Weekend self-care open thread: The genius of Bach
Beethoven had this to say about Johann Sebastian Bach: Nicht Bach, sondern Meer sollte er heißen, wegen seines unendlichen, unerschöpflichen Reichtums an Tonkombinationen und Harmonien.
Our Maike Hudson will have no problem understanding this. But for those of us not fluent in German, it translates as this: He should be called sea (Meer), not brook (Bach), because of the never-ending richness of his harmonies.
Obviously, the pun works not at all in English. But the sentiment is correct.
Bach led European music into the modern era. If it can be said that all modern pop music derives from the Beatles, all European art music to this day would not exist in its current form were it not for Bach.
Bach brought a complexity and melodic richness to European art music which cannot be overestimated. What is amazing is that for decades after his death, he was almost-forgotten. But that didn't last long. First Mozart, then Beethoven, then finally Felix Mendelssohn revived his music, elevating him to primus inter pares of European composers. No matter how avant-garde, no matter how adventurous, all composers working in the Western tradition do so under Bach's playful gaze. Indeed, many modern pop songs—from the Beatles' "All You Need is Love" to Eminem's "Brainless" are based on Bachian melodies.
So for this weekend's self-care, we'll do a compare and contrast. First, a pop song. Then, the music of Bach on which it's based. See if you can hear it.
All You Need Is Love by the Beatles; Invention no. 8
Sweetbox, Everything's Gonna Be Alright; Air on the G String
Procol Harum, A Whiter Shade of Pale; Arioso from Cantata BWV 156
Jem, They; Prelude in F Minor, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II
And yes, pop musicians plunder the classical repertoire. Why? Well, for one, it's wonderful music. And secondly, there are no copyright issues.
As always, dear friends, be ever kind, gentle, and joyful with yourselves and those around you.