Was Johann Sebastian Bach born on March 21st or 31st? Regardless which, organists all over the world celebrate his birthday the entire month of March by playing his works and giving concerts. To join the celebration, I wrote a piece for high G ukulele that can be played as a solo or duet (with given chords) that pays tribute to the letters in his name, which JS Bach himself famously used in his compositions, juxtaposed with fragments of the most famous minuet that bears his name.
So far, I have attended two Bach concerts (Bach in Brockton, Massachusetts) and will attend two more this evening. If I can be excused from guitar orchestra rehearsal, I’d attend the all day Bach concert in Boston tomorrow, too.
Bach inspired
Attending these concerts and the anticipation of hearing more of his music have inspired me to look into his minuets and the music that use the four letters of his surname. Bach and others after him have deliberately made use of these four notes in extravagant and extensive compositions.
In German, each letter refers to a note. Contrary to what we think, B actually refers to B flat. H refers to B natural. Hence we have this very interesting riff consisting for four notes spaced apart in minor second and minor third intervals, an ominous sounding jingle. More respectfully, the Bach theme or motif (motive) has been researched and written extensively. (For more information, read BACH – The Anatomy of a Motif, JSTOR article, among others.)
How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways I can include the four notes as the highest sounding notes of chords I can play on the ukulele. That’s how much I love riddles, rhymes, and puzzles.
The most famous minuet Bach did not write
A minuet is a type of dance in 3/4 time.
Google “Bach minuet” and you’ll get the most famous one in the key of G major. This short cheerful piece is included in his second wife’s famous notebook. In Anna Magdalena Bach’s Notebook, the minuet (also spelled menuet) is attributed to Christian Petzold.
Mash up of the ominous and cheerful
What if I mashed up the BACH motif with bits of the minuet? How will it sound?
This “mash-up” is a study in contrasts. How many chords and how many combinations of the BACH theme and bits of the famous minuet can I mash up?
I will record this for the 100 Days of Ukulele 2025 project. Join the private Facebook Group if you’re curious what I’m up to.
“B-A-C-H in a Minuet” is one of the 12 pieces I’m writing for Level 2 of the new book “Pick! Pluck! Play! Fingerstyle Ukulele.”
The last page “Ukulele Chords” contains a table of ukulele chord diagrams ordered alphabetically for the chords used in the book.
I’m thrilled about releasing these two books as a precursors (prerequisite) to the 12 Chinese Zodiac Suite, which contains three skill levels.
For other recent compositions and arrangements by Anne Ku, please visit the Daily Music Writing Project or scroll through the consecutive blog posts.
