Air on a G String
Johann Sebastian Bach
Despite the humorous irreverent promo graphic I assembled (opens in a new tab/window) - I adore this piece of music! This is loosely based on a trombone/piano arrangement by D. Burndett. I rearranged it for strings and trombone. It's a beautiful piece of music and works wonderfully for the trombone.
History of the Composition and the Name
It is called the “Air for the G string” because when it is transposed to C major, the entire first violin part can be played on the G string alone. It is from Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major which was written for his patron Prince Leopold of Anhalt sometime between the years 1717 and 1723.
Procol Harum: 'A Whiter Shade of Pale'
The unexpected 1967 hit A Whiter Shade of Pale by progressive U.K. rock band Procol Harum, shows definite marks of Bach’s influence. Lead singer Gary Brooker, who wrote the song, admitted to using a few unmistakable bars from Bach's "Air on a G String" at its opening.
