Bach Interpretation for Performers

This course will explore the music of Johann Sebastian Bach from the perspective of performance. Attention will be given to Baroque dance forms and the social significance of dance in the 18th century, the art of rhetoric as a driving force for convincing delivery, an exploration of period instruments, and the study of elements of style such as articulation and ornamentation. The course consists of lectures, discussions, guided listening, score analysis, reading assignments, and performance projects. Aside from Bach’s scores, we will examine three key 17th- and 18th-century vocal and instrumental treatises, and a wide array of literature on rhetorical style and performance practice. Upon successful completion of the course, students will gain a deeper understanding of
interpreting the music of J.S. Bach and Baroque music in general, both as listeners and as performers.