The story of J.S. Bach versus L. Marchand
On January 18, 20.30, at Annekirche, St. Petersburg I will be playing a concert of music by J.S. Bach, and that of French composer Louis Marchand. Apart from their wonderful music, the two men had a surprising story in common, that took place in the early 18th century.
Jean Baptiste Volumier was concert master to the court of King Augustus of Saxony at the time. French music was very popular in Dresden, and Volumier, who had been educated in Paris, was the ideal man provided the court with music in the fashionable French style. However, in 1717, Volumier received a visitor to the court – Louis Marchand, who was said to be the top harpsichordist in France. He was invited to play before the King, who was so impressed that he immediately made Marchand an offer of a lucrative court position.
Louis Marchand 1669–1732
For Volumier, the new harpsichordist was competition. Working alongside Marchand was impossible for him, but Volumier had a plan. His first step was to send an invitation to his counterpart at the Weimar court: Johann Sebastian Bach.
Bach eagerly accepted. On arrival, he was taken by Volumier to hear Marchand play, and then Bach challenged Marchand to a contest. Each man would set the other a series of musical tasks, including themes to improvise on and styles to imitate. Marchand accepted.
News of the contest reached King Augustus. It was to be a grand spectacle! The musical event of the decade! The day of the contest arrived and a crowd gathered, with the Royal family and the aristocracy of Dresden all in attendance.
J.S. Bach 1685–1750
Bach arrived and the contest was ready to begin. But no Marchand. A messenger was sent to remind him: surely he could not have forgotten such an important engagement? When the messenger returned, the assembled company was astonished to discover that the Frenchman had fled.
Realising that he was in for a humiliating defeat, Marchand had left by stagecoach at first light and was now well on the road back to Paris. Bach was able to make the most of the situation. He still had an eager audience made up of some of the most powerful nobles in Saxony, so instead of a contest they were treated to a recital, with Bach demonstrating the improvisation skills he had been working on for the competition.
What would have happened if the contest had taken place? Marchand was probably right to anticipate a defeat. As a composer and improviser, he was considered a master of the French style. But Bach was also a master of the French style, as well as of the German style, the Italian style, the Spanish style, the English style… There would really have been no contest at all!
My programme:
Louis Marchand
–Grand Dialogue in C Major
Johann Sebastian Bach
–Choral Prelude ‘Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ’, BWV 639
–Pastoral in F Major in four movements, BWV 590
–Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565.
Louis Marchand
–Fragments from the First Organ Book
–Fugue – Tierce en taille – Basse de Trompette – Fond d`orgue – Dialogue
Johann Sebastian Bach
–Aria from Orchestral Suite No 3 in D major
–Choral prelude ‘In dulci jubilo’, BWV 729
–Fantasia in G Major (Pièce d’orgue), BWV 572