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In an interview for BBC’s The Arts Programme Nicholas & Sien
Vallis-Davies discussed the ideas behind their recording of J.S.Bach
Your Bach CD is certainly unique, both as a concept and as a soundworld. What inspired you?
We’ve always loved Bach’s music, and the way it is permeated by spirituality. In his time, music used to be regarded as much more important than it tends to be today. It provided a connection between the earthly existence and eternal reality, which I suppose is another way of saying it was close to God. We really wanted to explore the transcendental nature of the music’s essence.
Yes I was going to ask you about the improvisatory style of the performances on the CD, and the unusual accompaniments it seems you’ve gone all out to create an ethereal atmosphere.
Exactly. We felt excited by the idea of re-interpreting well known Bach in a liberated way that comes straight from the heart. Not having to adhere too closely to all the original harmony and rhythm helped us to free our imagination and to follow where it lead. Bach’s music communicates on a deep level. Because it was written to aspire to spiritual heights it seemed important to free it from historical shackles and explore a new interpretation.
Most listeners surely fix Bach in a 17th Century context. You’ve given him a 21st century status. Do you think audiences will be able to relate to up-to-date Bach?
Well so far they’ve seemed to, which is nice - today’s listeners tend to be more open-minded than they were even ten years ago, especially the younger ones. They seem to appreciate the atmospheric sounds on the CD. In any case... it’s given us the opportunity to offer something new and interesting for the ears!
Now, the CD alludes to the Golden Mean doesn’t it? Could you tell me something about that?
Yes sure. Well it seems that as well as great artists who used the golden proportion in their paintings, such as Leonardo da Vinci, several of the great composers utitilised it in their works too. Whether this was intuitive or by design we don’t know, but certainly when the form of music by people such as Satie, Debussy, and Bach has been analysed it does follow the golden mean or phi ratio.
How does it affect how we respond to the music?
I think we subconsciously feel comfortable and satisfied when we listen. A feeling that we resonate deeply with the music on some level. After all, the human body and Nature itself is proportioned by the golden mean, so we’re likely to feel some sort of recognition.
I’ve been listening to the CD in the car on the way to the studio for a few days, knowing we were going to speak about it. I must say it’s proved an antidote to the hectic traffic and general city stress. I’m interested to know how you achieved that meditational quality I suppose you’d call it?
Our intention when we did the recording was to let the divinity shine through the music, giving it plenty of time to breathe. We were very calm and relaxed, and the fact we love Bach so much helped us to feel in touch with his music on a deep level. We recorded the flute and oboe late at night without accompaniment in very resonant cathedral acoustics. It helped to create an ethereal ambience, and a kind of timeless quality too. Back in the studio we designed new sounds and mixed these with some low string orchestral textures to complement each track. We wanted to offer a new experience of the music - heard as if drifting in timeless space.
I know you’ve have favourable reviews but I’m interested to know how other people general have reacted to the CD. Do they like 21st century Bach?
We’ve had interesting reactions, mostly positive. Some of the more traditional listeners cannot relate to it easily, but other people have said it’s beautiful and moved them to tears. Don’t know if that’s good! A young boy said it sounds like paradise and a lady said she was so mesmerised she almost burnt the dinner! Hopefully we’ve contributed something new anyway and it’s been a lovely project.
And may I wish you luck with it. Thanks for coming in.
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