Radia #1052 - A Brief Tale: Bach in Seville by Alba Lucera, Pierre Mancinelli & Chuse Fernandez

Members of Radia, the international group of independent cultural radio stations, explore new and forgotten ways of making radio.

This episode is a contribution by TEA FM.

In the spring of 1745, Johann Sebastian Bach, weary from years of composing and performing across Germany, embarked on an unexpected journey south. Rumors of the vibrant music and golden light of Andalusia had reached Leipzig, whispered by travelers and fellow musicians. Intrigued and seeking inspiration, Bach set his sights on Seville.

Upon arriving, the composer was struck by the city’s intoxicating mix of Moorish architecture, orange blossom-scented air, and the ever-present rhythm of flamenco echoing through cobbled streets. He was welcomed by local musicians, curious about the German master whose music, though foreign to them, stirred something familiar in their souls.

One evening, in a small courtyard lit by lanterns, Bach joined a gathering of Spanish guitarists and singers. They played bulerías and soleás, their hands moving like fire across strings and palms. Bach, fascinated, responded with improvisations on his clavichord, echoing the passionate melodies with Baroque flourishes. The music transcended language. In those moments, the sacred and the earthly met.

Before leaving Seville, Bach climbed the Giralda tower. From its heights, he gazed across the red rooftops and the Guadalquivir River, listening to the distant strum of guitars. He did not write down what he heard—but in his final compositions, there would linger a warmth, a rhythm, and a hint of Spain that no one could quite explain.

And so, though unrecorded in history, Seville left its mark on the master of counterpoint—just as his music left echoes in the alleys of Andalusia.

Based on the show Improbach. The Intangible Infinite. Dance–Choreography–Texts: Alba Lucera. Piano: Pierre Mancinelli. Sound Design: Chuse Fernandez.