Blindman plays Bach

Eric Sleichim's BL!NDMAN is not merely a contemporary music ensemble, but also the name of a laboratory that has been hosting an ongoing work process since 1988.

This evening, they will perform a special rendition of the four Chorale Partitas by J.S. Bach (1685-1750).

Eric Sleichim has transcribed these little-known organ works for saxophone quartet.

It is generally assumed that Bach wrote these organ works at the age of barely fifteen and that he later reworked them, which seems to be confirmed by their perfection. The Chorale Partita is a cycle of variations in which a simple sequence of different “adventures” around the same theme is used. However, these works clearly demonstrate the great ingenuity with which Bach uses this “poor” technique. By giving each of the variations its own identity, he creates the impression that, despite the uniform atmosphere, each piece can exist as a fully-fledged independent piece at any moment. Each chorale partita demonstrates Bach's inventiveness and innovative approach to the German polyphonic tradition throughout its variations.

The BL!NDMAN saxophone quartet gives this authentic style a new form with its modern instruments. The extraordinary sound spectrum of the saxophones evokes the austere sounds of certain Baroque organs just as well. The choice to perform the chorale partitas with wind instruments is therefore based on the source of all music: the breath.