BBC on J.S.Bach

Subject: BBC on J.S.Bach
From: Stanron
Date: 30 Mar 13 - 05:40 PM

Has anyone else just watched the program on J.S.Bach on BBC 2?

90 minutes of heaven. Even as a renounced Christian and non aggressive atheist, the perception of divinity or spirituality is enhanced by this music. Doctrines can go hang. The music is a transportation.

Subject: RE: BBC on J.S.Bach
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 30 Mar 13 - 06:52 PM

Totally agree Stanron. Heavenly indeed. Am off to bed in a happy trance!

Subject: RE: BBC on J.S.Bach
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 30 Mar 13 - 07:18 PM

Anything by Bach is worth hearing. Sorry I haven't heard the program you refer to.

His secular cantatas are full of life but rarely heard. For a bit of his quiet humor, get his "Coffee Cantata." There are several performances, but I prefer the one staged by Ton Koopman, with the young woman who loves coffee above all else.

I am tired of the "Messiah" and would much rather see one of the big chorale groups do a Bach mass.

Subject: RE: BBC on J.S.Bach
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 30 Mar 13 - 07:52 PM

I knew it was on but I couldn't watch it. It'll be on iPlayer on my iPad tomorrow. My old mum rang me to say how good it was.

Subject: RE: BBC on J.S.Bach
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 31 Mar 13 - 06:54 AM

It had a lot about his upbringing and how it affected his later life. He seems to have been a unruly employee and the told the storey of how he applied for 4 weeks leave to visit Lubeck (where he trained as a chorister) to hear the great Danish organist Buxtehude. He wasn't granted leave but left anyway and walked the 300 miles and was away from his job for a total of 4 months. I heard elsewhere that after hearing Buxtehude he immediately started his journey back. There was a lot of information about how the nobility treated their employees and how their religion affected the music Bach was required to write. All this and some wonderful singing and playing.

Subject: RE: BBC on J.S.Bach
From: Stanron
Date: 31 Mar 13 - 09:33 AM

From a different program I heard that when Bach visited Buxtehude the great man offered Bach his job if he would marry his daughter. The offer was declined. Apparently the same offer was also made to G F Handel who made a similar pilgrimage, was made a similar offer and also gave a similar refusal. Some daughter. She'd probably had more than enough of musicians by that time.
Incidentally, J S Bach, G F Handel and one of the Scarlattis were all born in the same year. How spooky is that?

Subject: RE: BBC on J.S.Bach
From: GUEST,PeterC
Date: 31 Mar 13 - 11:03 AM

Yes it was a really good programme, well made, great music, and excellent camera work.

Subject: RE: BBC on J.S.Bach
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 31 Mar 13 - 11:10 AM

I think Turlough O'Carolan was born the same year as well. Perhaps not as famous but every bit as much a musician by all accounts.

Subject: RE: BBC on J.S.Bach
From: Musket
Date: 31 Mar 13 - 12:53 PM

Thoroughly enjoyed it. Bach's cadencing is the nearest you can get to experiencing infinity, and as always, I find myself lost to the world in his vision.

When I need to programme the central heating, I reach for the manual. When I want inspiration musically, I reach for Bach.

Subject: RE: BBC on J.S.Bach
From: Ron Davies
Date: 31 Mar 13 - 12:58 PM

His music was also considered turgid and old-fashioned by some critics at the time--and he answered one by putting him in a cantata as an object of ridicule.   Did the program mention that?