In much of Bach's music I find a strong sense of community.  It's not the
"it takes a village" type, but a community based on the joy of interaction
among people with common dreams and experiences.  Also prevalent in Bach's
music is the theme of the individual trying to cope with life, sometimes
succeeding (sometimes not), but always struggling with life's requirements
and temptations.

Both of these themes come through in the preludes/fugues in F and F minor:

21.  Prelude in F - The island town is having its annual sail boat race.
Excitement and the sense of a joined experience are prevalent.  The boats
begin their race with all crew members working at a quick pace and thorough
expertise for their particular functions.  Midway through the race, dark
clouds and gale-like winds invade the proceedings; there are moments of
high anxiety, but the crews are used to these weather conditions and the
winds and clouds break long before the end of the race.  As usual, Schepkin
uncovers all that the piece conveys.  *4*

22.  Fugue in F - The custom each year is to have a town fish-fry and
barbecue after the race.  The townspeople all look forward to this day:
good food, good company, and shared experiences.  There are some moments
when the talk around the eating tables turns to the short storm during the
race; some crew members ponder their sense of invulnerabilty.  However,
they all go back to feeling joyous and sure of themselves.  Schepkin
provides a fine sense of community and the trace of doubt of human
supremacy.  *4*

23.  Prelude in F minor - A young woman is sitting in her small and
dilapidated apartment, her mind focused on her heroin addiction and the
resignation she feels at how her life has turned out - a continuous cycle
of need for money, prostituting herself to get the money, and using it to
buy the drug.  She sees no way out, and sees nobody coming to her aid.  At
one point you can almost feel the heroin entering her bloodstream; it's an
uplighting musical moment since it's the only positive feeling the young
woman ever has.  *4*

24.  Fugue in F minor - Her regular dealer has been killed.  Although
not a person of fine character, this dealer had dealt with her fairly
within the drug environment: the right dose in return for sex.  Now,
she is dealing with a variety of dealers, and she has no trust in any of
them.  She feels totally isolated and helpless.  She does fantasize about
meeting a nice guy, having children, living a secure middle-class life.
Then, she looks at her arms and face in the cracked mirror, and the fantasy
evaporates.  The mirror tells everything.  Schepkin gives us another superb
bad-times picture: bleak, with the warmth of human contact/kindness
lurking in the shadows but never touching the young woman.  *4*

Don Satz
[log in to unmask]