"I am not one who was born in the custody of wisdom. I am one who is fond of olden times and intense in quest of the sacred knowing of the ancients." Gustave Courbet

22 November 2020

Sustaining.

Sir Christopher Hogwood provides an analysis of what makes the following music masterpieces: Pachelbel's Canon, Purcell's Dido's Lament, and Fauré's Violin Sonata.

Memorability is sometimes achieved by the simple technique of repetition, in addition to more high-flown inspiration. Some of the simplest sustaining devices of great music are ground bass, ostinato or chaconne; this lecture shows that a canon can be more than simply "Three Blind Mice"...


The most important advice he provides about canons is how to stop them.

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