Baroque Forms: Canzona

J.S. Bach - Canzona for Organ, BWV 588

In around 1715, Bach set out to write his own style of canzona, probably as a result of his study of Italian forms, and after he had copied out Frescobaldi's Fiori Musicali (musical flowers), a collection of organ music published in 1635 which contained several canzonas. Bach was inspired by Frescobaldi's use of vigorous fugal sections, using related themes but contrasting rhythms and tempos, separated by chordal adagios. Bach's theme was closely related to the bass line found in Frescobaldi's fourth canzona.

Bach's opening theme is a slow and sombre affair, an unusual solo line in the bass. In the second section, Bach uses more Frescobaldi-esque techniques, by moving from common time to triple time, and a repeated-note variation of the opening theme.

My Response

It was very difficult to find research material for this short piece in contrast to some of his bigger and more well-known works. I enjoyed listening to the piece, although it didn't 'stand out' to me; I could have been listening to any piece of contrapuntal music for organ. With that being said, I like the dark undertow of the work, and the change to a quick triple meter mid-way through.


Purcell - Canzona from Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary II

Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary consists of a march, canzona, and anthem for orchestra and choir written by Henry Purcell in 1695 for the funeral of Queen Mary II of England after her death from smallpox. Much of the music he prepared for the ceremony was based on works he had composed earlier.

The brass canzona is one of the completely original pieces in the collection. It is scored for 'flatt trumpets' - instruments similar to sackbuts or trombones. It is a pulsing, polyphonic piece in two related and repeated sections. It modern interpretations, timpani are often included, especially since early music revivalist Thurston Dart's reconstruction in the 1950's, although no timpani part has been connected to the brass movements in the original score.

Parts of the piece were performed again at Purcell's own funeral in November of the same year.

My Response

This very short canzona was pleasing to listen to, and I enjoyed listening to the individual instruments, and their presentation of the thematic material. In my modern recording, I found that the timpani did add depth and drama to the piece, although it would have been good to hear a version without timpani for comparison, and for a more accurate depiction of the original sound.