Posted on 06/01/2002 8:18:55 PM PDT by cornelis
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Listen to the discovery of J. S. Bach's Bible: over 400 notations and a music from the Mass in B-minor
"In devotional music, God is always present with his grace" --J.S. Bach
"No longer can we simply do academic performances of his work."
Dr. Thomas Rossin, musical director of Twin Cities-based chamber choir and orchestra Exultate, recently brought Bach's bible to the MPR studios. He has done his doctoral dissertation on the discovery of this treasure and on the nearly 400 notations Bach made in the books.
Not only does Dr. Rossin's work give us great insight into Bach's music, but also we are given a new perspective on the place of music and faith in the great master's life.
Classical 24 announcer Lynne Warfel-Holt spoke with Rossin about the history of Bach's personal bible. The interview begins with Rossin explaining the interesting circumstances surrounding how and where the bible was found.
Rap is NOT music.
It is a Hate Soliloquy.
At the age of 12, if I remember correctly, he decided to dedicate all his music to the glory of God.
I am certain that's the single reason he is without peer in the world of composers. I have many works by Bach and after collecting as many as I could in some 20 years, I have many more to go. And amazingly there is so little repetition of his themes that one wonders where he came up with his ideas. I have to guess God honored his desire to write for His glory by giving him a deep well from which to draw.
Speculating, I suspect the saints will sing his music in God's presence.
Most conductors set the opening chorus at too fast a tempo. Klemperer, however, proceeds at a pace leisurely enough to give this dramatic and emotionally charged opening movement a tremendous sense of presence.
Klemperer was an astute conductor who knew that the dynamic tempo of a piece had to be adjusted, within limits, to accomodate the acoustics and reverberations of the recording site. His initial recording of this monumental opening chorus (which involves three separate antiphonal choirs), in a large church in England, lasted a full 14 minutes. But because the recording session had begun in winter, the church proved to be too damp, cold, and uncomfortable a site to labour in. So the final recording was done at a smaller but warmer hall, and the tempo was "speeded up" to 11.47 minutes.
Well, you might try Don Giovanni or the Requiem Mass (the latter mostly by him).
"When Bach had said his piece, he had said it all."
No. It's Billy Joel.
And what a beautiful and timeless gift that will be!
One of the intellectual joys of my life.
(and I didn't volunteer)
Ugh, too German. Try Dvorak. His opera Rusalka performed by the lovely Renee Fleming has the absolute touch of God.
Regards, Ivan
Actually it was the consensus that satan listened to Nicolo Pagannini and endowed him with his violin prowess. I however disagree. Fiendishly wonderful, but not demonic.
Dat's why He the Man!
--Boris
I play the notes as they are written, but it is God who makes the music. - J.S. Bach
No doubt.
IMHO Bach's Toccata and Fugue is the single greatest work of music in history, and the Passacaglia and Fugue is #2.
Beethoven is up there somewhere.
Anyway, veteran freepers know that I will use any discussion of music to mention Mike Oldfield, who I believe to be in the second rank of composers (not with Bach and Beethoven, but holding his own against Tchaikovsky and Handel). Anyway, probably the best composer and arranger since Gershwin.
He writes "rock symphonies" (my term). I commend the following:
- Tubular Bells I
- Tubular Bells II
- Incantations
- Hergest Ridge
- Ommadawn
- Five Miles Out
- The Songs of Distant Earth
Most of his material since 1984 is disappointing.
Mostly instrumental; influenced by rock, carribean, celtic, asian and african music.
For me, melody is key, and when Mike is "on" there is no better melodist I know of. Some complain that his music is boring and overlong. We Oldfieldians call them 'cloth-eared nincompoops' because they lack the subtlety and discernment to hear what he is doing with the melody.
--Boris
What is your problem with Germans?
Do you think the Mercedes-Benz is too German, too?
His opera Rusalka performed by the lovely
Renee Fleming has the absolute touch of God.
I'll take Gotterdammerung any day, the Twilight of same. :)
And then when Jesus' disciples ask "Lord, is it I?" and after Judas says "Lord is it I?" the children come in again "'tis I, my sin repenting..." (or whatever your english translation reads...similar sentiment)
Check the link on my profile page to get to a couple of mp3's of me singing my solos they gave me during our performance.
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