What Made Bach Great? Johann Sebastian Bach 1685-1750

In this episode we explore the life and music of Johann Sebastian Bach 1685-1750.
Photography in Leipzig by Fabian Pape

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[littlelamb]

Saw him live back in the late 1720’s. Best concert I’ve ever been to. Legend forever ☺️

[CretvMG]

When I was a classical guitar major my prof told me that Music Theory was just everyone coming along after Bach and trying to explain what he did by nature.

[bcflyer]

Peter Ustinov said: Bach's music is so beautiful that it diminishes one's fear of death by virtue of its serene attachment to life.

[monicacall]

As a cellist I can’t say enough about the Six Solo Suites for Cello. They are the gold standard for cellists. If you can play these works musically and well you can play anything else in the repertoire. These six suites have been the soundtrack of my life expressing the entire range of emotions from deepest grief to absolute exultation and joy.

[Kerphelio]

The word "Bach" means "creek" in German. So Beethoven once said "Bach? Ocean is what he should have been called..."

[snitsch]

Jack Bruce (lead singer and bass player of Cream) said that " J.S. Bach wrote fabulous bass parts that every bass player should study cause they perfectly illustrate how to be functional and melodic at the same time."

[SteveKercherMusic]

I play Bach on the guitar almost everyday particularly the lute suites. I named my daughter Anna Magdalena after his wonderful wife. I'm pretty passionate about Bach too. Thanks for this!

[sophieblack]

I grew up in the Soviet Union and studied classical piano between the ages 7-14. Musical school curriculum was quite strict and we had to play this or that composer's works no matter how much we liked it or not. So I had to improvise sometimes and that was not encouraged at all :). Bach was the only composer I practiced without any hesitation, by placing fingers exactly the way it was requested, without any need to change anything. Bach's music was/is so complete, perfect and divine, it had tamed the rebellious teenager in me.

[bassmaiasa]

I was in seventh grade, in junior high school in Harlem, and our teacher took us out one night on a 'cultural enrichment field trip' to hear the ballet. I was 12 and not really interested in ballet, but the music for one of the dances caught my ear. I thought to myself "the violins are talking to each other." Later, I looked at the program and it was obvious I'd heard the Concerto for Two Violins. Looking back, I think that moment was the awakening of my musical life.

[USMCArchAngel]

A wonderful thing about classical music is you can feel that these pieces are amazing, even if you have no idea why.

[Mamo]

"Now _there_ is music from which a man can learn something."
- W. A. Mozart (on hearing Bach motets in Leipzig)

[Normantnt]

"The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul." J.S.Bach

[nikosibarramante]

Bach was actually ‘forgotten’ in the years after his death. His ‘rediscovery’ is attributed to Felix Mendelssohn’s effort to promote his music. And Western music was better because of this.

As someone who has played Bach’s music on the keyboard, sang and conducted his choral works, I would say that Bach’s genius lay on his almost unearthly understanding of the transition from modal music to triadic harmonic progression (today’s harmony), and his ability to utilize these into his music. Western music at that time was still moving from modes (it was a long transition since Monteverdi), and Bach was the master who knew how to wield the power of his music writing during these exciting period in history. Thank you Rick for sharing your experiences and knowledge. Leipzig can be a transformative place for a musician who is hungry for understanding.

[Phi]

If you ever find yourself asking the question: "If I'm looking up to all these great musicians, then who are all these great musicians looking up to?"
The answer is Bach.

[pickles]

I love how Rick is equally passionate about Alice in Chains and Bach. That’s why this is such a great channel. For anyone new to Bach, I would recommend checking out Sheep May Safely Graze. It may not be Bach’s most complex piece. But it’s stunningly beautiful.

[karlmahlmann]

“The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.” - Johann Sebastian Bach

[enkiitu]

I lived for a while three blocks away from the Thomas Kirche in Leipzig, while I was working as a singer in Leipzig’s opera house.
Rick, I usually watch your videos because they are very entertaining, and I have to thank you for this one. Especially. I’ve sung many works by Bach, especially Matthäus Passion. Many times. And I love how broad your music palate is. I feel deeply identified with it.


Apart from EVERYTHING else, Bach was an incredible melodist, if such a word exists. And he was a man, like you and I. It’s absolutely mind blowing the amount of works with such consistent quality, beauty, inventiveness, etc... that this guy wrote. Never was and never will be something like it.
Thank you for this video, man.

[tonyhunt]

Bach is one of those very rare individuals who actually is as good as the "hype".

[GamingRevenant]

As an organist myself, having played Bach for over 8 years now... it's just incredible how each and every new piece I hear of him is so different and such a new world. Everytime I want to learn a new piece of him, I discover things where I'm like "wait, he also wrote things like this...?". His Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor is an absolute pinnacle in his repertoire, and is probably the most beautiful and exhilarating masterwork I've ever played.

[allisonrich]

When life is crashing down all around me I listen to JS Bach to make things feel more ordered and calm. Bach's music is healing.