Ciacona in F Minor - by Johann Pachelbel (arr. Thomas Wilson)

Ciacona in F Minor by Johann Pachelbel (arr. Thomas Wilson)
Performed Sunday, September 17th, 2023 | First United Methodist Church
Organ: Dr. Joseph Galema
Conductor: Thomas Wilson
Audio/Video: Michael Lascuola
Program Notes: Thomas Wilson
For more information about this arrangement, please contact us at community at chamberorchesteraofthesprings.org.
Johann Pachelbel was far from a one-hit wonder. A well-respected composer and teacher, essential to the development of the German organ school, he produced a diverse repertoire of sacred and secular music with key contributions to the chorale prelude and fugue, making him one of the most important composers of the middle-Baroque. His popularity and fame led to posts in Vienna, Eisenach, Erfurt, Stuttgart, Gotha and Nuremberg.
The Ciacona (or Chaconne) in F Minor survives only in a single manuscript, preserved in a small collection at the Royal Library of Belgium in Brussels. No indication of the composition date is included.
The ciacona is a musical form bursting with possibilities for variation, ornamentation (slight flourishes and embellishments), and even improvisation. It is typically built on a simple, repetitive bass line (“ground bass”) stated in full at the beginning but sometimes removed to give more freedom to the variations. The melody is only stated in full at the beginning and end, feeling transformed in its final hearing because of the experience of the variations.
The Ciacona in F Minor has a particularly haunting melody, followed by twenty-two variations. On the page, it looks very simple-a maximum of three voices, often slimming to two, with no tempos, tempo changes, dynamics, articulations, or phrase marks. Typical of the Baroque, the majority of the musical decisions are left to the performer. Most likely intended for organ, it is simple enough to be performed on any keyboard instrument without pedals. The striking beauty of the harmonies and the remarkable invention of the variations makes the experience hypnotic and profound.
Arranger’s note: Living with the piece for one month in the summer of 2023, hours of study, and dozens of play-throughs revealed the astonishing potential of this piece. In reenvisioning this for organ and modern orchestra, no attempt is made to replicate an authentic Baroque experience. Instead, every advantage of the modern orchestra is utilized to deepen the musical experience and reveal Pachelbel in the breadth of his musical ideas. The result is a virtuoso showcase for soloist and orchestra with modern orchestral colors. This arrangement is in honor of friend and colleague Nasit Ari, a former Chamber Orchestra Board member who has worked tirelessly to further the orchestra’s mission.