Work

Programme Note

J.S. Bach is sitting on your shoulder. He’s been there for a fair while now. And he makes no apologies for his boofy wig, facial powder that quite possibly enters the room more than a moment before he does, or those wonderfully-ornate clothes that these days would, well… actually, probably render a great many gentlemen jealous.

He goes for a stroll. This bass is not a ‘figured’ bass, thank you very much, it’s a ‘walking’ bass. First stop is a cinema where they are showing a film with a soundtrack by Philip Glass. I think our Baroque man J.S. is inspired to write more chorales at this point. Following a happy hop, skip and jump down the road, however, he stops by a park, where all present are taking in the reggae… and this time he ends up staying a little longer than he had planned to… until it is time to go home via a Fleet-ing performance by a local band.

This piece is dedicated to someone who on one occasion texted me saying they were ‘walking bach’ to my house. Pun apparently intended.

Commissioned:

Commissioned by the Federation of Australasian Mandolin Ensembles Inc. (FAME)

Difficulty:

Intermediate

Dedication:

To O.W.P.M.

Performance History

	08 Jan 2011	Performed by FAME Camp combined orchestra with conductor Bryan Holden, at the Raye Freedman Theatre, Epsom Girls Grammar School, in Auckland