At 8:49 AM +0100 1/17/07, Johannes Gebauer wrote:
On 17.01.2007 John Howell wrote:
(One of my disagreements with the Rifkin hypothesis, whether or not
it "works" for modern ears, is that in his 1731 memo Bach
specifically mentioned both concertists and ripienists among the
boys, and we do find such vocal parts in his hand or that of one of
his regular copyists.
In what way does that disagree with Joshua's hypothesis? He uses
ripienists (one to a part) for the pieces where one can assume that
there were ripienists. The John Passion is a good example.
Yes, and that Passion is the piece I have studied in great detail.
But I like your wording, Johannes. If we can agree that Joshua's
belief is indeed an hypothesis--an interesting hypothesis, a
suggestive hypothesis, even a brilliant hypothesis--then the next
stage in the scientific method follows. Test the hypothesis. Test
it in Bach's own church. Test it with the instruments he would have
used. Most importantly, test it with two boys and two university
students who are NOT operatically trained soloists!! Arguments and
opinions are easy; proof is not.
John
--
John & Susie Howell
Virginia Tech Department of Music
Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S.A 24061-0240
Vox (540) 231-8411 Fax (540) 231-5034
(mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED])
http://www.music.vt.edu/faculty/howell/howell.html
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