BACH & HANDEL
Friday, 15th August 2008, 8:00PM
St Augustine’s Chapel, Eaton Street, BALMAIN
Bach and Handel were born the same year, in 1685, only 80 miles apart- Bach in a small state of Thuringia, and Handel in nearby Saxony. Bach came out of a strong Protestant choral tradition and Handel grew up listening to the music of aristocracy. The German Protestant composer never left his country, while the nobleman ’s composer moved to London in 1710 where he spent the rest of his life as an English citizen. They never did meet.
Johann Sebastian Bach had not a single but a universal personality. He profited by the musical development of three of four generations. The composer’s output embraces every musical genre of his time in which he opened up new dimensions in virtually every department of creative work to which he turned, in format, musical quality and technical demands.
Bach’s admiration for Handel is evident from his having copied, with the help of his wife, and as he stated: “Handel is the only person I would wish to see before I die, and the only person I would wish to be, were I not Bach”.
Handel, the hero of baroque music, bequeathed to mankind a singular artistic heritage. In his works he was striving for an impressive synthesis of various national styles. Besides the consummate mastery of composition and striking dramatic content, his music is noted for inward pathos and ravishing optimism.
Bach together with his great contemporary Handel were the last great representatives of the Baroque era in an age, which was already rejecting the Baroque aesthetic in favour of a new, ‘enlightened’ one. Both masters not only entertained the audiences, but they also educated them according to the principles of the Enlightenment.
Programme:
J.S. BACH – Sonata for violin and harpsichord, Sonata for viola da gamba
and harpsichord, Trio Sonata
G. F. HANDEL– Sonata for recorder and harpsichord, Trio Sonata
Hans-Dieter MICHATZ – recorder
Stan KORNEL – baroque violin
Annika STAGG – viola da gamba
Monika KORNEL –harpsichord
Tickets at door $30 and $20 concession;
Enquries: 0146 345 489
Email: music@sydneyconsort.com.au