Bach Air

Bach Air on a G string, or simply Bach's Air is one of the most famous pieces of music. Its ethereal melody enchants anyone who listens to it and takes him to another place, a better place. Different people attach different emotions to it, some say it is melancholic, others say that it radiates inner peace and joy, others simply say that it is the music from heaven. What we can know for sure is that everyone finds something very special in it.

Its secret

Its secret for being so appealing, structurally and theoretically speaking, is the free and individualized melody of the first violins. Air means song, and it is a perfect name for this piece of music, the first violins sing, sweeping across the steady accompaniment by the basso continuo. The middle voices are also very special, sometimes remaining in the background and at other times drawing the listener's attention, emerging with prominent and beautiful melodic lines.

Although we could do all kinds of in-depth musical analysis, we would never understand the source of its beauty, why this notes produce so many emotions in people.

The Name

The name "Air on the G string" was not the original name. This title was given by violinist August Wilhelmj in the late 19th century, more that a hundred years after being composed by Bach.

The original piece was part of his Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major (BWV 1068), called simply air.

August Wilhelmj made an arrangement of the piece for violin and piano, and transposing from its original key of D major to C major he was able to play it in only one string of is violin, the G string. Later arrangements were also called this way after the famous one by Wilhelmj.

Adaptations

I think that no other piece of music ever had so many adaptations for different instruments and ensembles. A very famous one is by the British rock band Procol Harum. Their song's A Whiter Shade of Pale principal melody played on the Hammond Organ was inspired by Bach's air.

It is played by flute ensembles, jazz bands and even "bottle ensembles". It was featured in innumerable movies, anime series and video games. Good for them that they don't have to pay any royalties to Bach!

Download

• Bach's Air: This is my synthesized version in WMA format. To know more about this file or if you need help, click here.
  
• Sheet music for guitar: My own arrangement of this piece for classical guitar.

Links

These are different versions I've found on the web.

• The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra plays Bach's Air. It is a baroque orchestra so, it is the closest to what Bach heard.
  
  
• Helsinki Flute Quartet plays Dmitry Varelas' arrangement of Bach's air.
  
  
• Sarah Chang plays Bach air on violin with piano accompaniment.
  
  
• Acappella Group Planeta sings an arrangement of Bach air.
  
  
• Per-Olov Kindgren plays Bach air on classical guitar.
  
  
• Air on sax, very good version, recommended.
  
  
• The Modern Jazz Quartet and The Swingle Singers play Bach.
  
  
• Mp3 download of an arrangement for electric guitar quintet.
  
  
• Air on bottles, yes, you read it correctly. A comedy show group in Sweden plays Bach air on 31 bottles.
  
  

  Similar work: Double violin concerto

  English	Espaņol

  Sponsored Links:

  Return from Bach Air to Bach's Main Page