Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Baroque Music and the Paradox of Tragic Beauty


J.S. Bach's Violin Concerto #1 in A Minor (BWV 1041) expresses perfectly one of the special properties of Baroque music generally and Baroque violin in minor key specifically. It captures a sense of beauty, with the high notes of the violin deeply moving the soul; at the same time these high notes have a sense of tragedy; of a piercing wound, not of the body, but of the soul. As the piece reaches the highest point, the other instruments become lighter allowing the violin to come to the forefront and emphasize the deeply personal nature of the tragic emotion. In a special way, Baroque music is able to capture the paradox of tragic beauty.[1]

 



[1] Originally an assignment for Music 201, 30 August 2013.

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