I've heard that people have criticized Bach's method of implementing counterpoint. Apparently, they don't feel as if he follows all of the rules to the t. (So to speak.) I was just wondering, what's wrong with Bach's counterpoint? His four-part chorales are wonderfully beautiful and his fugal pieces are superior to many examples given by Fux, Rameau, and even Zarlino, in my opinion...

What did Bach do wrong to get such disapproval?

Well, I don't know exactly what it was that the critics hated, but I don't care. I can't tell the difference in any case. And besides, rules can be broken! Why shouldn't he be allowed to go off and do his own thing? I think the critics were jealous . . .

Wait, there are rules in composing??

Rules in counterpoint, not composing. Counterpoint is voice against voice. The simpliest one is a duet, eg. two flutes. They have no other instruments to accompany them, so rules are there to ensure that they can form some sort of harmony, as well as to create good movement between the two using the proper intervals. These rules can be very rigid, because they work, but you should be able to have artistic freedom and bend the rules.

@ Noir7, may I direct you to this thread? :P

http://forums.ichigos.com/index.php?showtopic=634

Eh? Counterpoint? I've personally never heard of people criticizing him because of that.

The criticism I -have- heard against Bach is that he is too conservative during his time; his style of music being much more outdated than that of his peers. His sons were much more up-to-date. But today that argument has lost its relevance, for obvious reasons.

Uh, it was said that Bach took Baroque from people like Scarillati (sp?) and Telemman and took it to levels that were previously unimaginable by his baroque colleagues. It has since come to pass that Bach is most closely associated with Baroque, and as the master of Baroque, in complete disregard for people like Scarillati who previously dominated the field.

Who criticized Bach... where are these critics :angry: :angry: :angry: *Takes knife and pitchfork and goes looking for other musicians to start a linch mob against said offenders*

:whistle:

hm..i didn't really heard about ppl criticizing Bach's counterpoint..cuz i will probably attack them with so many reasons why he's a good composer...eh

comeon, he compose his way of music, just like any other composers compose their own kind of music.
Like Chopin, who stretch the limit of piano, and extend to more than octave for 1 chord. Very amazing how he compose these songs and manage to be playable also!! many chords has more than 5 notes...imagine ^.^ very very creative

In Baroque, the intervals between notes are not really far apart, so not really over an octave. Bach's pieces are like that, it's always within an octave...you'll realize it when u play it. and i believe everyone who played Bach's music will be amaze at his way of putting voices together in a piece...and Mighty Fortress is thy God is by far his ULTIMATE piece of choral music EVER!!!