TIDBIT: MARCH 31, 1685: A SIGNIFICANT BIRTHDAY
I could not let this day pass by without offering a tidbit of beauty and relief from all the world-goings-on, for today, 329 years ago, was the day that one of the great artistic and musical geniuses of all time, Johann Sebastian Bach, was born. For the endless hours of beauty, solace, inspiration, and yes, even those joyful and tearful moments of hearing the voices and choirs of heaven in his music, this little tribute is an inadequate thank you. The list of composers that this one man has influenced through the centuries is almost incomprehensible, but would number at least the following who were directly influenced, and inspired, by his music in the creation of their own masterworks:
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, 1710-1784
Carl Philip Emanuel Bach, 1714-1788
Johann Christian Bach 1735-1782
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1756-1791
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy 1809-1847
Charles-Marie Widor, 1844-1937, editor with Dr. Albert Schweitzer of JS Bach's Organ works, and famous composer of his own organ works
And all the way to our own time, last, and not least, these famous musicians, two of whom, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, were inspired by Bach's E Minor bouree for guitar:
The Beatles, 1960-1970
Here are some of my favorite pieces, that I've shared before, just a small sample of of hundreds of compositions, virtually all of them a masterpiece:
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Late though I am for the birthday bash I still want to extend credit and appreciation one more time before (and without a shred of sarcasm)Larry’s myth buster rains on my parade.
A confluence of two of my favorite ivory leaguers. Rach the Bach, baby!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsQKR9KEJl4
Dr. Farrell,
Maybe one day you can weigh in on Paul McCartney’s foray into classical music. Would Mr.Bach have been pleased? Or would Igor Stravinsky have been pleased? Would George Martin have been pleased?
Paul McCartney’s classical work “Standing Stone”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQlyl7fWVnk
McCartney on composing classical music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgMHwH1QGzo
Remember Sir Paul wrote Helter Skelter which became darkly linked to Charles Manson and his grizzly murder arrangements. I was a little unerved hearing McCartney sing this song toward the end of the televised hurricane Sandy relief concert. Why end with such a dark song in an upbeat event? A few days later the Sandy Hook school shootings/mystery took place. I’ve always thought that Mccartney gave the “all systems go” signal at the concert or a forewarning of something terrible about to happen. Some dark connections here?
May I also add the following to the list of the adepts of J.S. Bach:
– Dmitrij Sjostakovitch, who’s 24 preludes and fugues are deeoly inspired by te Well Tempered. The marvellous recording by no les than Keith Jarrett i highly recommended
– Robert Schumann, who used te Well Tempered every day to keep in shape
– Frederich Chopin, who’s 24 preludes are unthinkable without the Bach concept
Compare the above guitar to John Fahey’s Poor Boy Long Way from home on you tube from Hamburg. i am not sure if he wrote it or some old time picker.
Re: Johan S. Bach’s sons. After JS Bach died his wife, who spent many hours making copies of the music sheets for the performers and doing much other work for her husband, was put in a home for indigents, along with her daughters. There they lanquished without any help whatsoever from Bach’s sons.
Only Felix Mendelsshon came to the rescue of the last surviving daughter, who was starving to death. He generously provided for her. Bach’s sons became successful and lived finely, but left Bach’s wife and daughters to live poorly in an indigent home.
Amazing! My favorite blog to date! Thank you immensely!
Jaime
I dunno, Dr. Farrell, I’m sure what I’m about to state will make you hate me forever but one must remember that not even so-called “classical” music has been spared corruption (look, I’m an opera singer by profession so I obviously know the difference between Baroque/Classical music, etc.- imagine that!)-
although Scottish musicologist Robert Newman has been quite silent for awhile (his interviews “The Manufacture of Mozart” and “The Music Industry” are on RedIce and I think they are essential listening for any professional musician, not to mention others with provided interests)his research has confirmed that almost everything attributed to Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven were actually not written by these publicized individuals but simply attributed to them (stolen music from other composers- no copyright laws back then) for marketing purposes to sell music (start with “Mozart: childhood genious”- all bogus)-
so because of the music industry are we to blindly assume the Baroque era was also not compromised?- how often did Händel according to official stories steal from himself and revise things- assuming Händel really existed in the form he did?- then throw in Rossini stealing from himself-
now to (horror of horrors) J.S. Bach: where is the proof just one man tampered with the clavichord?- on paper?- as one says in German “paper is patient”-
my point: we are living in a world of complete deception and I somehow think so-called “classical” music has not been spared this deception-
I would love love to believe these singular composers were geniuses in their own right but there were many, many other composers in their own/same time line who were just as good but were marginalized by the music industry because it was not possible enough for whatever reason to give them a “jingle” (MONEY!)-
Mozart: “childhood genius”-
Beethoven: “genius leading from the classical to romantic era” (what, the only one?)
Haydn: “THE greatest musical/intellectual genius ever”- if Haydn actually wrote/notated everything attributed to him he wouldn’t have had time to even go to the loo- musical (all) notation was done with tedious quills back then-
I rest my case- stay well all-
Larry
Or to put it another way The Plowman’s Lunch Syndrome LSM who ever really produce these works of musical art we should be grateful they did. And morn all the equally great music and other arts we have lost from around the world due to Christo-Islamic imperialism.
I agree with you totally we should all be grateful to the composers of great things but it seems there were MANY composers, not just to whom (thanks to the music industry for purposes of profit- things don’t seem to change) a few have been falsely accredited with-
I hardly think this had to do with “Christo-Islamic imperialism”- it was for purposes of profit and profit only (all religions aside); the only obviously dubious connection I’ve been yet able to see was (attributed to) Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” (a blatant tribute to Freemasonry); by the way the original placard advertising this world premiere stated “mit Musik von einmem gewissen W.A. Mozart” (“with music from a certain W.A. Mozart”)- read between the lines- they’re explosive
Larry I recall you revealed this a year ago too on JSB’s birthday and tabled the topic at least one other time as well. I meant to investigate Robert Newman your source back then. Having been raised in a household where mostly classical music was played at least in my early years this toppling of musical stalwarts and icons was/is quite an affront but like you I keep an open mind to the possibilities. Naturally I’ve got some questions but I trust that the Red Ice interview will answer them.
While I believe de rigueur here at GDS is not to delve into another guests life I confess I’m nonetheless intrigued by your livelihood and vocation. Please pardon my parochial belief and take with a chuckle that opera singers don’t exactly fit the stereotype as debunkers of conventional beliefs. Then again, that remark may reveal how little I know about the characters that ply your trade.
“opera singers don’t exactly fit the stereotype as debunkers of conventional beliefs”- you know it; I’m definitely an “exotic” as far as my ‘ilk’ is concerned; but I discovered a long time ago there’s a helluva lot more to life than an opera stage but by working in the realm of theater for almost 40 yrs. (I can spot an “act,” good or bad, at fifty paces)I realized looong ago how easy it is to present an illusion most people actually take seriously and deem to be reality-
“Life is a stage”- a gross understatement;
please take care!
Larry
“Now there is music from which a man can learning something.”
Mozart (referring to JS Bach)