How to Sound Like J.S. Bach

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Practice Notes 57 | How to Sound Like Bach

In honor of Bach's 333rd birthday, here is "Happy Birthday" in the style of J.S. Bach, as well as a few pointers on how to sound like him (at least, on the surface). Of course, to really get in depth with his music would take 100 lifetimes -- but here is something playful to celebrate with. The piece starts at 1:55.

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[christophemarois]

Your ability to improvise in Bach's style blows my mind. The analysis you do of his "tricks" is impressive enough, but you integrate with grace some of his most subtle counterpoint idiosyncrasies. Your analysis and creative skills are very inspiring because they display a level of understanding of the material that is rarely found in interpreters coming out of today's music schools, myself included. Thanks for teaching and playing for us, and please keep doing it!

[RickBeato]

Fantastic!! Beautiful video and music Nahre!

[koshersalaami]

I could listen to you do that for an hour. The Solberg Variations.

[ProkofievAMD]

As a huge Bach fan, I am amazed by your ability to understand his music so well. How many thumbs up is the maximum one can give in youtube ? One is not enough.

[Dhooparty]

Awesome, you could have told me Bach himself composed that and I would have believed it!

[DimitriSafarikas]

Bach's compositions are so rich ! I've been fighting with the same Bach prelude & fugue (n°2) for more than a year ... and still appreciate to hear it, with the same delight, each time.

Thank you Nahre for those brilliant pieces of advice and your everlasting optimism that shines through these lessons :)

I'd love to find a teacher like you, here in Belgium.

[peterwrooke]

I'm sure Bach has already accepted your friend request. Brilliant!

[diegos]

This is one of the most autstanding music dissections I've ever seen. Really really good!

[fashidox]

As a huge fan of Bach, I thought no one would ever somewhat mildly capture his essence. However, you have managed to surprise me. Respect to you.

[korgos]

I tend to avoid your channel, because every time I visit it, i tend to neglect my practice and watch your entire Youtube output. Lol. Love your Musical Universe, keep them coming!

[mattd]

This is miraculous. They way you present this information is so clear and concise. I like how you used examples of correct and incorrect ways of sounding like Bach, that was very helpful! I have never subscribed so quickly to a channel.

[MattPark]

Trying to read all the pop-up words during the piece is like polyphony for the eyes 😍

Thank you so much for this fun and instructive video!

[tondann]

Bach is so powerful, always when I listen I feel like its empowering and strong. Knowing why it is like that is very precious. Thank you Nahre!

[Rohio]

More like this! Do chopin and rachmaninoff too !!

[larikipe]

Make it about 5 minutes long, score it for the organ, and I'll buy it and play it in church.

[silviemarksilverstein]

That was absolutely unbelievable. As someone who reached the height of Bach's compositions by playing 2 part Inventions many decades ago, I am in awe. Thank you!

[jjaammee]

You're truly the best Nahre Sol. You're so humble and informative. Keep up the brilliant work.

[AntPDC]

You nailed Bach's idiom - indeed the idiom of the Baroque era - mind-blowingly complex as it is. There is something about that era, as exemplified by Bach and Handel in particular, which simultaneously nourishes one's brain as well as emotions. It is beauty.

[IYBeats]

WOW! It`s amazing, thanks for your videos! Please make more like this!
Love from Russia

[robbesrh]

Exceptionally well done, Nancy. I thoroughly enjoyed that — and I love Bach’s solo keyboard works.