Bach, in his younger days, was accused of over-elaborating, not only the vorspiele, but the accompaniment. It was a fault of youth, and hardly called for the official censure that the Council at Arnstadt thought fit to administer. He was practically his own teacher. If he had been under the guidance of an older and more experienced organist, he would undoubtedly have curbed his zeal for “surprising variations.”
At that time he seems to have lost sight of the fact that he was expected to accompany the congregation. He forgot all about them, and gave free rein to his imagination so that the “congregation were confounded.” And well they might be, by the following example of his accompaniment.
[Music: “WER NUR DEN LIEBEN GOTT LÄSST WALTEN.”
_From the Leipziger Gesangbuch. As sung._
Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten und hoffet auf ihn allezeit.]
[Music: BACH’S METHOD OF ACCOMPANYING WHEN AT ARNSTADT.
Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten und hoffet auf ihn allezeit]
He was in reality not suited to be a mere accompanist--his genius was too great to be tied down to the formal notes sung by the congregation, and a far lesser man would have suited this kind of work better. His choral-vorspiele are masterpieces of organ work; his extemporised or written accompaniments are artistic, but quite impracticable.
But when he harmonises a chorale in vocal parts for his choir to sing with the congregation, his genius shines forth in the most exquisite harmonic combinations possible. Examples abound, and a volume might be written on this subject alone. We can only indicate here a few instances of various treatments of the chorale.
Every one knows the opening double chorus in the _Matthew Passion_. After an instrumental introduction full of dignity and solemnity, built chiefly on tonic and dominant pedals (E minor), the first chorus sings, “Come ye daughters, weep with me, behold the Lamb as a bridegroom.” The second chorus exclaims, “Whom? How?” while the first continues its course, and a “Soprano ripieno” chorus enters with the chorale--
O thou begotten son of God. Who on the cross wast slain.]
The work is now performed every Good Friday in the Thomas Church at Leipsic. The organ gallery occupies the whole of the west end of the nave and two side aisles. On each side are placed the singers, the soprano and alto parts being sung by women. This chorale is sung by the boys of the Thomas Schule, some forty in number, and the effect of the contrast of tone bringing it in is overwhelming. Poor Bach, with his miserable little rabble of a choir with three voices to a part, can hardly have realised how his music would sound many years after his death, when performed by a large body of enthusiastic and intelligent musicians.