[LugBug1]

Bach is the God of music

 

[SunTanScanMan]

  Bach is the God of music

I miss your 'I'll be Bach' avatar

 
but of course your current one is lovely.
 
I see you're active in the photography thread. I posted a few pics there last year, but just haven't got round to using my camera since. Looks like you're really into it - my tastes run to nature/natural scenery and you've some beautiful shots of those. My current avatar is also from the batch I took then

 

[RRod]

  Bach is the God of music

 
I must be an atheist, then 

 

[limpidglitch]

  Bach is the God of music

 
Surely music existed before Bach?
(I'm not much of theologian, but I seem to remember something like: "in the beginning there was nothing except God")
 
Anywhoo, I've been lurking this thread for years soaking up you guys' knowledge, greatly appreciating it.
The mentioning of Boulez reminded me about a bunch of Webern, conducted by Boulez, I've got lying around. Great stuff. Guess it's time for me to check out some of the old bugger's own compositions.
 

 

[bigshot]

It took me 25 years to get to the point where I understood Bach... and I'm still just figuring it out. Bach is the Mount Everest of music. So many levels operating at once!

 

[LugBug1]

 
I miss your 'I'll be Bach' avatar

 
but of course your current one is lovely.
 
I see you're active in the photography thread. I posted a few pics there last year, but just haven't got round to using my camera since. Looks like you're really into it - my tastes run to nature/natural scenery and you've some beautiful shots of those. My current avatar is also from the batch I took then

Nice photo! And yes I'm really enjoying it buddy
 

   
I must be an atheist, then 

Noooo, you just haven't found God yet
 

   
Surely music existed before Bach?
(I'm not much of theologian, but I seem to remember something like: "in the beginning there was nothing except God")
 
Anywhoo, I've been lurking this thread for years soaking up you guys' knowledge, greatly appreciating it.
The mentioning of Boulez reminded me about a bunch of Webern, conducted by Boulez, I've got lying around. Great stuff. Guess it's time for me to check out some of the old bugger's own compositions.
 
 

Haha, and yes his own compositions are worth anyones time and effort. Maybe try Pli Selon Pli and this recent release of Derive was well received by the critics and I love it.
 

 
 
 

  It took me 25 years to get to the point where I understood Bach... and I'm still just figuring it out. Bach is the Mount Everest of music. So many levels operating at once!

Indeed indeed! 

 

[analogsurviver]

Speaking of Bach, I stumbled upon complete organ works, played by James Kibbie http://www.blockmrecords.org/bach/kibbie.htm , available as free download (AAC 256 , 1.96 GB prior to unzipping ):
 
http://www.openculture.com/2011/11/a_big_bach_download_the_complete_organ_works_free.html
 
From the above links, you will be able to reach info on the venues/organ instruments used, etc, etc - I am thankful so much music and information is available for free - trough generous gift of the widow of : http://www.blockmrecords.org/bach/sloat.htm

 

[Quinto]

  Bach is the God of music

Give humanity some credit  

 

[bigshot]

“The final aim and reason of all music is nothing other than the glorification of God and the refreshment of the spirit.” - J. S. Bach

 

[perhapss]

  “The final aim and reason of all music is nothing other than the glorification of God and the refreshment of the spirit.” - J. S. Bach

Written, of course, by a human being.
The same human being that wrote so much tremendous music.
 
I have no problem with people`s faith but lots of awful things have been done within the context of "the glorification of God".
Luckily for us, Bach was a nice guy 

.
 
That being said, It`s hard to underestimate the role of Christian history in the development of serious music in the West.....

 

[mbhaub]

 
...It`s hard to underestimate the role of Christian history in the development of serious music in the West.....

That is so correct, and usually ignored and misunderstood. When the church goes, western culture is going right along side. We've already seen it to a large extent. The church in the USA used to be a big deal in communities large and small.  A significant proportion of the population attended on Sunday. That's all been changing for the last 50+ years, and classical music, which once had a greater import in our culture, has declined in popularity ever since. Churches used to use organs, and at least tried to present high quality music. No more - now it's drum sets, guitars and pop songs in the church. When my church gave in to pop music, some of us complained. The pastor simply said "no body except you snobs like that boring opera stuff nowadays." Needless to say, I left taking my checkbook with me. There are thankfully some churches that support classics in letting orchestras and other groups use their facilities, but frankly, in another generation or two classical music will be dead in the USA just as the churches will no longer be of any significance. You can thank the selfish, inconsiderate generation of the 60s.

 

[jackskelly]

  It took me 25 years to get to the point where I understood Bach... and I'm still just figuring it out. Bach is the Mount Everest of music. So many levels operating at once!

 
I'm still young I guess, just 27, but I've been conditioned to believe that Beethoven is the Mt. Everest of music (or Olympus Mons if we ever settle on Mars 

). I love these sort of debates 

 

[perhapss]

   
I'm still young I guess, just 27, but I've been conditioned to believe that Beethoven is the Mt. Everest of music (or Olympus Mons if we ever settle on Mars 

). I love these sort of debates 

If I`m correct, Mt.Everest has a big problem with human waste etc....
Beethoven strove past human waste IMO....

 

[perhapss]

  That is so correct, and usually ignored and misunderstood. When the church goes, western culture is going right along side. We've already seen it to a large extent. The church in the USA used to be a big deal in communities large and small.  A significant proportion of the population attended on Sunday. That's all been changing for the last 50+ years, and classical music, which once had a greater import in our culture, has declined in popularity ever since. Churches used to use organs, and at least tried to present high quality music. No more - now it's drum sets, guitars and pop songs in the church. When my church gave in to pop music, some of us complained. The pastor simply said "no body except you snobs like that boring opera stuff nowadays." Needless to say, I left taking my checkbook with me. There are thankfully some churches that support classics in letting orchestras and other groups use their facilities, but frankly, in another generation or two classical music will be dead in the USA just as the churches will no longer be of any significance. You can thank the selfish, inconsiderate generation of the 60s.

 

 

[perhapss]

  It took me 25 years to get to the point where I understood Bach... and I'm still just figuring it out. Bach is the Mount Everest of music. So many levels operating at once!

The best thing about Bach, is his music will always present challenges and surprises.
IMO.