STUDY ON CHROMATIC HARMONY IN JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH’S CHORALE HARMONIZATIONS

Abstract

In the area of church music, the Reform meant simplification, humanization, by removing most of Gregorian melodies and replacing them with folk songs, transformed in order to serve the church ritual. These transformations, materialized in the Protestant chorale, represented a new stage in music history. This is why we will analyse the significance of chromatic harmony and the technical aspects of chorale harmonization in the works of Johann Sebastian Bach.Only a thorough analysis of Bach’s works in all their realistic aspects can prove that their value and vitality stand in the perfect combination of form and content, reflecting his time.