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
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.
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).
“Bach is not jogging music.” This guys begs to differ.
https://www.youtube.com/live/pbpe3ILBlcs?si=0kxINV6WAeMriLF5
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
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.
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).