J. S. Bach: Técnica de composición como explicatio textus

Abstract

During the XVII to XVIII centuries, musical theorists, especially in Protestant circles compiled, classified and published diverse constructive procedures (figures) used by renaissance composers and their immediate precursors in order to express sub specie musicae the meaning of texts. In this way, composition techniques became "idiomatical". J. S. Bach's contribution in this field has been investigated and acknowledged by musicologists throughout history. For some time now, evangelical theology has been taking an interest in that particular aspect of Bach's music, as it is obvious that in order to find an explanation for texts both devout and biblical it is often useful to analyse artistic expressions of the said texts, given that, going down that path theology will learn to understand and listen to them in a new light. That is where music, more so than other art forms, acquires special importance.