You will note, GfS, that I said:

"If Bach wasn't 'flavor of the month' in many Catholic churches during his own lifetime, it was because he was a Lutheran. Not because he 'stacked forths.'"

The operational word that you pointed out is "eventually." Almost all of the older, mainline churches of various denominations use Bach's music in their sevices from time to time. That does not contradict anything that I said above.

Polyphony? Of course. J. S. Bach raised the art of the fugue and other polyphonic forms to intricacies that amaze musicians even today, especially in the fact that, even with their mathematical complexity, they retain, and often gain aesthetic quality.

By the way, every Sunday evening, Saint Mark's Cathedral (Episcopalian), about ten blocks north of where I live, conducts a Compline service, which is broadcast on KING-FM, Seattle. The music consists of a male choir singing Gregorian chants.

Also, in anticipation of forming a "Medieval Men's Choir" here in Seattle (there is already a Medieval Women's Choir here), Nancy Quensé, a long-time friend who sings with the women's choir told me about the new group forming and suggested that I might join it. I did, and attended several workshops on Gregorian chant and medieval music in general. In addition to singing in a choir, which I enjoyed when I attended the U. of W. School of Music, I learned a great deal in those workshops that could be applied to the singing of really old ballads. Unfortunately, due to time conflicts among the men in the group, the Medieval Men's Choir never got off the ground. Too bad! But it was a great learning experience for me.

So you see, I'm not exactly unacquainted with early liturgical music.

And as to your accusation that I corrected the errors in your post only to differ with you—GfS, you are not that important to me. Don't flatter yourself. But when you post misinformation, it should really be corrected by someone. I don't think anyone should confuse the innocent by posting misleading information just because they'd like to sound knowledgeable.

Now, back to our regular broadcast.

By the way, what are "stacked forths?"

Don Firth