THYG 570 Bach's Unaccompanied Melodic Works
Besides string and flute players, for whom Bach specifically composed his "solo" works "senza basso", virtually every instrumentalist and vocalist can engage these works in transcription. In looking at this literature, students will explore how a single melodic part conveys a whole thematic, rhythmic, spatial, timbral, and tonal texture--everything from mono-thematic preludes to polyphonic fugues, with all degrees in between. Exercises in hearing, singing, improvisation, analysis, composition, and performance of Bach (including transcriptions) and of related music by others. Includes monthly assignments and a semester project individually selected to engage "unaccompanied" melodic expressions within the student's own repertoire. Project format includes analysis, composition, transcription, improvisation, or performance-demonstration.