Comments on: Sentences

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 16:45:29 +0000

denk?!! where you at?! i need my denk fix…

By: jult52

jult52 — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 14:36:57 +0000

I’ve learned that 4th Partita a couple of years ago. Beautiful piece and you honed in on one of my favorite passages.

By: sheri

sheri — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 02:18:28 +0000

Where did you go?
You’re forcing a loyal, lurking reader out of the woodwork with all this silence.

By: solitudex

solitudex — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 05:38:53 +0000

The most lovely post here. It’s really wonderful to see people sharing their thoughts and analysis on the legacy left by the history’s greatest composer given to the world by God. It has been the most enjoyable reading this entry. Thank you. =)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 09:06:31 +0000

That was touching: thanks.
There’s so much that can be seen in JSB! It’s a wonder that never ceases to amaze me.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 05:15:18 +0000

A couple of thoughts:

To what extent is the minor-major instability here (and elsewhere in JSB–F minor Fugue in Book I, e.g.)–a way of fooling around with the temperament of his keyboard instrument? how do these pieces sound on instruments tuned according to a different system?

Looking (as I think is always a good idea) to the vocal music for clues to Affekt, doesn’t chromaticism usually evoke the fear (of death and judgment) that, in the Cantatas, is only conquered by faith? If this Allemande were a soprano aria with violin and oboe obligato, wouldn’t it be about that–probably the first big aria, with a reassuring baritone aria in major coming later (after a recitative), just before the final chorale?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 15:22:42 +0000

Wow, you really do like Bach, eh. It’s very odd reading these posts from people who actually play…I’m in school to learn to play like ya’ll..i’m stuck on Chopin at the moment..College Music Professors can be so full of themselves, praise the Lord for order in something.

By: rb

rb — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 03:54:03 +0000

lovely

By: Rix Radio

Rix Radio — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 06:59:28 +0000

It may sound like effete astheticism but I do think that contemplating a mystery as perplexing and breathtaking as Bach opens a kind of humanity in the beholders that can deepen and transform the ways in which we engage with the mysteries of the world around us
Death was a spectre Bach looked square in the face with a kind of calm recognition stemming from his faith. His music, even instrumental, gives one a kind of resolution to act in the world with grace. It is a horrific, deadly, annihilating place, but Bach invites us to face its horror as a community whose existence manifests hope. Which he rendered in music that speaks more eloquently than any religion.
His eloquence speaks as naturally as the mere man who was immortalized by forgetting he was broadcasting when he watched the Hindenburgh explode exclaiming, "Oh, the Humanity!"
His music was an act of charity to our species. We little people can emulate him in our own compassion toward the people who face the abyss today.

Translation: Do what you can and must for the disaster victims but never feel foolish for keeping Bach alive in our hearts at a time like this. (whew) -r

By: Davei

Davei — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 03:18:02 +0000

Thank you for that quite lovely post.