The Bach--Chopin Connection, a three-part class taught by Trevor Stephenson

The Bach-Chopin Connection

Three Classes
January 22, 29, and Feb. 5 2023
from 6-7:30 pm at the studio of Trevor Stephenson
5729 Forsythia Place
Madison WI 53705
Enrollment $100, individual classes $35

Chopin studied Bach's keyboard music thoroughly--in particular, The Well-Tempered Clavier. We know from Chopin's own letters that when he was composing his Preludes on the island of Majorca it was Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier, his own (Chopin's) scribblings (probably the Preludes sketches), his candlestick, and unassailable silence that he was dealing with.

Chopin wrote to his friend, Fontana, on 28 December 1838:

‘… Between the cliffs and the sea, a huge deserted Carthusian monastery, where in a cell with doors larger than any carriage-gateway in Paris you may imagine me with my hair unkempt, without white gloves and pale as ever. The cell is shaped like a tall coffin, the enormous vaulting covered with dust, the window small. In front of the window are orange trees, palms, cypresses; opposite the window is my camp-bed under a Moorish filigree rose-window. Close to the bed is an old square grubby box which I can scarcely use for writing on, with a leaden candlestick (a great luxury here) and a little candle. Bach, my scrawls and someone else’s old papers … silence … you can yell … still silence. In short, I am writing to you from a very strange place.’

Chopin absorbed Bach's music to the Nth degree. Chopin could play and did play huge swaths of it from memory (in particular, The Well-Tempered Clavier), for his students and colleagues. I would argue that Chopin learned from Bach the relationship between poetry and rigor, that expression and structure are in the end inextricable and must always work together--a tall order for Chopin, working as he did in the early 19th century, when freedom of expressive had become paramount. Chopin also gleaned from Bach the kaleidoscopic variety of expression possible through Well-Tempered keyboard tunings, i.e., circulating non-equal temperaments. These well temperaments, in common use throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries, provided the keyboard player with a wealth of intonational expression. Chopin put this to work in all his music, choosing his tonalities very carefully in order to draw the best effect from his material.

In this class we'll investigate how Bach's influence rests at the heart of many of Chopin's greatest works. I'll play and discuss music by both composers on a 17th-century harpsichord, 18th-century clavichord, 18th-century fortepiano, a 19th-century English Cottage piano, and a 19th-century English Parlor Grand piano. Specific repertoire to be studied in the classes will be email to participants in early January.

To register for the class, email me at trevor@trevorstephenson.com. Reading knowledge of music is suggested. Enrollment for the three 90-minute classes is $100, individual classes are $35 per class.

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The Bach--Chopin Connection, House Concert

Trevor Stephenson gives a concert-lecture on the influence of Bach on the music of Chopin. Trevor will perform and discuss selections from Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier--which Chopin knew by heart--and Chopin's Preludes, Nocturnes, Waltzes, and Mazurkas. Featured instruments will be: 17th-century Flemish harpsichord, 18th-century German clavichord, c. 1850 English parlor grand piano, c. 1840 English cottage upright piano.

Concert on Saturday afternoon February 10, 2024, 3 pm. Refreshments served. Reservations required. To make a reservation email trevor@trevorstephenson.com.
Admission $45.

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Birth of the Baroque--Italian Harpsichord Music from the 17 & 18th-centuries

Birth of the Baroque
Concert-lecture by Trevor Stephenson
17th & 18th-century Italian harpsichord music
House Concert

Trevor will play and discuss music by Gabrieli, Luzzaschi, Frescobaldi, and Scarlatti. Featured instrument is Norman Sheppard's recently completed harpsichord modeled on a c. 1605 instrument by Celestini. Trevor will also describe both the meantone and well-tempered tuning systems utilized by Italian musicians in the Baroque era.
Refreshments served.
Reservations required. Email trevor@trevorstephenson.com to make your reservation.

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Madison Bach Musicians, Summer Chamber Music Workshop, July 9-12, 2024

Hi Friends,

Madison Bach Musicians' 10th annual Summer Chamber Music Workshop is this week, July 9-12 in the beautiful facilities at Christ Presbyterian Church on Gorham Street in Madison. Great lineup of classes, lectures, and concerts. Faculty concert is Thursday evening July 11, participant concert is Friday afternoon July 12. Plenty of parking. See details at https://madisonbachmusicians.org/summer-chamber-music-workshop/

10th Annual Chamber Music Workshop
July 9 - 12, 2024

In-person ensemble coaching, classes, and meals

Madison Bach Musicians’ Summer Chamber Music Workshop, July 9-12, 2024, offers a unique opportunity for musicians to participate in extensive chamber music playing as well as in informative lectures, technique classes, and large group ensembles. We focus on early music from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical periods. It is our mission to provide a place where chamber music lovers can come together and work intensely for a week with highly skilled faculty. This summer, we have added new classes including an improvisation class, a conversation with Marilyn MacDonald about early music, and an advanced Viol Consort with Eric Miller, and we continue our popular wind, vocal, baroque, and string ensembles. There will be a special masterclass given by Marilyn McDonald, Oberlin College emeritus professor of violin and baroque violin, on Wednesday, July 10, and our faculty concert will be on Thursday, July 11. Please join us!

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Music of Bach, Handel, and Scarlatti -- Bayfield Summer Concert Series

Trevor Stephenson plays music of Bach, Handel, and Scarlatti on his 17th-century Flemish harpsichord.

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Madison Bach Musicians 2024-25 season-opening concert: The French Baroque Style

Madison Bach Musicians - 2024-25 season-opening concert
The French Baroque Style - music by Lully, Couperin, Campra, Rameau, and Bach
with guest violinist Marc Destrube
Immanuel Davis, flute soloist
Sarah Brailey, soprano soloist
MBM strings and continuo
7:15 pm lecture by Trevor Stephenson
8 pm concert

tickets and information: www.madisonbachmusicians.org

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