J. S. Bach: Sounds From Heaven

J.S. Bach statue in Leipzig, Germany

Today marks the birthday (in 1685, and for Old Style calendar sticklers, it's March 21) 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. 

Here, in seventeen minutes, I think you will understand the compelling effect Bach music has on listeners. In this interpretation by Glenn Gould you'll also be able to hear the performer's notorious verbal accompaniment.

His music was largely forgotten for almost a century following his death, but had been restored by the first quarter of the 19th century. The new-found popularity of Bach was due largely to the composer-performers, Felix Mendelssohn and Ludwig van Beethoven, and the publication of many of Bach's works. 

I was introduced to the music of J.S. Bach as an infant at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in my little hometown in the mountains of Maryland. The church already had been baptizing members of my father's family for over seventy years. In the summer of my ninth year our family moved leaving behind not only familiar places but also a church family. When I left town I took Bach's faith and music with me. 

So what makes his music so appealing? I could give you my opinion but I'm going to defer to Rick Beato, a performer, composer, producer, teacher, and music historian who has produced an outstanding fifteen minute assessmenyt of Bach and his legacy. Beato's You Tube channel has many videos on the subject. Prepare to be surprized watching your favorite musicians of the past sixty years - jazz, blues, rock, country, c;lassical, or whatever - discuss the place of Bach in the lives and careers. 

Bach's music has remained very much alive in me since leaving "home" seventy years ago. His 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 videos in this post. Normally I try to avoid posting music longer than ten minutes but today will be an exception. Also, I trust if interested you'll watch the other Bach videos available on Beato's YouTube channel. You will not be disappointed.

As an aside, I highly recommend Rick Beato's YouTube channel as an outstanding source for news and general info on all kinds of music and music history. He knows the industry from all sides in addition to being an entertaining host and interviewer.

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