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Short Thoughts on Bach

It's Bach's birthday...
There is no shortage of people on the internet saying Bach is great, but as any other admirer of his work will know, the urge to share his message is irresistible.
For me, the most endearing thing about Bach is the fact he was not an intellectual. Unlike his contemporaries he was not interested in new political movements, ancient Greece or literature. He was an ordinary man who played the organ. This adds to the intrinsic truth of his art. No pretension only honest humanity. This fact, an anomaly in the history of art and artists, removes the sense of the individual from his output. Mozart and Beethoven are enshrined in myth and exaggerated tales about abusive fathers and extreme ADHD temperaments to a point where their music is obscured. How many times have you heard the ridiculous story of Beethoven writing his 'Moonlight Sonata' (a name ascribed to it by a teary eyed romantic after Beethoven's death) for a student he helplessly fell in love with. Although not untrue, this tacky explanation distracts us from what we should be doing, appreciating music for the sake of its beauty alone. The tendency of unimaginative people to assign 'meaning' to great music cheapens its merit. People in today's society need a hero, a victor or a relatable individual at the centre for a work to be enjoyed. I see this as a great tragedy. This is where the genius of Bach lies. Bach was not an extraordinary individual, an architect or a creator, he was humble discover. A man who discovered the richest musical landscape known to man. One gets the sense listening to his works that these sounds have always been routed in the earth. Can you imagine a world without the Goldberg Variations or cantatas? I find it nearly impossible. The story of Bach is lacking in any quirky facts or heroism, but his output has stood the test of time and will carry on to do so for centuries to come. Sensationalism dies and intrinsic beauty triumphs.

Here are a few personal selections that are almost definitely a better way to spend your time than whatever your were about to do:














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