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In Music , the BACH motif is the sequence of Notes ''B flat, A, C, B natural''. Bach's use of this Cruciform Melody in reference to himself extended to its Inversion , retrograde, retrograde-inversion, and all transpositions thereof. This four-note Motif has been used by a number of composers, usually as a homage to Johann Sebastian Bach . The first known example, however, is in a piece by Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck in the 17th century—it is possible, though not certain, that he used it in homage to one of Johann Sebastian's ancestors, many of whom were themselves musicians. The possibility of being able to spell the surname ''Bach'' in this way comes about because in German ''B'' indicates what in English is called ''B flat'', while ''H'' indicates what in English is called ''B natural''. J. S. Bach himself used it as a '', for example, employ the motive in transposed form. A fugue for keyboard in F major by one of Bach's sons, probably either Johann Christian Bach or Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach , exists using the motif, but it was not until the 19th Century when interest in Bach was revived that the motif began to be used with any regularity. Perhaps because it was used by Bach himself in a fugue, the motif is often used by other composers in fugues or other complex Contrapuntal writing. WORKS FEATURING THE MOTIF Works which prominently feature the BACH motif include, in chronological order:
The motif features in passing in a number of other works including Arnold Schoenberg 's ''Variations for Orchestra'' (1926-28) and his ''String Quartet No. 3'' (1927), Krzysztof Penderecki 's '' St. Luke Passion '', Johannes Brahms ' Cadenza for the first movement of Ludwig Van Beethoven 's '' Piano Concerto No. 4 '' and the fifth and final movement of Godowsky 's ''Sonata in E Minor'' (1910-11) for piano. In a comprehensive study published in the catalogue for the 1985 exhibition "300 Jahre Johann Sebastian Bach" ("300 years Johann Sebastian Bach") in Stuttgart, Germany Ulrich Prinz lists 409 works by 330 composers from the 17th to the 20th century using the BACH motif (ISBN 3-7952-0459-3). In popular music, the BACH motif is found in the basslines of the Radiohead songs "Optimistic" and "Go to Sleep," and in the bassline of the solo Thom Yorke song "Black Swan." OTHER SIGNATURE MOTIFS :Note: These are possible because, in German, ''E-flat'' is "Es" sounding the same as 'S', and ''A-flat'' is "As" Other ''signature motif''s include:
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