J.S. BACH’S MUSIC IN JAZZ AND POP TRANSCRIPTIONS

Abstract

The socio-cultural reasons for the appearance of jazz and pop transcriptions of clavier and organ compositions by the famous German composer and organist of the Baroque era Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) are examined. It is noted that in the era of Romanticism piano transcriptions were made of J.S. Bach’s organ works available both for home music making and for concert halls. The growth of interest in the creativity of the German composer caused its large extent. It is noticed that the music of the Baroque era and jazz are brought together by the improvisational approach. It is emphasized that jazz, rock and pop musicians are very interested in the compositions of J.S. Bach. Their consideration focuses on four types of adaptation of works of academic music into «light popular genres» proposed by the researcher G. Rösing – arrangement, parody, fragmentation and «new formations», which are often combined within the same treatment. The works of J.S. Bach in the 20th–21st centuries were transcribed by musicians of various directions and by performers on various instruments. The «Play – Bach» fashion was started by the French pianist Jacques Loussier (1934–2019), who recorded the album «Swingin' Bach Guitar» under the slogan «Bach would have played it like this today». Jazz and pop transcriptions of the German Cantor's music were made by: pianist Chick Corea, multi-instrumentalist Keith Jarrett, violinists S. Grappelli, E. Sauta, guitarist J. Reinhart, the «Swingle – Sisters» ensemble, the «Play Bach» trio (J. Loussier, K. Garros and P. Michelot), synthesizer players V. Carlos and A. Cozzina, and others. Among the famous jazz arrangements of the works of J.S. Bach should be called «Bach Goes To Town» by B. Goodman, «Tribute To Bach & Parker» by L. Konitz, «Bach To Bach» by J. Loussier, «Get Of My Bach» by J. Shearing, «Bach Panther» by S. Delplace.Transcriptions, processing and arrangement of the artist’s creative output show how his reception has changed in different historical and stylistic periods.