Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Bach "Air On The G String" (...or The Wendy Carlos Story)

This is topic Bach "Air On The G String" (...or The Wendy Carlos Story) in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 02-14-2004, 12:11 PM:

Air on a G-String

First of all, I'd like to just stand back and say: "Wow! What a name for a tune!"

How's that for Shock and Awe?

And now, with that out of the way, I have a serious question about this piece of music.

Why is it called "Air On The G String." It is written in the key of D Major. and the first note is not a G.

What gives?

[ 02-16-2004, 05:18 PM: Message edited by: Manny Knowles ]

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 02-14-2004, 12:20 PM:

Kinda' like, "What's the sound of one hand clapping?"

What does the sound of air on a G-String make? Silence, pretty much... Unless that air is moving at a high velocity.

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 02-14-2004, 12:31 PM:

It was originally the air from Bach's Orchestral Suite in D BWV 1068. Originally scored for four-part orchestra, it was re-arranged for solo violin and piano. As such it was transposed to C which allows it to be played mostly on the lowest string on the violin, hence its newer name Air for the G String.

My first exposure to it as a child was Walter (now Wendy) Carlos' Moog synthesizer rendition Air on a G String from her debut album Switched On Bach.

[ 03-22-2004, 09:55 PM: Message edited by: Paul Mayer ]

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 02-14-2004, 12:39 PM:

Funny, Randy.

And "thanks" to Paul for an answer that makes sense. Why was there a need to transpose it? Wasn't there a violin line in the original composition?

BTW I have seen this titled variously:

Air (not descriptive enough)
Air in G (wrong and, hence, my confusion)
Air on the G String
Air for the G String

A rose by many names, I guess.

And, Paul -- one more thing -- just how did you come to know the answer to that?

[Edit: Never mind, Paul. I think I recall you telling me your Father was a great musician.]

I suppose we could put this thread to better use by recommending other classical music that might be especially appropriate for Valentine's Day.

Next on my playlist:

"Claire de Lune" by Debussy

[ 02-14-2004, 02:21 PM: Message edited by: Manny Knowles ]

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-14-2004, 01:23 PM:

"Air on a G String" was also recorded by the rock group Sweet ("Fox on the Run," "Ballroom Blitz," "Little Willy") Pretty unusual for that group.

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 02-14-2004, 02:53 PM:

Like Paul wrote, it is the second piece of the D major orchestral suite and is simply called "Air", French for "Aria", vocal piece. All pieces in the suites have simple names like "Gigue", "Courante", "Badinerie". That is because the suite with overture and a succession ("suite") of dance movements and arias was a typical French form of music in the Baroque, and Bach wrote his suites in that style.

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 02-14-2004, 04:07 PM:

quote:
My first exposure to it as a child was Walter (now Wendy) Carlos' Moog synthesizer rendition...

I take it [s]he had some rather drastic surgery, then!

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 02-14-2004, 06:05 PM:

A couple of links about Wendy Carlos' remarkable life and career:

http://www.hipsurgerymusic.com/Carlos/
http://www.stitzel.com/slop/prq/carlos.html

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 02-14-2004, 07:11 PM:

Remarkable indeed! Is my brain playing up this late at night, or did Carlos appear on one of the Dolby test films, in the channel separation demo?

Not at all related to which, about 2-3 years ago I was 'phoned by a colleague letting me know that he'd given my name to someone else in relation to a research query he thought I might be able to answer. At the end of the conversation he said something like 'Oh, and, I thought you probably needed to know... Jenny used to be James' (names changed, given that this site can be read by anyone and everyone, but you get the idea). I've since met Jenny at the occasional conference, and it if weren't for that call I'd never have guessed.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 02-14-2004, 08:42 PM:

Carlos did the music on Dolby Jiffy Test films
here is a link to carlos web site on 4 channel sound
http://www.wendycarlos.com/surround/surround3.html

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 02-14-2004, 10:04 PM:

Wow! I never heard about that "Switch-Hitter" story.

Whew! That must be really something to not only change teams, but get rid of the "bat" as well.

Wow!

>>> Phil

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 02-16-2004, 12:51 PM:

Here is Wendy Carlos' home page:

http://www.wendycarlos.com/

In the early 1990's, I had the good fortune to meet Ms. Carlos at an SMPTE Conference in NYC that she was attending with Ioan Allen of Dolby. She is a very gracious "renaissance" person, and very much into the technology of music, as you can see from her website.

I have quite a few of her recordings, including "Switched on Bach", and the soundtrack from "Clockwork Orange".

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 02-16-2004, 07:25 PM:

I've got 5-6 albums by Carlos.

I dont think I could do any better as a woman. [Razz]

My guess is that Carlos made some changes sometime before 'TRON' was released. His/her name was listed in the credits of this film as 'Wendy Carlos.'

What a talent!

Posted by Gracia L. Babbidge (Member # 582) on 02-17-2004, 10:38 PM:

If you like Debussy's Claire de Lune - track down and listen to is as performed by the Swingle Singers!
[thumbsup]

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 02-18-2004, 01:41 PM:

Not until I get a decent version of Henhouse 5 Plus 2's* (aka Ray Stevens) version of In the Mood.

* faux cackling chickens

I always liked the Carlos piece on the end of Jiffy Test.