Four Modern Piano Compositions Incorporating the B-A-C-H Motive

An Analysis and Comparison of Four Modern Piano Compositions Incorporating the B-A-C-H Motive: Valse-improvisation sur le nom de Bach (1932) by Francis Poulenc, Simbolo from Quaderno Musicale di Annalibera (1952) by Luigi Dallapiccola,Variations on BACH (1951) by Jean Coulthard, and Magnificat (2004) by Sangjick Jun.This research discusses four compositions written within the past century that all make use of the B-A-C-H motive and demonstrate the continuing influence of Bach upon composers of many nations up to the present day. Four nations (France, Italy, Canada, and Korea) are represented in this study by composers who come from very different backgrounds, life experiences, and philosophical approaches to composition. Each work s incorporation of the B-A-C-H motive is analyzed, with particular attention going to issues of rhythm, motivic development, texture, and compositional structure in connection to the motive. The greatest attention, of course, goes to the methods each composer uses to employ the B-A-C-H motive along with its numerous transformations.... Mehr