Due to an inconvenient accident of history, we're not sure of Bach's actual birth date; I illegally use this fact as license to celebrate his birthday on the Spring Equinox, or rather, the 21st of March! The actual Equinox is (very slightly) variable from one year to the next, for reasons that sound highly dubious to me, so I stubbornly and unilaterally decide that it shall be on March the 21st. (This is one of the few instances where scientists---particularly astronomers---are more a nuisance than a help.)
In some ways, it's rather a blessing that Bach is no longer with us. When it came to music, he got tunnel vision; this led to many, many serious arguments during his life, so that we could not pretend that he was a nice guy while he was alive. He also had, like, a million kids (well, about 19 or twenty that survived their childhood, anyway), which would give the sweetest man a poor temper. (I get this from hearsay, because I have only one kid.)
He was one of the most important---probably the most influential, in my opinion---musicians in Western music. He wrote some really fantastic pieces, but much of Bach is an acquired taste. Still, few pieces by Bach would sound truly strange to modern listeners.
I'm going to take this opportunity to point readers toward some of my Bach favorites that I haven't highlighted on this blog; or at least don't remember highlighting on this blog!!
Italian Concerto, movement 2. This is not an earth-shattering piece; it is charming, and calm and tuneful, characteristics that I appreciate greatly as I sample the waters of septuagenaria.
Brandenburg Concerto 6 in B Flat. This set of 6 concertos are Bach's crowning contributions to the genre of the concerto grosso. This post isn't intended to be educational, so I'll explain what concerti grossi (?) are another time, but the 6th Brandenburg is in a class by itself.
Ouverture (or Orchestral Suite) no. 4 in D: Gigue. Everyone knows Handel's Watermusic Suites; or at least everybody used to, back when I was a kid. Well, the last two of Bach's orchestral suites give Handel a run for his money. They're grand, and brassy, and amazingly jolly---you wouldn't expect Bach to have written stuff like this. (Actually Bach did; it's just not common knowledge.). If you like this piece, and you're not familiar with Handel's Royal Fireworks Music, you ought to try those next.
If you're a choral singer, you just have to listen to 'Cum Santo spirito' from the Mass in B minor, which will knock your socks off. (Of course, if you don't like loud brassy music, maybe you should stay away from it. It is the last line of the Creed, and the tradition was to shout it out at top volume.)
I'm filled with gratitude that I know enough about Bach to evangelize like this! Well, that's Bach for you; he makes us all spread the word about his music!
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