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J.S. Bach Appreciation Thread

Jeremy Gillam

Jeremy Gillam

Senior Member
Last year I interned at a composer studio and was surprised to learn that many of my youthful colleagues did not enjoy the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. "We can appreciate them on an intellectual level" was the refrain, "but we don't enjoy them." "What is wrong with kids these days?" thought I, but upon reflection it occurred to me that perhaps these young maestros never had a violin teacher like mine, who often exclaimed that Bach was "the rock 'n' roller of his day" between admonishments of "chin up, chin up!"

So I wanted to create a thread here on VI-CONTROL where those who already love Bach's works can share their favorite pieces, performances, and recordings, and where those who haven't yet found a pathway to enjoyment of the godfather of modern music's brilliance might be initiated into this pleasure.

Let me get things started with a few I keep in heavy rotation...




Click to read more...
 
Ah man, this thread is going to make me "feels." I have a lot to share about how Bach literally saved my life back in 2009, but it will have to wait until tommorow. I'll be Bach.
 
This could be the best VI-Control thread ever! You can get *almost* everything you need from Bach. I have too many favorites to share; I'll have to pace myself.
 
miket said:
This could be the best VI-Control thread ever! You can get *almost* everything you need from Bach. I have too many favorites to share; I'll have to pace myself.
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Looking forward to it! My ulterior motive in starting it is my own education (and enjoyment)!
 
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The Aire is like a Standard Repertoire for Walking Bass playing. And that's 300 years old!!! What??????!!!!!
 
And when I'm in the mood I'm hearing this version on heavy rotation in my car (extra loud)
 
@miket Gould might've had a decent career as a singer if the whole piano thing hadn't worked out! I love his commentary. I noticed how he slides and vibrates on the keys at the end, would've been interesting to hear him play Bach on a Roli Seaboard.

@AR Purists might object to the orchestral version of the Chaconne, but I think it's really interesting to hear how a piece written for solo violin translates to a full orchestra so majestically. I hope the more fleshed out harmony might also provide a way into the solo violin version for people who have a harder time enjoying that. My dad and I used to go to concerts at Boston Symphony Hall when I was a teenager (not so long ago really and he is still with us), but this brought back some cherished memories, thank you.
 
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@AR Purists might object to the orchestral version of the Chaconne .[/QUOTE]
One of the many interesting things in Bach’s music is that it almost always develops it’s magic regardless of the instrument it is played on. A lot of it is perfectly transferable to a phone ringing tone or to a big orchestra and anything in between. And you always think “wow that sounds great”.
 
Jeremy Gillam said:
@miket Gould might've had a decent career as a singer if the whole piano thing hadn't worked out! I love his commentary. I noticed how he slides and vibrates on the keys at the end, would've been interesting to hear him play Bach on a Roli Seaboard.

@AR Purists might object to the orchestral version of the Chaconne, but I think it's really interesting to hear how a piece written for solo violin translates to a full orchestra so majestically. I hope the more fleshed out harmony might also provide a way into the solo violin version for people who have a harder time enjoying that. My dad and I used to go to concerts at Boston Symphony Hall when I was a teenager (not so long ago really and he is still with us), but this brought back some cherished memories, thank you.
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You're welcome ;)
I also played the Segovia transcription for guitar, which seems nice therefore hence the long arpeggio part in the middle and the 4voice chords at the beginning which are unable to play on a violin without to arpeggiate.
 
Almost every string player I ever worked with said Grumiuax's recording of the Partitas where the best ever, who am I to argue...


Papa Bach is surely the ultimate perfect marriage of intellect and technique which combine powerfully to create profoundly expressive music - music ultimately from his soul. His counterpoint is sometimes seemingly unburdened by harmony and yet conforms and his harmony is often undaunted. If you disagree, I'll see you outside right now..:mad:...
naahh..just joking, but I do like his music an awful lot.
 
AR said:
You're welcome ;)
I also played the Segovia transcription for guitar, which seems nice therefore hence the long arpeggio part in the middle and the 4voice chords at the beginning which are unable to play on a violin without to arpeggiate.
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Lovely!

 
Jeremy Gillam said:
Last year I interned at a composer studio and was surprised to learn that many of my youthful colleagues did not enjoy the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. "We can appreciate them on an intellectual level" was the refrain, "but we don't enjoy them." "What is wrong with kids these days?" thought I, but upon reflection it occurred to me that perhaps these young maestros never had a violin teacher like mine, who often exclaimed that Bach was "the rock 'n' roller of his day" between admonishments of "chin up, chin up!"

So I wanted to create a thread here on VI-CONTROL where those who already love Bach's works can share their favorite pieces, performances, and recordings, and where those who haven't yet found a pathway to enjoyment of the godfather of modern music's brilliance might be initiated into this pleasure.

Let me get things started with a few I keep in heavy rotation...




Click to expand...


There's something seriously wrong with them! Bach has so many brilliant works. Here is one I have always been fond of-

 
miket said:
This could be the best VI-Control thread ever! You can get *almost* everything you need from Bach. I have too many favorites to share; I'll have to pace myself.
Click to expand...
I love what Max Richter says when asked about his favorite composer: "when people ask you that question, what they really mean is who is your favorite composer besides Bach

Looking for the reference... here!



If somebody says, "Well, what are your favorite composers?" really what they are saying is, "What are your favorite composers apart from Bach?" Because obviously Bach is your favorite composer if you are involved in music at all.​
 
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Sublime work and amazing interpretation,

47:37 Cum Sancto Spiritu ( what a tempo !!)



Not Brook but Ocean should be his name.

- Ludwig Van Beethoven ("Bach" is the German word for "brook")

Now there is music from which a man can learn something.

- W. A. Mozart (on hearing Bach motets in Leipzig)

 
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@AR Purists might object to the orchestral version of the Chaconne, but I think it's really interesting to hear how a piece written for solo violin translates to a full orchestra so majestically. I hope the more fleshed out harmony might also provide a way into the solo violin version for people who have a harder time enjoying that. My dad and I used to go to concerts at Boston Symphony Hall when I was a teenager (not so long ago really and he is still with us), but this brought back some cherished memories, thank you.[/QUOTE]

Apologies, as I've posted this before, but I'm particularly partial to the Eroica Trio’s rendition of the Chaconne—another fine example of its ability to transition to new arrangements and modern styles. This arrangement is by good old Anne Dudley and really packs a punch as it builds. Please ignore the dreadful YouTube cover art!

 
Jeremy Gillam said:
Last year I interned at a composer studio and was surprised to learn that many of my youthful colleagues did not enjoy the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. "We can appreciate them on an intellectual level" was the refrain, "but we don't enjoy them." "What is wrong with kids these days?"
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It's a mystery, the music is unbelievably good...

But then I really don't get some other master composers, such as Mahler.. After numerous attempts to listen, I've always lost interest after 10 seconds. It just doesn't move in the right way for me.

I have a 4 month old daughter - Classic Fm was on the radio the other day and she was screaming her lungs out to various tunes. Then on came 'Air' and she was instantly quiet and just listened. Magic

 
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This man would compose a 20-45 minute cantata, write out the parts, rehearse the musicians and give a new performance every week!..each one could be the subject of endless theoretical study, besides it's beauty.
People who don't appreciate Bach are clueless..
 
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