Johann Sebastian Bach: God's Composer Comes Home

Statue of composer J.S. Bach in Leipzig, Germany

This day in 1750 marks the passing of one of the great three "B's" in classical music, Johann Sebastian Bach, He gave us some of the most sublime music in western culture and it would be an oversight, especially as a Lutheran, not to honor this master of the Baroque and pillar of Lutheranism. Bach is a taste of genius. Although his work was largely forgotten for a century following his death, it went on to influence composition and performance in virually all music genres to this very day.

Magnificat in D Major, Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducting.

Goldberg Variations. The performance is by the dazzling and eccentric Canadian pianist, Glenn Gould, who was well-known for quietly "scatting" during his performances. He drove sound and recording engineers batty.

Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, Yo Yo Ma

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. A familiar piece but it never gets old especially when played by the amazing young organist, Gert Van Hoef. He made this video a few weeks before his nineteenth birthday.

Bach's music has been a part of me for so long that I couldn't begin to tell you when I first heard it other than to say it had to be in church at a very early age. The preludes. fugues, harmonies, the shear wonder of his work, it's all in my blood, and I can't play a single note of it. Wouldn't have it any other way. I simply listen and let it flow.

It's my hope that you can take time today to listen to the four pieces included in this post. Normally I try to avoid posting music longer than ten minutes but today will be an exception.

Music’s ultimate end or final goal…should be for the honor of God and the recreation of the soul.

                                                        J. S. Bach - Leipzig, 1738






Sources

Photo: stlpublicradio.org, flickr/seabamirum