by J.S.Bach himself. It should be taken a little slower than a minuet.

3. The original layout of voicing in this Menuet has been largely maintained. It is the final movement of one of C.P.E. Bach's early harpsichord sonatas, the middle movement of which is included in the Anna Magdalena Notebook. The sonata is omitted from the Helm-Katalog.

4. Marche, no. 16 from the Anna Magdalena Notebook, was originally written in D major, but has been transposed here to allow for standard lever harp tuning. The uppermost lever change at bar 9 may be executed by the right hand. Bracketed notes in the left hand in bars 12 and 16 may be omitted to facilitate lever changes.

5. This Siciliano is the opening movement of an early version of C.P.E. Bach's keyboard sonata Wotquenne 65/7 (Helm-Katalog 16). The original key of E flat major has been changed to F, in order to facilitate standard tuning and range of the lever harp. The left hand B natural in bar 15 may be omitted to facilitate other necessary lever changes. Bass notes from bars 14 to 16 have been transposed one octave higher to facilitate modulation. Players fluent in right hand lever changing could do so for the E natural lever change, leaving the left hand free to execute levers for the entire chromatic bass line. Either way, original pitches are provided so that players can view the original musical contour.

6. This Prelude is the only piece of this volume written originally for lute, although it is frequently published in keyboard editions, and is also performed on guitar. It is from a collection copied by the organist Johann Peter Kellner (1705-1772). Unusually for a single piece, the music ends in the dominant key with a 'tierce de picardie', creating the suggestion of a further movement to follow. Because of this, it is sometimes performed as a prelude to Bach's Fugue in G minor BWV1000. Like the Prelude in C major from Das Wohltemperierte Clavier, the regular pattern of note division between the hands allows for the necessary lever changes.

7. In order to reduce the density of accidentals, notation of the original key signature of F major has been updated to B flat in this Menuet by Petzold, which is listed as no. 5 in the Anna Magdalena Notebook.

Preface

This collection comprises pieces of intermediate level, many of which are drawn from the Anna Magdalena Notebook, reflecting the musical language of the early 1700s. Also known as Klavierbüchlein für Anna Magdalena Bach, the work comprises two volumes composed mainly by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). Some of its content is vocal, some is for developing use of a figured bass, while much of it was written as pedagogical keyboard repertoire. It is dedicated to Bach's second wife, Anna Magdalena Wilcke (1701-1760), who as a young woman was a professional singer at the court in Köthen. The collection also includes contributions from friends and associates of the Bach family, who may have been visitors to the Bach household. One of these was Christian Petzold (1677- possibly by 1733), an organist in the court of Dresden. Another contributor was C.P.E. Bach (1714-1788), the second of J.S. Bach's five sons, who is remembered as one of the founders of the classical style. While the original notebook is in two volumes, dating from 1722 and 1725, any of its material used in this collection for lever harp is drawn from the 1725 volume.

Baroque music lends itself to the development of levering, since modulations are often effected in one octave at a time. This makes the music more satisfying to play but more difficult to master. Modulations are found less frequently in teaching repertoire of the lever harp: this has the unfortunate consequence of limiting the learning experience, since the student has fewer encounters with key contrasts and harmonic development as integral elements of musical language. In this edition lever changes are denoted by a stemless, diamond-shaped note head. Care has been taken not to add, remove, or alter any notes from the original versions for keyboard. Very occasionally, the option is given to omit a note in order to facilitate essential lever changes. It is hoped that the fingering suggested in places proves helpful. Since dynamics are not provided in the originals, they are omitted here also, to leave scope to the player to interpret the possibilities inherent in the line and harmonic development of the musical material itself. The final chord of many of the pieces may be arpeggiated according to standard baroque performance practice.

Audio Sample

CD cover
JS Bach: Prelude no. 1 in C major from Das Wohltemperierte Clavier
recorded on the CD Harping Bach to Carolan also available on this site

Library Information

Title: The O'Farrell Collection Vol. 2 A Baroque Bouquet
Contents: 1. JS Bach: Prelude no. 1 in C major from Das Wohltemperierte Clavier
2. Polonaise from the Anna Magdalena Notebook
3. CPE Bach: Menuet from harpsichord sonata
4. CPE Bach: Marche from the Anna Magdalena Notebook
5. CPE Bach: Siciliano from keyboard sonata H.16
6. JS Bach: Prelude no. 3 in C minor BWV999
7. Christian Petzold: Menuet from the Anna Magdalena Notebook
Composer: arr. by Anne-Marie O'Farrell
Instrumentation: Irish Harp or Pedal Harp
Level: Intermediate
Printed Parts: A4 stapled
Pages of music: 9
Weight: 70g
Our Ref: SM0475
ISMN: 979-0-57046-133-2
Publisher: Anne-Marie O'Farrell
Distributor: Creighton's Collection
Edition/Year: 2014
Origin: EU

Sample Page

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