/r/bach

Photograph via snooOG

A subreddit devoted to the deeply moving majestic beauty of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach.

/r/bach

10,413 Subscribers

1

St John Passion: 39. Ruht wohl, ihr heiligen Gebeine (piano transcription)

0 Comments
2024/11/02
18:47 UTC

2

If you can dream, you can do it ! Enjoy: Bach Allemande from French Suite n 5 BWV 816 rev Busoni.

0 Comments
2024/11/02
09:23 UTC

1

If Bach were a bluegrass musician, this is the sort of thing he would write

6 Comments
2024/10/31
14:01 UTC

2

Revisiting an old favourite... Yehudi Menuhin and the Bath Festival Orchestra

Just been listening to an old favourite and thought I'd share the suggestion...

I've had this album on vinyl for over 4 decades and I've heard, well, at least dozens of other performances of these three Bach violin concertos (Am, E, Dm double conc) but I've never heard a performance that moves me so much as this old sixties recording on Decca Full Frequency Stereophonic Sound vinyl of Yehudi Menuhin (originally famous as "the boy violinist") and the Bath Festival Orchestra, joined by Christian Ferras in the D minor.

Menuhin was recognised as a genius and had a deep love of Bach and was phenomenal in his interpretation of Bach's works imo.

There's some warmth to these performances which later recordings tend to avoid, which makes so many later performances sound a little sterile and clinical to me.

Technically he's using more vibrato and rubato than is generally used for Bach recordings of today, but he was the genius violinist, not me, so I wouldn't dream of criticising, plus I like his style. :)

This YouTube music listing has changed the original running order and I disagree with the change... the D minor double concerto was originally last and works perfectly as the conclusion to the album as it originally was.

Ideally I suggest the original running order... A minor, E major, D minor double, starting at track 4.

I'd be interested to hear others' thoughts on this old (but high quality mastered) recording, and any other suggestions for other worthy versions of these three masterworks.

Hope you enjoy as much as I do...

Update: Just checking... if you are not a YouTube Premium subscriber then this particular URL will play an older, mono recording with the Robert Masters Chamber Orchestra instead.

The recording I recommend is with the Bath Festival Orchestra and is in stereo.

As an experiment I just followed this exact same link on my other browser which is signed into a different gmail account, one which has YouTube Premium membership, and got the stereo Bath Festival Orchestra recording, and a different interface.

Didn't know they did that.

https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m4TDEAdeO9_8-RVPW4nI5wGQR8u9pYsgc&feature=shared

2 Comments
2024/10/30
19:04 UTC

2

Question that has beeb troubling my mind: what piece is this?

This piece seems way way too italian to be Bach, but it says it is. Shazam couldnt find it.

Starts at 20:20

https://www.youtube.com/live/gLDIcr9Hjes?feature=shared

12 Comments
2024/10/27
06:44 UTC

4

The future is not something we enter. The future is something we create. Enjoy Gigue French Suite n 4 BWV 815a

0 Comments
2024/10/26
11:24 UTC

3

Question

Hey All- Where do you recommend an intermediate reader start with Bach? I have traditionally played pop and jazz by ear- and understand chord theory well, but lack basic technique. Is it too late for me? I am currently working through 2 part inventions but this does not come easy to an old ear rat 😰. Seeking advice because I have fallen in love with Bach and want to play at the level of some in this sub!!

5 Comments
2024/10/25
04:49 UTC

5

Which Bach melodies would be adapted best for a Romantic era symphony?

I was thinking about how unfortunate it was that Bach came too early to write any symphonies, and was wondering: if you could choose parts of his music, such as melodies or musical ideas, for a Romantic era symphony, which parts would you choose?

I haven't gotten very far, but I think that every part of Sind Blitze, Sind Donner from St. Matthew Passion would be great for a third movement, and a lot of Canzona in D minor would make a great second movement.

12 Comments
2024/10/23
22:56 UTC

7

Voice independence in performances/recordings of Bach

Though I love all kinds of approach to Bach's music, I'm definitely more attracted to those who prioritize its polyphonic aspects, such as voice independence. I like, for example, when Gould or Tureck make it obvious that the fugue's subject has returned, or when they bring out the inner voices of a piece in such a way that you feel like you're listening to that piece for the first time.

Besides Gould and Tureck, which recordings or performers fall into this category?

Any suggestions of recordings where these qualities shine?

Any favourite performances where the inner voices of a piece are brought to the forefront in a surprising way?

11 Comments
2024/10/23
08:58 UTC

3

When you change your thoughts remember to also change your world. Enjoy Bach Air French Suite n 4 BWV 815a. Rev Busoni

0 Comments
2024/10/23
05:36 UTC

7

Prelude 6 in D minor (BWV851) from Book 1 of the well-tempered Clavier

2 Comments
2024/10/20
18:09 UTC

10

Fugue in B-flat minor, BWV 891 from Well-Tempered Clavier Book 2

3 Comments
2024/10/19
23:11 UTC

5

My attempt at BWV 874 Fugue no 5 in D major from WTC II

5 Comments
2024/10/18
16:17 UTC

6

It's beautiful. As a bass player I'm always drawn to the bass "line" and I love how the bass is outlining the harmony so beautifully here

4 Comments
2024/10/16
15:04 UTC

6

Bach’s youthful composition, played on a 1701 historical organ—crafted the same year he wrote this piece.

1 Comment
2024/10/16
10:52 UTC

3

Heard this in my dream

2 Comments
2024/10/15
21:32 UTC

8

Cello Suite 2 on Contraforte

1 Comment
2024/10/15
16:25 UTC

6

Goldberg Variations: recommendation and a request!

For anyone who loves the Goldberg Variations as much as I do. I recommend this podcast 30 Bach (available on YT) which goes into the piece as well as the history all around it (incl. the biography of Bach himself).

https://youtu.be/9n9al235GiA?t=243

While I am at it, my request: can anyone please identify the stunning organ work at the 4:00 mark?

1 Comment
2024/10/15
08:51 UTC

3

Piece suggestions for me?

Hello everybody,

Just wondering if anyone has some piece recommendations for me?

I love strong counterpoint-rich winding melodies with a deep base.

Here are my absolute favourites (by no means a complete list but hopefully this can give an idea of what im looking for):

BWV582 Passacaglia

  • I love how this piece has very strong deep supporting pedalboard work and how the upper melody feels very windy and twisted

Contrapunctus 1,7, 11, 14

  • Amazing! These pieces have grown on me a lot. I didn't really used to enjoy them but as I got used to their style (much more unresolved and unpredictable)they have become some of my favourites. The Other Contrapunctus pieces dont quite hit the spot for me but they are nice.

BWV547

  • I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the middle part of this piece. I love how the melody dances around a middle pivot and has a very short and sharp catchy tune. I NEED MORE PIECES LIKE THISSS

BWV625 Christ Lag in Todesbanden

  • Great piece. It has a very strong deep theme to it

BWV934

  • Fun little piece. Less complex than a lot of other Bach's works but I do enjoy listening to it

BUX161, 160,159

  • Some of my Favourites from Buxtehude

Ive been looking through other pieces like BWV538, 565, 546, 543, 544, etc but a lot of them haven't hit the right spot for me.

Any other recommendations?

Thanks :)

6 Comments
2024/10/14
20:15 UTC

6

Birthday Two Part Invention(Original piece)

Hello,

Recently, I celebrated my birthday, which inspired me to use the 'Happy Birthday' motif as the foundation for this invention. Although my birthday has passed since I started writing, more than a week ago haha this piece is now dedicated to everyone's birthday! I feel I've learned a lot from my first invention, and this one feels much more polished. I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions on it!

I wanted to share this on this subreddit , am still very new to composition , but I hope this will give everyone some joy!

Original Music Score by [MinGry] - [Two Part Birthday Invention]

Score: https://ibb.co/rxw078N

Thank you for the time it took to look at this post and even more so if you responded!

2 Comments
2024/10/11
14:01 UTC

1

Scores

Which app do you use for following scores? Or do you use any?

4 Comments
2024/10/11
10:12 UTC

5

I made a new recording of BWV 929. What do you think?

0 Comments
2024/10/09
12:36 UTC

4

Need help with what to play next

I just finished the 2-part inventions and am gonna start with the sinfonias. After that I'm planning on playing the partitas and then the French overture but I don't know what to play after that. Should I do the french or English suites? Or Should I start wit WTC?

Would love some tips!

12 Comments
2024/10/07
18:28 UTC

13

My morning is full of sunlight, hope and Bach. Enjoy Bach's Minuett French Suite n 4 BWV 815a

0 Comments
2024/10/07
05:05 UTC

4

Bach - Art of Fugue, Contrapunctus 14 completed [Baroque, Contrapuntal]

1 Comment
2024/10/06
21:04 UTC

22

Adam Fulara plays Goldberg Variation 2 on a double necked guitar

0 Comments
2024/10/05
04:09 UTC

3

Good morning ! Today is the perfect day to start living your dreams with Bach . Enjoy Gavotte n 2 French Suite n 4 BWV 815a

0 Comments
2024/10/04
09:49 UTC

3

Bach - Trio from Cantata BWV 92 (organ transcription) - Metzler organ, Poblet, Hauptwerk

0 Comments
2024/10/03
16:44 UTC

2

help me Identify this piece Please

11 Comments
2024/10/02
15:10 UTC

3

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.

0 Comments
2024/09/30
09:13 UTC

Back To Top