Sweet Bach by Alan Chan

Scored for five multi-percussionists, this work in three movements, offers a challenging work-out for all players!

“The first movement is called Fugue Islands. I was fascinated by the contrapuntal writing in the form of fugue and decided to take themes from Bach – the ostinati in the prelude of the G major Cello Suite and the Aria from the Goldberg Variations in a different tempo, and play simultaneously to contrast the tranquil and majestic feelings that these themes represent respectively – a kaleidoscope so to speak.

Gavotte and Salsa are both folk dances in a fast tempo. The former came from seventeenth-century France, the other from modern day Cuba. To have both in the same movement is truly a buy-one-get-one-free deal.

Badinerie from Bach’s Orchestral Suite No.1 is widely known, and it originally means “to jest.” When it combines with the chant of Dies Irae, it marks the creation of the Skeleton Dance, and it also brings the piece to an end.” (Alan Chan)