Hehe. That playlist randomly showed up on my YouTube feed after I'd read your article this morning. I couldn't believe the coincidence. It's heavy on the Brandenburgs, which are undeniably peppy!
I’m impressed that you were able to make all these observations after just one listen.
In my case, the first listen made no impression on me at all, except for confusing and overwhelming me. But I kept playing it over and over again because I needed to listen to the opening chorus, the chorale and Bus and Reu just one more time.
It’s been only four or five Bach pieces on repeat for me this year so far
Thanks for this, Nolo. There is plenty more to learn about these pieces, but I feel like I'm pretty good at a first pass. I'll be sure to revisit it in time, given its giant reputation and my initial enjoyment the first go around.
Thank you for encouraging me to listen to this. I had it on while doing housework in the background, and since tomorrow is Good Friday, it's appropriate. I don't know anything about music, so I will merely mention my favorite bits. (1) Just after the hour mark, with the harmonies between alto and soprano and the frantic chorus in the background; (2) right before the 2 hour mark, which I believe after looking it up must be "Soldiers crown Jesus with thorns, mocking him". I wish when people mocked me, it sounded this tuneful; (3) right at about 2'40, the harmony between voice and that subtle but powerful bass string instrument (cello, viola de gamba?). Overall, (1) that bass voice is phenomenal; and (2) it's finally hit me - between Musical Offering, orchestral suite 2, Brandenburgs 4 & 5, the sonatas, and this - how extraordinary Bach was at composing for flute! I laughed at your "too long" comment. Exactly the note I'd give to R. Strauss on 'Rosenkavalier'! As this piece goes, long though it is, it's a masterpiece, and it did spark the 19th Century Bach revival, with help of Felix Mendelssohn. And without that, I wonder how much of Bach's music we'd be able to enjoy today.
Thanks for the comment! I've recently downloaded and listened to those flute sonatas, but I'm planning to get better acquainted. I think Frederick the Great didn't know what he was in for in asking Bach for those flute bits in Musical Offering. Also, I had forgotten to mention the flute/oboe aria movement in my comment, but I saw it in your writeup and remember I found it quite moving, too.
I had a high school teacher and she borrowed me a vinyl with excerpts of St Matthew when I was 13. What a FUCKING RIDE. At that point I had played the classical guitar for 6 years with the little spanish tunes and a few Bach preludes, had heard Queen (like a maniac), Sabbath, Deep Purple, Mozart, Beethoven and Beatles but I immediately understood this is the end of the line. This is the shit. This is where it stops. Music could not be more grandiose, more moving, deeper or more technically satisfying. In the last few years I have been enjoying mostly the (Romantic period) recording by Otto Klemperer. On the religious side it said nothing to me, maybe because I have a completely different background. St John passion by Bach is kind of ok but not of the same level. The Mass he wrote is possibly equally good (many think it is in fact better from a musical point of view).
Saw that a few days back, thanks! Yngwie was as funny as always. Did you know what Beato did when his son was born? He played Brandenburg no 6 to the baby because it "has all the notes and all the scales". He is a big fanboy.
“Bach is not jogging music.” This guys begs to differ.
https://www.youtube.com/live/pbpe3ILBlcs?si=0kxINV6WAeMriLF5
Ha. OK, Bach is not jogging music *for me*.
Hehe. That playlist randomly showed up on my YouTube feed after I'd read your article this morning. I couldn't believe the coincidence. It's heavy on the Brandenburgs, which are undeniably peppy!
Google must have seen you visiting this blog and bumped the Bach jogging video.
And yes, if you're going to jog to Bach, it's prob. to the Brandenburgs.
I've both jogged and frantically cleaned house to that spirited Brandenburg 2 first movement. :)
Oh, a Bach house-cleaning playlist might be in my future!
I’m impressed that you were able to make all these observations after just one listen.
In my case, the first listen made no impression on me at all, except for confusing and overwhelming me. But I kept playing it over and over again because I needed to listen to the opening chorus, the chorale and Bus and Reu just one more time.
It’s been only four or five Bach pieces on repeat for me this year so far
Thanks for this, Nolo. There is plenty more to learn about these pieces, but I feel like I'm pretty good at a first pass. I'll be sure to revisit it in time, given its giant reputation and my initial enjoyment the first go around.
Thank you for encouraging me to listen to this. I had it on while doing housework in the background, and since tomorrow is Good Friday, it's appropriate. I don't know anything about music, so I will merely mention my favorite bits. (1) Just after the hour mark, with the harmonies between alto and soprano and the frantic chorus in the background; (2) right before the 2 hour mark, which I believe after looking it up must be "Soldiers crown Jesus with thorns, mocking him". I wish when people mocked me, it sounded this tuneful; (3) right at about 2'40, the harmony between voice and that subtle but powerful bass string instrument (cello, viola de gamba?). Overall, (1) that bass voice is phenomenal; and (2) it's finally hit me - between Musical Offering, orchestral suite 2, Brandenburgs 4 & 5, the sonatas, and this - how extraordinary Bach was at composing for flute! I laughed at your "too long" comment. Exactly the note I'd give to R. Strauss on 'Rosenkavalier'! As this piece goes, long though it is, it's a masterpiece, and it did spark the 19th Century Bach revival, with help of Felix Mendelssohn. And without that, I wonder how much of Bach's music we'd be able to enjoy today.
This is all great. I’m glad you listened.
You clearly know plenty about music — if you can feel it, you know it.
I’ve also been enjoying all the flute and oboe writing throughout this project. You should check out the flute sonatas next.
The bass voice on this recording was Theo Adam — he has a long career in the opera and died a few years ago.
Thanks again for reading and listening closely!
Thanks for the comment! I've recently downloaded and listened to those flute sonatas, but I'm planning to get better acquainted. I think Frederick the Great didn't know what he was in for in asking Bach for those flute bits in Musical Offering. Also, I had forgotten to mention the flute/oboe aria movement in my comment, but I saw it in your writeup and remember I found it quite moving, too.
I had a high school teacher and she borrowed me a vinyl with excerpts of St Matthew when I was 13. What a FUCKING RIDE. At that point I had played the classical guitar for 6 years with the little spanish tunes and a few Bach preludes, had heard Queen (like a maniac), Sabbath, Deep Purple, Mozart, Beethoven and Beatles but I immediately understood this is the end of the line. This is the shit. This is where it stops. Music could not be more grandiose, more moving, deeper or more technically satisfying. In the last few years I have been enjoying mostly the (Romantic period) recording by Otto Klemperer. On the religious side it said nothing to me, maybe because I have a completely different background. St John passion by Bach is kind of ok but not of the same level. The Mass he wrote is possibly equally good (many think it is in fact better from a musical point of view).
Amazing.
I enjoyed Rick Beato's excerpts from his interview subjects talking about Bach --
https://youtu.be/UNgrH8u-IIc?si=0M2FClB3SES9NYfS
Saw that a few days back, thanks! Yngwie was as funny as always. Did you know what Beato did when his son was born? He played Brandenburg no 6 to the baby because it "has all the notes and all the scales". He is a big fanboy.