Bach's Changes

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Bach's Changes
I've made the statement elsewhere that J.S.
Bach (1685-1750) often used chord changes
that would not be out of place in a hip jazz
band. In fact, his works were far more complex
harmonically than the composers of succeeding
generations. Actually, some of the better
composers of the next generation, such as
Mozart, used some interesting harmonic
constructions. However, the prevailing taste of
the time was for simplistic harmony; hence
Mozart's music is actually more complex than it sounds.

However, my statement about Bach has sometimes been called into

question. Therefore, as supporting evidence, I here provide a harmonic
analysis of a favourite piece of many classical guitarists, the Dm lute
prelude. As my copy of the music doesn't give the BWV number (the
standardized catalog number for Bach's works), I'm indebted to the
research of Willem de Werd in the Netherlands for discovering that this
piece is BWV 999.

I could at this point have entered the piece into my computer to generate
a MIDI file that you could listen to while you look at the analysis. But a
little research at www.midiworld.net indicated that a certain Gabriel
Mihai Dragomir had already done all the hard work. Thanks Gabriel!
The only thing is that he has entered the piece in the original baroque
lute key of Cm rather than Dm, which is the key that all the classical
guitarists use. I don't think it will make too much difference to most
people. So, to hear the piece, click here.

Dm

Dm

Gm/D

Dm-13/Bb Dm/A G# dim

E7

E7

F# dim/E Bm7-5/E
E7-9

Am/E
E7
E7-9/A

Gm/D

A7-9/D A7-9/D

Dm

Dm7/C

E7-9/G#

Am9

Am

F maj7

Bm6

E7-9

Am/E

E7

F7/E

E7-9

Am6/E (B7-9) E7-9

E7-9/A

Am/E Bm7-5/E
A7-9

E7

Dm/A E7-9/A

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E7-9/A

A E7-9

Some of the chords are a little odd (like F# dim/E!); that's because Bach
makes use of pedal point, i.e. a constant bass note held underneath
changing chords. The continuity of the bass note make sense of
harmonies that would a bit odd out of context. I've put one passing chord
in brackets.

I haven't quite followed my own rules about chord naming because what
I'm really trying to describe here are Bach's voicings. Therefore I haven't
put in an chord extension unless Bach actually wrote it. If I wanted to
play a jazz solo over these changes I might add a few more. (Remember
that album Jazz Guitar Bach (Nonesuch H-71069) by Andr Benichou
and his Well-Tempered Three?)

For more information about the life and work of J.S. Bach, check out Bach Central Station.

Go to the Music Theory Corner.

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