Prelude and Fugue in C Sharp Minor

Listen to the song here
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Like the Prelude and Fugue in C Minor, this song has two parts that go together. (If you want to know why Bach's collection of preludes and fugues is called the Well-Tempered Clavier, you can go there.) The second part of this song (the fugue) has been called one of the most complex pieces of music Bach has ever written. Most fugues have one or two short melodies that are connected together and repeated throughout the song, but this one has 3. It also has 5 voices (melody lines playing at the same time) instead of 3 or 4. This leaves room for a lot of overlapping melodies, something which Bach took full advantage of.

I found this video of the fugue, with an analysis attached, which explained some more about the composition choices Bach made. It said that Bach tried to add some symbols of the suffering of Jesus. For example, it has sequences of descending notes in the highest voice, which were a common lament melody. This opening melody (which, of course, returns throughout) has a shape that was often used to represent a cross at the time.

There is also a lot of use of the number 5. The opening subject has 5 notes, and the whole fugue has 5 voices, which might match with the 5 wounds from the cross. If you listen to the whole song, it definitely sounds like it could be a mourning song (especially in a key like C# minor, which Bach might have even chosen on purpose).

Since it's Easter, I thought now would be a good time to post this one. It looks like I recorded it last year, but I probably left it in my folder because I was waiting for Good Friday. That means I really should have posted it on Friday, not Monday, but I'm sure you'll still listen to it.

 
Keep filling your teacup with music!
~Liya

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

Listen to the song here
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This hymn was written by Ira Stanphill in 1950. In the lyrics, he says that we might make plans for the day, week, or even year, but we really don't know about tomorrow. We can't know whether our future is going to be positive or negative. (I think that's something a lot of you could say about the past few years. I could give you a lot of examples of events I couldn't predict.) In fact, I read that this song was written when the author was going through a difficult time in life. His wife had just left him to pursue her own career instead of his ministry.

I've heard other stories about artists coming up with their best ideas during a time of suffering. Maybe that's evidence for the fact that negative experiences might eventually lead to something good. So we really shouldn't be worrying about all that might go wrong in the future. We don't gain anything from that, since we have no control over it. The only thing we can control is the choices we make now.

Worrying won't change a thing, and the only way to be confident about the future is to trust God. That way, we can know who holds tomorrow even if we don't understand what will happen.

Keep filling your teacup with music!
~Liya

Christmas Time is Here

Welcome back to Tea with Liya! This is actually my first post of fall 2021, but it's closer to winter now. Today, I'm playing a song called "Christmas Time is Here," which was composed by the jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi for "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Maybe you've been waiting for Christmas just as much as you've been waiting for a Tea with Liya post. Sometimes, we see the value in waiting when the event we've been hoping for finally arrives. I hope you like listening to it!


Listen to the song here
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Emily

Welcome back to Tea with Liya! Today, I'm playing a jazz standard called "Emily," composed by Johnny Mandel. This song was written for a film in 1964, but in the end it wasn't actually included. It became popular when the pianist Bill Evans recorded it a few years later. I hope you like listening to it!

Listen to the song here
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Prelude and Fugue in C Minor

Welcome back to Tea with Liya! Today, I'm playing a "prelude and fugue" by Johann Sebastian Bach that he wrote in the key of C minor. Even though the piece has two contrasting parts, they are both regarded as the same song. Preludes are usually shorter and serve as an introduction, while fugues have a central melody that is played in different places and times throughout the song. I hope you will enjoy this one!

Listen to the song here
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Suite in D Minor

Welcome back to Tea with Liya! Today, I'm playing a song by George Frideric Handel called the "Suite in D Minor." He actually wrote at least 3 pieces with this name, from what I've looked up, so perhaps we will one day run into a Sonata in A Major predicament. Sometimes, it seems that composers just don't have enough time to think of names for songs - which, in this case, might be an accurate statement. I hope you like listening to it!


Listen to the song here
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Sonnymoon for Two

Welcome back to Tea with Liya! Today, I'm playing a little jazz standard which is called "Sonnymoon for Two." It was composed by the saxophonist Sonny Rollins, who took the opportunity to name this song after himself. Maybe he also wanted to say that it's better to be together than alone. I hope you like listening to it!


Listen to the song here
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