Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was an organist, conductor, musical director, teacher, and composer. Bach’s musical genius inspired him to compose over 1,000 pieces in his lifetime. Bach After Bebop is based on one of Bach’s simpler compositions, Two-Part Invention No. 4.

Bach After Bebop Lyrics

Johann was a genius
with a polyphonic state of mind a
Master at the keyboard
with his artistic virtuosic lines
Expert improvisor
every note perfectly intertwined just
all his music was truly sublime

JS Bach artistry
JS Bach mastery
JS Bach history

Every line a melody
even in four-part harmony and
Writing with complexity
on ebony and ivory with
Harmonic transcendency
achieving a resplendency and
Forever in our history

JS Bach artistry
JS Bach mastery
JS Bach history

Charlie started something when
he heard that cymbal 
crash on the floor he knew
that he would be back one day

Dizzy at a party saw
his trumpet bent up
new look new sound new brand
for him to bring his changes

Bebop was their passion jazz
was changed forever
fast swing key change im-prov
based on harmonic structure

Billie’s Bounce began the style
and dancing went into exile a
Small combo was all you need

and phrasing with asymmetry
Melodic complexity
improvisation was the key and
creative possibilities

Baroque Bach ternary
arias concerti
sonatas cantatas
organ works motets chorales chamber music 

Counterpoint chromatics
melodic construction
surprising melisma
polyrhythms syncopation

Consider Toccata and Fugue or
Mass in B Minor or
Cello Suites The Art of Fugue then there’s Bebop

Consider Blues for Alice a Bird Blues with two-five-ones
Or Dizzy’s Groovin’ High with its complex melody or
Parker’s best was his song Confirmation cycling fifths and
I Got Rhythm was the essence

Born to distinct rhythms Bach is very even
Thee Bach Thee Bach Thee Bach
Melodic imitation
Rhythms swing-‘in Bebop bop swing eighth notes
Bebop Bebop Bebop Bebop
Imitation

Ingenious with improv vex true virtuoso
Thee Bach Thee Bach Thee Bach
Harmonic improvising
Improv was extended
Truly virtuosic
Bebop Bebop Bebop Bebop
Improvising

Complicated writing with
notes intertwining
Thee Bach Thee Bach Thee Bach
Including modulation
Writing compositions so intricate
Bebop Bebop Bebop Bebop
Modulation

Weaving notes together so they 
make melodic harmony and
Shifting modulation bringing 
acoustic vocabulary 
Asymmetric phrasing syncopation 
shifting beats in time 
improvisation culmination
listeners in admiration

Johann B Charlie P Dizzy G Oscar P Dexter G Buddy D Clifford B James Moody

JS Bach artistry
JS Bach mastery
JS Bach history

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