Canzona in D minor BWV 588

Canzona in D minor BWV 588 by J. S. Bach, composed in 1715.

Among the compositions of other composers that Bach copied for personal interest, are the "Fiori Musicali" by Frescobaldi, to which the German musician dedicated himself intensively in the last years of his stay in Weimar. It is likely, therefore, to assume that the Canzona in D minor BWV 588, which is affected in obvious manner as Frescobaldi, was written at that time. The theme of Bach is very similar to that of "Canzona dopo l'Epistola" (no. 43 of the Fiori Musicali), and the color of the first section countersubject still reveals, behind him, a model of Italian madrigal ancestry. The Canzona Bach is in two sections, scanning among which is marked by a rhythmic passage that still can be explained by Frescobaldi. The treatment of the material, however, indicates that use of the technique of variation that is typical of Bach and showing how he tended to metabolize the study of the old masters, but not limited to the example or learn to imitate him, but turning it to integrate it into the world music that was just right.

- In "Attachments" the free musical score.