Johann Sebastian Bach. Toccata (with the fugue) d-moll for Organ BWV 565. “According to the Gospel of John” as a Subject of Musical and Theoretical Analysis from the Perspective of Musical Rhetoric

Abstract

The article is focused on the description of the hidden layer of artistic content of one of the famous organ masterpieces by J. S. Bach – Toccata (with the fugue) d-moll BWV 565. The method of musical theoretical analysis is applied. It significantly expands the scope of knowledge of the artistic content of the baroque organ music associated with church Christian traditions. This method not only contributes to the development of the analytical apparatus of musical and theoretical disciplines, but is also focused on improving the organ performance art. Bach’s work is analyzed from the point of view of musical rhetoric. The article describes the fugue fragment in which a plot from the New Testament stories “Ablution of legs of pupils by Christ on the Last Supper” in the description of St. John the Evangelist is revealed by means of an appeal to musical rhetoric. The score of Toccata (with the fugue) in d-moll is considered from the point of view of the graphic images, numerical symbols and musical-rhetorical figures available in it. For a comparative analysis, other works of J. S. Bach are used. The musical text of the Toccata (with the fugue) d-moll is considered from a position of the graphics, numerical symbols and musical and rhetorical figures which are available in it. For a comparative analysis, other J. S. Bach’s works are used.

Keywords

• johann sebastian bach
• toccata (with the fugue) d-moll bwv 565
• “gospel of johan”
• musical rhetoric
• plot: “the washing by christ of the feet of the disciples at the last supper”
• musical and theoretical analysis