[[Listen]]
Di ri-der fi-n-rai pria dell' au-ro-ra.
[[Listen]]
Ri-bal-do! au-da-ce! las-cia a'mor-ti la pa-ce!
There can hardly be a greater difference in the styles of two composers than exists in the style of Gluck and that of J. S. Bach. The masterly command of Bach over the combination of different parts according to the rules of counterpoint is just the faculty in which Gluck is deficient. It is on this account especially interesting to observe how Gluck has employed an idea which he apparently borrowed from Bach. The student may ascertain it by carefully comparing the air, 'Je l'implore, et je tremble,' in 'Iphigenia in Tauris,' with J. S. Bach's beautiful gigue in B flat major, commencing:—
[[Listen]]