Les angoisses créatives de J.S. Bach

The King's Singers, Deconstructing Johann

Swinging Bach 24 hours, 2000, Live vom Marktplatz in Leipzig 

J. S. Bach had a little problem. J. S. Bach was in a fix. J.S. Bach couldn’t find an answer. What to do ? “I’ve written most of a rather fabulous work. Toccata … it’s in d minor … but now I’m feeling a bit of a jerk. I can’t think of what should come after it.” Now said his wife, who was resting up after her thirty third child ... “Johann my dear, you should just go to bed. Something always comes up.” “Don’t be a twit. It’s a real crisis and I’m working to a deadline. What can I fit ? What’d fit after that great Toccata ? Maybe it needs to be something faster ? I haven’t got a clue, and in a week the piece is due. I’m in a panic and I’m stuck like glue.” “Don’t get your knickers in a twist Johann. ‘Notes are only notes’ you always said. There’s only twelve so use your head. How many arrangements of twelve notes can there possibly be ?” That’s a problem I don’t want to deal with. How many permutations of C and D and E and F and G is a thing that I’ve never heard of. You can leave that to Arnold Schoenberg. He is the person to do that twelve-tone thing. NO ! It isn’t the answer… I haven’t the foggiest… What am I gonna do ? I’m all in a panic… Aaah ! NO! What can I do ? I’ve finished my Toccata but I have no fugue. (Fugue plays) aaah…. And now I’ve got a fugue !” 

Si vous aimez leurs voix (leur humour, leur fantaisie et leur joie de chanter), je vous invite à assister à l’un de leurs concerts en entier qui a eu lieu le 18 juin 2011, Hofvijverpodium à La Haye :

King's Singers by Night - Full concert HD

The King's Singers (litt. Les chanteurs du roi) sont un chœur a cappella. Leur nom rappelle le King's College à Cambridge en Angleterre, où le groupe avait été formé par six élèves en … 1968 ! Le groupe a toujours été composé de six chanteurs, avec des membres qui ont changé au fil des ans.

Qui sont-ils actuellement ?

David Hurley (contreténor)

Timothy Wayne-Wright (contreténor)

Paul Phoenix (ténor)

Christopher Bruerton (baryton)

Christopher Gabbitas (baryton)

Jonathan Howard (basse)