I have quite some Bach in my collection, some of it bought years ago. Which is a bit of a surprise, because if you had asked me, until fairly recently, whether I liked Bach, my reply would have been "No..............except for the bits that I do like!"
Bored at school once, I proclaimed "Bach was a mathematician!" I think my intention was to be disruptive. Let's be honest, it normally was at school. Unfortunately, my Maths teacher seized on my comment and enthusiastically agreed, rhapsodising on the pure mathematical genius of Bach.
Strange that I never reallly liked him, because, in general, I like my music to be mathematical. However, as part of my "All the records by forty" blog, and listening, project, I am just embarking on my playing all my Bach CDs and tapes.
First comes some organ music. The tape is titled "Toccata & Fugue BWV 565", a bit of a misnomer because it also contains Canonic Variations, a Fantasia, Prelude-and-Fugues, and a Pastorale.
The opening T&F in D minor is the one that everyone knows. One of those pieces that is part of the ether. And a fine piece it is, too.
Goes away to educate herself on what a fugue is. I sort of know but I'm not sure that I can really explain it even to myself.
Good heavens, I did know that. No point reading it, let the music explain what a fugue does, listen to the music, and it's obvious. I knew that, didn't I? It's fundamentally mathematical, meaning that somebody like me could have enormous cerebral fun working out counterpoints etc. But, and this is vital to understand, the beauty of Bach is in the triumph of substance over form. She says, trying to convince herself...
This tape is of diminishing quality, and by rights, I ought to replace it. But this is where my Bach 'thing' comes in. I can listen to the music as an exciting and stimulating cerebral mathematical experience. I can listen to the organ, an instrument I love to hear, and indeed, this tape instantly evokes the intoxicating smell of incense. But, when this tape finally knackers I shall probably put a replacement CD on my wishlist and not pursue it. The simple fact that , to me, Bach, although clearly a mathematical genius, doesn't contain the other-wordly inspiration of Mozart or Beethoven. Without Bach there could not have been Mozart or Beethoven.
Reading more on Baroque I remember that Bach was born just 26 days after Handel and just a few miles apart. Extraordinary. It makes it difficult not to believe in astronomy or some such force. My Oxford Companion to Music refers to Baroque reaching its apogee with the very different temperaments of Handel and Bach. I have always been a Handel girl.
Nevertheless I have decided that the next few weeks will see me making a concerted effort to understand the Bach in my collection. Which doesn't amount to much, but in the auto-didactic spirit I will also seek out miscellaneous pieces on compilation and artist albums.
I publish this piece about this album and welcome comments aimed to educate and enlighten me. Basically, it's pleasant wallpaper music, and I know I should be listening intently, perhaps with score, to follow those marvellously complex patterns of counterpoint and harmony. But, frankly, I'm glad that Beethoven comes next alphabetically.
