JS Bach

[Katelyn]

I kind of like from him what I've heard but to be honest I really don't know enough to know where to start to get a better appreciation of his work.

Anyone got any favorite pieces by him they might want to share?

[bluedad]

My favorite is from the Brandenburg Concertos, specifically #3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLj_gMBqHX8

[bharris22]

I would very highly recommend Glenn Gould playing the Goldberg Variations (I prefer the earlier version from the 1950's) as a gateway drug to both Bach and Gould.

[Katelyn]

Edit:

It seems that I recall hearing a portion some largo piece that I really really liked performed by a violinist, but don't for the life of me know what it was beyond that it was a Bach piece. Anyways I'll hunt it down later and google what it's from.

/end edit

[yt link]

It's kind of like but is it supposed to be really relaxing to just kind of have there or is that just me? The part at 4:50, 9:00 and 9:20 (with the rises) really caught my attention but overall for me it's more like something that you passively listen to while your mind is on other things. Or am I doing this wrong and I'm supposed to be actively listening to it with my full attention? It could just be that growing up I heard a lot of classical being played in the house so maybe on a subconcious level I see most classical as background music.

I mean, I feel like I should think "wow that was great!" yet all I feel is that it's pleasant and relaxing. Nothing about it screams at me to replay it and I don't get why.

I would very highly recommend Glenn Gould playing the Goldberg Variations (I prefer the earlier version from the 1950's) as a gateway drug to both Bach and Gould.

This is the first video I could find, no idea how familiar you are with this CD but it's what I just started playing.

http://youtu.be/N2YMSt3yfko?t=1s

[Sampleconstruct]

Playing the beginning of the Bach English Suite No. 6 with waterphone samples in granular mode:

https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... -bach-demo

[Sampleconstruct]

Excerpt from the B minor Mass:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuxOXoumWBQ

[Katelyn]

Playing the beginning of the Bach English Suite No. 6 with waterphone samples in granular mode:

https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... -bach-demo

I really didn't like that at all >.> Also what the heck is a waterphone?

edit:

Excerpt from the B minor Mass:

Ya, this is much better

[Sampleconstruct]

Prelude and fugue in Eb major (organ):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSGKhzpqgwY

[Sampleconstruct]

Playing the beginning of the Bach English Suite No. 6 with waterphone samples in granular mode:

https://soundcloud.com/sampleconstruct/ ... -bach-demo

I really didn't like that at all >.> Also what the heck is a waterphone?

You don't have to like it
This is a waterphone:

[Sampleconstruct]

Gould plays Bach - he is obsessed and sings while playing, but many like that

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB76jxBq_gQ

[fmr]

J S Bach work is like the Bible. It approached almost all genres (Opera is the only exception) and his works are always of high level (many of superior level).

The concerts are probably the more accessible pieces to starters, so, you can start with them (Brandenburg are concerti grossi, but also the soloist concertos, especially the violin ones and the harpsichord ones, are very popular). Then go to the Orchestral Suites (French Overtures). Then go to the sonatas (flute and harpsichord obligato), violin (with and without BC), cello, viola da gamba, and then go to the keyboard work. This one is absolutely monumental, with the countless works for harpsichord (the Inventions and Symphonies are used to teach piano to beginners still up to today, and the Well Tempered Clavier is still a must) and also, perhaps the most important part of his work, the organ works. From these, I recommend to start with the Tocatta and Fugue D minor BWV 565, Fantasia and Fugue G minor BWV 542, Passacaglia and Fugue C minor BWV 582 and Prelude and Fugue E minor BWV 548. The Chorales are also important, and may play a very good introduction to the Cantatas. There are more than 200 cantatas, and these, together with the Oratorios, the Masses and the Magnificat, constitute the all choral/symphonic work of Bach, and the most monumental. Of the whole, some are more important than others. I can give you some suggestions later if you want.
The Mass should come after the cantatas, and finally, end with those pieces that were written as a testament of Bach art and craftmanship in the compositional domain: Musical Offering and The Art Of Fugue. These are astonishing in the way he squeezes so many music out of one or two themes, and shows the inventiveness and domain he had of all the aspects of melody, counterpoint and harmony.

[Stanoli]

Being a fan and seeing Glenn Gould again after a few years:
What a weirdo;-D
I remember a scene in a television show about him where he sings aloud in a zoo
in front of elephants freaking them out.
Found it here around 1:35 (use the link, the film only works in youtube):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57kR6RsV2iA

[Sampleconstruct]

Being a fan and seeing Glenn Gould again after a few years:
What a weirdo;-D
I remember a scene in a television show about him where he sings aloud in a zoo
in front of elephants freaking them out.
Found it here around 1:35 (use the link, the film only works in youtube):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57kR6RsV2iA

That's hilariously brilliant!

[MickGael]

Even after 30 years, I am stunned by the dignity, harmonic richness, intelligence and simple beauty of this composition. I've told friends and family I want this played at my funeral.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cOZ11Zr8DQ

[gunnare]

Perhaps the mest well known, but this is like a soft version of Bach for beginners:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9EN27Z ... re=related

Wachet auf ruft uns die stimme. So much music with very few notes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RPwmHV ... re=related

And over to the more advanced works.
Matteus passion.
Opening:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf4UNJq ... re=related
Then some opera like drama:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeU_Bns ... re=related
One of the mysterios songs from the mass in H minor. Bach used 40 years to collect and put together all the pieces for the H-minor mass. This is the ending piece. Lyrics is "Walk in peace". But if you listen the song is not peacefull at all. It is full of desperation and questions. The trumpet kind of hangs helplessly in the air. Really strange, and one of the best musical works that describes the way we often feel in our troubled moments. At the same time there is a very strong slow force in the rythm. A really strange music pice that I never really understand. My favourite musical piece of all time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnrHhYS ... re=related

This one is stronger and more powerful than any black metal songs I have ever heard. There is a theme in the bass that goes throught the whole song. You can think of it as a riff. I have often been to black metal concerts on saturday night (this is Norway), and then to the big cathedral on sunday service on sunday morning. Often I think that the organ in the big cathedral has more power than the rock concerts. The organ in "Nidarosdomen" here in Norway has more than 10 000 pipes, and there are pipes built into all the sides of the cathedral.
http://www.nidarosdomen.no/nb-no/musikk ... elet+.html
I know there are similar organs in the german cities.

The most fun piece from Brandenburg concerts.
Karl Richter having so much fun on the harpsichord, he nearly destroys the thing by his violent playing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMSwVf_ ... re=related

It is so sad that we dont have recordings from Bach since he was such a good improviser. He had conflicts with the church (I think it was in Muhlhausen) because he confused the people by playing so long and complex intros to the songs. I wisited Leipzig and Thomaskirche last autumn to see where my idol worked most of his life.

All the best
gunnare