Chaconne
BY KYLE MACALINO
Summer of 1720.
The Dream of Johann Sebastian Bach
July 7, 1720
I.
...CHACONNE....
...Sing...Chaconne...piercing...the...hand...screaming...A...cross...the sky—out of the past—in search of lost time....
...Chaconne...O...Chaconne...sing...to...me...scream...A—CROSS...THE SKY—
Bach screams—
The violin sings—
The Chaconne cries—
The violin is screaming singing crying Eli Eli lama sabacthani
The Chaconne is screaming singing crying Christ lag in Todesbanden
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
Christ lag in Todesbanden
Christ lag in Todesbanden
Christ lag in Todesbanden
B A C H
B
A
C
H
Loudly
Loudly
Loudly
Forte
Forte
Forte
Pianissimo
Pianissimo
Pianissimo
Quietly
Quietly
Quietly
C H
B A
Christ lag in Todesbanden,
für unsre Sünd gegeben,
der ist wieder erstanden
und hat uns bracht das Leben.
Des wir sollen fröhlich sein,
Gott loben und dankbar sein
und singen Halleluja.
Halleluja.
Wer Wenn, ich Schriee
He dreams and screams into night.
He dreams and screams into day—
Screams all night long....
Heard among the angelic orders
Another minor chord.
Another major chord.
Minor chord.
Major chord.
Minor chord.
Screaming holds
Holds
Holds
Holds—A—cross...the sky...
Into the evening of the clear night
Hopes and dreams and fading tears
Tears falling
Falling
Descending
Into despair
Into puddles of liquefied brain—
Nothing is more real than nothing—
Swing fall crack--Arpeggio arpeggio
Swing fall crack--Arpeggio arpeggio
The journey of a thousand chords
The journey of a thousand arpeggios
Crack swing hack
A string breaks
Broken chords
up bow
down bow
up down up down up down up down
up bow
down bow
Double stop
Double stop
Double stop
arpeggio arpeggio
starry starry night
galaxies
universes
stars
moons
And the voice of God...screams...A...cross...the sky....
Sein Oder Nichtsein, das ist hier die Frage:
Ascent
Descent
Ascent
Descent
Ascent
Happiness is never again possible
Hopes and dreams
Fade into broken crystallized shards of glass—
Never
Never
Never
Do you love me?
Do you love me God?
Chaconne
Chaconne
Chaconne
Up bow, down bow, up bow, down bow
Arpeggio arpeggio
Another improvisation
64 variations...
Ratio of gold...vision of god...proportions of man...heavenly delight....
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
Christ lay in Death's dark prison,
It was our sin that bound Him;
This day hath He arisen,
And sheds new life around Him.
Therefore let us joyful be
And praise our God right heartily.
So sing we Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
My god my god why hast thou forsaken me
Why
Why
Why
Hast
Thou
Forsaken
Me?
And the whore of Babylon stands before you.
memories of the past, of the woman you had loved...
sing—SCREAM—A—CROSS—THE—SKY—
From the minor to the major to another minor key...
Tender and sweet...
Chaconne...caressing...loving...song...
Moving through the past...moving through history...moving through time...
O'er Death no man could prevail,
If mortal e'er came near him;
Through guilt all our strength would fail,
Our sinful hearts did fear him.
Therefore Death did gain the day,
And lead in triumph us away,
Henceforth to dwell emprisoned
Hallelujah!
down bow
up stroke
down bow
up stroke
down bow
up stroke
down bow
up stroke
down bow
up bow
down stroke
up bow
down stroke
up bow
down stroke
up bow
down stroke
up bow
down stroke
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
up bow
down bow
Ihr naht euch wieder, schwankende Gestalten!
Die früh sich einst dem trüben Blick gezeigt.
Versuch’ ich wohl euch diesmal fest zu halten?
Fühl’ ich mein Herz noch jenem Wahn geneigt?
Das Ewib-Weiliche!
The Eternal Feminine....
Once more you near me, wavering apparitions
That early showed before the turbid gaze.
Will now I seek to grant you definition,
My heart essay again the former daze?....
Once more I sense uncertain shapes appearing.
Dimly perceived in days youth long past.
Now in my heart I feel the moment nearing
When I can hold those phantom figures fast....
Uncertain shapes, visitors from the past
At whom I darkly gazed so long ago,
My heart’s mad fleeting vision—now at last
Shall I embrace you, must I let you go?....
Es ist ein Schnitter heißt der Tod.
Es ist ein Schnitter heißt der Tod.
Es ist ein Schnitter heißt der Tod.
There is a Reaper, Death yclept.
There is a Reaper, Death yclept.
There is a Reaper, Death yclept.
Arpeggio
Arpeggio
Arpeggio
semiquaver
semiquaver
semiquaver
Demi semiquaver
Demi semiquaver
Demi semiquaver
up bow
up bow
up bow
down bow
down bow
down bow
ascent
descent
ascent
descent
ascent
descent
Forte forte forte
Piano piano piano
Legato legato legato
Pianissimo—
Adagio
Adagio
Adagio
GOTT
NICHTS MEHR
NICHTS MEHR
NICHTS MEHR
Allegro
Allegro
Con brio
Con brio
Con brio
Tod tod tod
Death death death
Screaming
Schrecklichen
Sing of the Rage
Sing of das Menschen—
Liebestod—
Pulsing chords
Strike—
4th position
Third fingering on the board
Pulsing pulsing pulsing
Pushing pushing pushing
Trying trying trying
Failing failing failing
Falling falling falling
Doing doing doing
Dying dying dying
Screaming screaming screaming
Ascending ascending ascending
Descending descending descending
Ascending
descending
ascending
descending
ascending
descending
Christ lag in Todesbanden,
für unsre Sünd gegeben,
der ist wieder erstanden
und hat uns bracht das Leben.
Des wir sollen fröhlich sein,
Gott loben und dankbar sein
S
C
R
E
A
M
I
N
G
C
R
Y
I
N
G
D
Y
I
N
G
Screaming crying dying
Screaming crying dying
Screaming crying dying
Dying crying screaming
Dying crying screaming
Dying crying screaming
Crying
Dying
Screaming
Crying
Dying
Screaming
Crying
Dying
Screaming
Singing
writing
loving
cycling
Circling circling
Circling circling
cycling
Arpeggio arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio arpeggio
cycling
Circling circling
Circling circling
cycling
Arpeggio arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio arpeggio
cycling
Circling circling
Circling circling
cycling
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio
cycling
Circling circling
cycling
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio
Cycling circling cycling
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio
Whirling whirling whirling
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
arpeggio
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
arpeggio
Liebst du mich, Gott?
Do you love me God?
Liebst du mich, Gott?
Do you love me God?
Liebst du mich Gott?
Do you love me God?
S
C
R
E
A
M
I
N
G
C
R
Y
I
N
G
D
Y
I
N
G
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
cycling
Circling circling
Cycling
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio
cycling
Circling circling
cycling
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio
cycling
Circling circling
cycling
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio
cycling
Circling circling
cycling
Screaming crying dying
Screaming crying dying
Screaming crying dying
Dying crying screaming
Dying crying screaming
Dying crying screaming
Crying
Dying
Screaming
Crying
Dying
Screaming
Crying
Dying
Screaming
Dancing swirling curling
Twirling twirling twirling
Whirling whirling whirling
Dancing swirling curling
Twirling twirling twirling
Waking walking running
cycling
Circling circling
cycling
Arpeggio
arpeggio
Arpeggio
cycling
Circling circling
cycling
Arpeggio
arpeggio
arpeggio
cycling
Circling circling
cycling
Arpeggio
arpeggio
arpeggio
cycling
Circling circling
cycling
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio
cycling
Circling circling
cycling
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio
Cycling circling cycling
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio
Whirling whirling whirling
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
arpeggio
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
arpeggio
Liebst du mich, Gott?
Do you love me God?
Liebst du mich, Gott?
Do you love me God?
Liebst du mich Gott?
Do you love me God?
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
cycling
Circling circling
Cycling
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
cycling
Circling circling
Cycling
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
cycling
Circling circling
Cycling
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio
Christ lag in Todesbanden
cycling
Circling circling
Cycling
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
arpeggio
Arpeggio arpeggio
Arpeggio
Christ lag in Todesbanden
cycling
Circling circling
Cycling
Eli Eli lama sabacthani
Maria
Maria
Maria
Loving
Loving
Loving
Cycle of Life
Circle of living
Liebchen
Liebchen
Liebchen
Du....
Du....
Du....
32nds 32nds 32nds 32nds up down up down up down
B A
up down down up 32nds 32nds 32nds up down up down
C H
Up down up down 32nds 32nds 32nds up down and look around
CHACONNE....
piercing...
the...
air...
screaming...A--CROSS...
THE SKY—
O Love
O Death
O God
O Time
O Maria...
II.
Bach sings—
Sanctus
Bach sings—
Sanctus
Bach sings—
Sanctus
Johann
Maria
Johann
Maria
Johann
Maria
Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her.
Ich bring’ euch gute neue Mär,
Der guten Mär bring ich so viel,
Davon ich sing’n und sagen will.
Maria...
Maria...
Maria...
How happy you were?...
How happy you were?...
How happy you were?...
trilling trilling trilling
trilling trilling trilling
trilling trilling trilling
Was ist und?
Jesu, deine Passion will ich jetzt bedenken;
wollest mir von Himmelsthron Geist und Andacht schenken.
In dem Bilde jetzt erschein,
Jesu, meinem Herzen, wie du, unser Heil zu sein,
littest alle Schmerzen.
Jesus, to Your Passion's hour I turn my reflection;
Unto me from heaven pour Courage and devotion.
Show to me Your image now in my heart’s depiction
as Your suff'ring here below purchased our salvation.
When Wilhelm was born
When we first met so happy was I
I could see your face at the Church
Ich küsse ihre hand madame
Carl
Carl
Carl
Das kind das Ich war
The child that I was
Natur
Natur
Natur
Aus meines Herzens Grunde
Sag ich dir Lob und Dank
In dieser Morgenstunde,
Dazu mein Leben lang,
O Gott! in deinem Thron,
Dir zu Lob, Preis und Ehren
Durch Christum, unsern Herren,
Dein eingebornen Sohn.
My inmost heart now raises,
In this fair morning hour,
A song of thankful praises
To Thine Almighty pow'r;
And so I have begun
This day, my God, my life shall be
Begun and closed with praise to Thee,
Through Christ Thy only Son.
Dass du mich hast aus Gnaden
In der vergangnen Nacht
Vor G'fahr und allem Schaden
Behütet und bewacht.
Ich bitt demütiglich:
Wollst mir mein Sünd vergeben,
Womit in diesem Leben
Ich hab erzürnet dich.
For Thou from me hast warded
All perils of the night;
From every harm hast guarded
My soul till morning's light;
Humbly to Thee I cry,
Do Thou in grace the sins forgive
That anger Thee each day I live,
Have mercy, Lord most High!
Du wollest auch behüten
Mich gnädig diesen Tag
Vors Teufels List und Wüten,
Vor Sünden und vor Schmach,
Vor Feur und Wassersnot,
Vor Armut und vor Schanden,
Vor Ketten und vor Banden,
Vor bösem schnellen Tod.
And keep me of Thy kindness
From every harm to-day;
Nor let me in my blindness
To Satan fall a prey.
My cup with good o'erflows,
My soul and body, goods and life,
My home and friends, my child and wife,
Thy bounteous hand bestows.
What is Home for you my love?
We would walk down the Aisle...
Play the organ in the local church....
A toccata and fugue for you...mein Liebchen—
Geist...Spirit...Liebe...
Arpeggio Arpeggio Arpeggio
Arpeggio Arpeggio Arpeggio
Arpeggio Arpeggio Arpeggio
My future love
My future love
My future love
Fourth finger
third finger
second finger
first fingering
Minor Thirds
Up bow Up bow Up bow
down
descent
Ascent
ascending scaling descending scales
Du...
G string
D string
A string
E string
Trill trill trill
Sei mir willkommen, edler Gast!
Den Sünder nicht verschmähet hast
Und kommst ins Elend her zu mir,
Wie soll ich immer danken dir?
Jesu, lehr bedenken mich dies mit Buß und Reue,
hilf, daß ich mit Sünde dich martre nicht aufs neue.
Sollt ich dazu haben Lust und nicht wollen meiden,
was du selber büßen mußt mit so großem Leiden?
Jesus, teach me how to view this with true repentance;
help me not by sins anew to repeat Your sentence.
Shall I joy in this alone, its grim truth avoiding:
that You must for me atone with such pain and suff'ring?
Finger tap
Finger tap
Finger tap
Davon ich allzeit fröhlich sei,
Zu springen, singen immer frei
Das rechte Susaninne schon,
Mit Herzenslust den süßen Ton.
Dein ist mein ganzes Herz
Dein ist mein ganzes Herz
Dein ist mein ganzes Herz
Maria
Maria
Maria
From heaven above to earth I come
To bear good news to every home;
Glad tidings of great joy I bring
Whereof I now will say and sing:
Look there Look there
into air into thin air
Were earth a thousand times as fair,
Beset with gold and jewels rare,
She yet were far too poor to be
A narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee.
Du
Du
Du
Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given!
While angels sing with pious mirth
A glad New Year to all the earth.
LYRICALLY
Ich kusse ihre hand madame
MARIA
Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her.
Ich bring’ euch gute neue Mär,
Der guten Mär bring ich so viel,
Davon ich sing’n und sagen will.
broken chords,
broken hearts,
broken pathways,
the broken strings of the Chaconne
break
into something more eternal—
Lost Time.
Lost forever;
Understanding is beyond contradiction
Without you
I was nothing…would be nothing
What is the journey of the Chaconne?
Ein Zwei Drei
From heaven above to earth I come
To bear good news to every home;
Glad tidings of great joy I bring
Whereof I now will say and sing:
The journey will never end without you....
end of the dream
We’d sing into the stars,
we’d talk,
we’d walk beside the lake,
we’d hope to return,
we’d kiss,
we’d hug,
we’d hold hands,
we’d dance a gigue,
we’d listen to a sarabande,
we’d sing in the streets of Kothen,
we’d die of old age together,
we’d make love,
we’d raise Wilhelm and Carl,
we’d walk down the aisle,
Our Lord who art in heaven,
would give you back,
And you would be in my arms again.
Maria
Maria
Maria
Ich liebe dich…
III.
Bach cries—
Nun lob, mein' Seel', den Herren,
What do I do without you, reading?
What do I do without you, writing?
What do I do without you, singing?
Warum hast du Maria Genommen?
Mein Gott…
Warum hast du Maria Genommen?
Mein Gott…
Warum hast du Maria Genommen?
Mein Gott…
Bach prays…
Now praise, my soul, the Lord,
all that is in me praise his name!
He adds to his acts of kindness,
do not forget this, oh my heart!
He has let us know
his marvelous justice and his court,
and also his boundless kindness,
nothing is lacking in his compassion,
he lets us off his anger,
he does not punish us according to our guilt,
he is unstinting in his mercy,
to the foolish he is graceful.
His kindness is valued highly
by those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
our sins are from him.
Oblivion
Music
Logos
Speech
Love
Music
Logos
Speech
Love
Music
Logos
Speech
Love
Minor key
Major key
Minor key
Love
D minor
D major
D minor
Love
Maria
Maria
Maria
LOVE
Minor key
Major key
Minor key
Love
D minor
D major
D minor
Love
Maria
Maria
Maria
LOVE
Minor key
Major key
Minor key
Love
D minor
D major
D minor
LOVE
Maria
Maria
Maria
Love
Minor key
Major key
Minor key
Love
D minor
D major
D minor
Love
Maria
Maria
Maria
LOVE
Minor key
Major key
Minor key
Love
D minor
D major
D minor
Love
Maria
Maria
Maria
LOVE
Minor key
Major key
Minor key
Love
D minor
D major
D minor
LOVE
Maria
Maria
Maria
Minor key
Major key
Minor key
Love
D minor
D major
D minor
Love
Maria
Maria
Maria
LOVE
Minor key
Major key
Minor key
Love
D minor
D major
D minor
Love
Maria
Maria
Maria
LOVE
Minor key
Major key
Minor key
Love
D minor
D major
D minor
LOVE
Maria
Maria
Maria
Love
Minor key
Major key
Minor key
Love
D minor
D major
D minor
Love
Maria
Maria
Maria
LOVE
Minor key
Major key
Minor key
Love
D minor
D major
D minor
Love
Maria
Maria
Maria
LOVE
Minor key
Major key
Minor key
Love
D minor
D major
D minor
LOVE
Maria
Maria
Maria
Minor key
Major key
Minor key
Love
D minor
D major
D minor
Love
Maria
Maria
Maria
LOVE
Minor key
Major key
Minor key
Love
D minor
D major
D minor
Love
Maria
Maria
Maria
LOVE
Minor key
Major key
Minor key
Love
D minor
D major
D minor
LOVE
Maria
Maria
Maria
Love
Minor key
Major key
Minor key
Love
D minor
D major
D minor
Love
Maria
Maria
Maria
LOVE
Minor key
Major key
Minor key
Love
D minor
D major
D minor
Love
Maria
Maria
Maria
LOVE
Minor key
Major key
Minor key
Love
D minor
D major
D minor
LOVE
Maria
Maria
Maria
Ich liebe dich...
...Home—
Music
cannot
Be
the
Same
Without
You—
Zeit…
What
Is
The
True
Meaning
of
Music?
Zeit…
That
Purer
Air
That
Musicians
Have
Breathed
For
The
only
true
music
is
the
Music
that
we
have
Lost....
...CHACONNE....
...Sing...Chaconne...piercing...the...hand...screaming...A...cross...the sky—out of the past—in search of lost time....
O God
O Love
O Death
O Beauty
O Maria...
What’s it going to be then, eh?
Never again...
Maria….
[May 14, 2013, Claremont, California — July 7, 2020, Chicago, Illinois]