Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)

[Lat-Literal]

"The supreme arbiter and law-giver of music".

Was he a genius or just a great technical craftsman?

Here are some views - http://www.gramophone.co.uk/feature/is-bach-best

His output was prolific so in what order should the novice approach his work?

Mainly, though, this thread is for Bach enthusiasts.

[Richard Barrett]

That rather fluffy article misses out my favourite quote on Bach, from Mauricio Kagel: "it may be that not all musicians believe in God, but they all believe in Bach."

I don't think it matters much which order you approach his work in. Also I don't think there's much to be gained from separating his (or anyone else's) "genius" from his "technical craft".

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

As Richard says, the genius arises from the consummate technical power - I can't imagine that his work would have fired and inspired so many professional and amateur (the two don't necessarily contradict, of course) Musicians and "general Music-lovers" alike over the centuries if it had simply been a case of "just" craftsmanship.

His output was prolific so in what order should the novice approach his work?

The "All of Bach" website is as good a place as any - every Friday, a single piece in excellent Live recordings, and an "archive" if anyone gets impatient for the next Friday to arrive.

This week:

http://allofbach.com/en/

The Archive:

http://allofbach.com/en/bwv/

[Richard Barrett]

And I don't like this at all, who is supposed to have said it?

The supreme arbiter and law-giver

[Lat-Literal]

And I don't like this at all, who is supposed to have said it?

Howard Goodall.

Whoops....misprint.

Nicolas Slonimsky.

[rauschwerk]

I would really hate to be without Bach's music. At present I'm listening to all of the sacred cantatas, which I expect to occupy me for a year. I agree more and more with JEG that these wonderful pieces are the essential Bach, along with the major choral works. However, there are a good few organ works which I would not be without, and wish I could learn to play.

[Richard Barrett]

Howard Goodall.

Whoops....misprint.

Nicolas Slonimsky.

Easy mistake to make!

Anyway, since you say this thread is principally for Bach enthusiasts, and I'm a Bach enthusiast, I'll say this: I can't remember exactly how it happened, but Bach was the first "classical composer" whose work I got really enthusiastic about. The time between my having no knowledge of and little interest in music, and being somewhat fanatical about Bach, was probably a few months at most. In the meantime I've come to know many of his works inside out, so to speak, and this music is for me the principal source of my belief that the essential mystery of music (that which draws you into it in the first place) is no less apparent however much you've studied it and think you know about it. Of course Bach himself was an ordinary human being like the rest of us, so this isn't a kind of hero-worship I'm getting at, but somehow he had access to something that seems to transcend its time and place, even while being indissolubly attached to them.

[Lat-Literal]

Four out of seven excellent posts and from all contributors to date.

Many thanks.

It is over to you and other forum members to take it forward as you wish.

It just seemed to me that a section about composers wouldn't have credibility if JSB wasn't there from its inception.

And I look forward to reading more.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It just seemed to me that a section about composers wouldn't have credibility if JSB wasn't there from its inception.

The exact thought had occurred to me more than once yesterday!

[gurnemanz]

Overrated. (D. Trump)

[Quarky]

Overrated. (D. Trump)

The problem with Bach, and I am a Bach-o-phile, is that he squeezes out other composers of a similar rank, both of his generation and earlier generations, at least in the music that gets performed, recorded, and broadcast in this country, IMHO. As I am currently discovering, there is a vast Alpine range of Baroque and earlier Music, and Bach was only one mountain in that range (but perhaps Mont Blanc).

Bach was the first Classical composer and the Supreme Law Giver. OK, but choice of one musical direction implies rejection of other valid directions. Who was it that stated Beethoven is wrong?

[EdgeleyRob]

I'm a relative latecomer to JSB,feel like I've missed out on a lifetime of listening pleasure,but I'm making up for it now
Makes you realise what a huge debt everything that came after owes him.
Which composer said "Bach is the be all and end all " or something similar ?

Edit

Found it "Bach is the beginning and end of all music." Max Reger

[pastoralguy]

In my very humble opinion, Bach is a composer one grows into as one learns and develops musical taste. As I get older so I find more humanity and reassurance in Bach's music. I've always loved the great string music such as the 'cello Suites and the violin Sonatas and Partitas but I've developed a taste for the keyboard music including the organ music. The vocal music is of lesser interest since I'm not much of a vocal fan but I've played a lot of it and admire rather than love it.

[rauschwerk]

In my sacred cantata odyssey I recently reached BWV130, Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir for the feast of St. Michael. This contains a bass aria with parts for three trumpets, and the writing for the first trumpet is absolutely riveting. Later there is a tenor aria in which Bach exploits to the full the capabilities of a transverse flute virtuoso who was available for a few months in 1724. Wonderful stuff!