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Reference for Bach's "Toccata & Fugue" background?
In my music theory class many years ago, my prof gave us background for T&C in D-minor (the "Phantom of the Opera" organ piece). I could really use a definitive reference for this story.
Supposedly, The Church in those days had banned music in major keys (ionian mode), as they were "known" to elicit "inappropriate feelings" (sexual stimulation). Bach wrote the Vatican, requesting to use majors, claiming something to the effect that any competent composer could elicit any emotion desired in any chosen mode (dorian, phrygian, lydian, etc.). The Vatican denied his request. He responded with "Toccata & Fugue in d-minor".
Can anyone supply good references to support or refute this tale?
Thanks for the suggestion. I did a web search before I came to "Answers". One reference mentions "the Vatican tried to ban it", but that's the closest I could find.
2 Answers
- the_lipsiotLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
Howard Goodall, the music writer and composer, covered this very thing (or something very similar) in one of his Channel 4 TV programmes and books.
The only problem is, I'm not sure which programme it was. It could have been "Big Bangs", "Organ Works" or "How Music Works" - but it would be worth checking these out at the library.
- makeitrightLv 61 decade ago
I am not sure if this will help but if you simple type on the web search, "J.S. Bach" and then check for stories. I can believe that Bach would have done such a thing. He was a great composer and was used by the church a great deal. I do not understand the reference to Phantom of the Opera since Bach did not write this.
Please forgive me, but doing best I can. I love Bach's music. I do know that Phantom of the Opera (original one) had the crazy man on the organ playing that song and I used to associate it with evil because it frightened me as a child.
