57: Bach and the Golden Ratio.

N.B. (2025) I am rethinking some of my opinions made in this podcast regarding the Golden Ratio. At the moment I remain unconvinced of Bach’s brute calculation of Phi, but I am glad to see scholars such as Peter Williams writing openly about it. Never, however, will I be convinced of the ‘parallel proportion’ theories. -e.s.

How did Bach understand the concept of Phi? 1.618…? Here are a few examples where Bach highlights the “Golden Section” in a piece through either a fugal technique, a shift in musical language, or something else. Send us your most remarkable golden section moments!

For the first episode where I mentioned the golden section and Bach, click here.

Pieces covered:

Fugue in C major, BWV 846

Invention in C major, BWV 770

Allegro from Sonata in a minor, BWV 1003

Confiteor and Et Expecto from Mass in b minor, BWV 232

Contrapuntus 10 from The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080

Phi as seen as a structural principle in BWVs 1001-1006, The Sei Solo Book One (Violin Sonatas and Partitas) will be written about soon!

Fugue in b minor, BWV 869

Performers featured:Trevor PinnockNathan MilsteinSigiswald Kuijken (and La Petite Bande)Ralph Kirkpatrick

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