Johann Sebastian Bach

[Worm of Despite]

I was reading God Emperor of Dune last month, and I fondly recall Leto II (the main character), who had the memories of all his ancestors in his head. He said something to the effect that he could go back in these memories to actual Bach concerts and Mozart concerts, etc.

I thought it was funny, because Leto calls Mozart "pretentious" and then basically goes on to declare Bach the best musician/composer of all time. I've decided if I'm going to buy one CD on classical music, I want the artist to be who is regarded the "best of them all". Now I know it's all opinion, but whom should I go with? Should I follow the advice of the God Emperor Himself and go with Bach? Or what? Who else?

Feel free to also tell me some good J.S. Bach tracks that I should download off Kazaa.

All the good music has already been written by people with wigs and stuff.
Frank Zappa

[Damelon]

I like Beethoven. Try the 7th Symphony, as it's not heard as much, but is great music.

For a more educated opinion, you should ask Fist. He has some grounding in classical music.

[Worm of Despite]

Yeah, Beethoven is probably my favorite. I've of course heard his Moonlight Sonata (everybody has), but so far my favorite is the 9th symphony, since it was played during Clockwork Orange. Aside from that, though, I don't know much else about classical stuff.

[[Syl]]

I remember reading once that Einstein said something like [Beethoven invented great music, but Brahms discovered it.] I think he said, Brahms, anyway. Could have been Bach, but I can't find the quote anywhere to check for sure.

[Fist and Faith]

To put an end to the question of which composer to go with (if, for some bizarre reason, you could only pick one) let me just say:

Bach=God

Could the God Emperor be wrong? Nope.

As for specific pieces, lets start with these.

The Organ Toccatas and Passacaglia
Performed by Christopher Herrick on the Hyperion label. I read a review that said, "If you only own one disc of organ music, this must be it." Having several organ discs already, with recordings of all these pieces, I was a bit skeptical. And I was wrong. What an amazing disc!!

Brandenburg Concertos
Hard to go wrong with performances. Hogwood, Harnoncourt, Tafelmusik are all good performances on period instruments. (Meaning they're playing 300+ yo instruments, or replicas.) But Bach sounds like paradise if you play it on kazoos, so just go for it.

Cantata #140 - Wachet auf (Sleepers, wake)
Conducted by Karl Richter. Soloists: Edith Mathis, Peter Schreier, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. Recorded 1979, I think. Label: Deutsche Grammophon

Cantata #4 - Christ lag in Todes Banden (Christ lay in the bonds of death)
Condunted by Richter. Soloists: Kieth Engen, Hedwig Bilgram. Recorded 1959 or 63. Label: Teldec

Goldberg Variations
Performed by Hantai on the Opus 111 label, or Pinnock on Archiv.

St. Matthew Passion
Conducted by Herreweghe or Gardiner. (More expensive multi-disc, but might be mid-priced by now.)

St. John Passion
Gardiner

Sonatas and Partitas for unaccompanied violin
Performed by any of the following:
Perlman
Szeryng
Mintz

Unaccompanied Cello Suites
Performed by any of the following:
Ma
Rostropoich
Wispelwey
Kirkpatrick

Let me know when you need more.


And if you start threads asking the same about Beethoven, Schubert, or Bartok, I'll give you some suggestions. I'm not particularly fond of Mozart, but I know a bit there too.

[Worm of Despite]

Okay, I think I'll go with the Brandenburg concertos, but which disc were you talking about specifically, because there are maybe a hundred discs on Amazon saying "Brandenburg concertos". And I'm not sure which would be the best one to go with, so take a look at these five and tell me which would be the best (these are the top-five best-selling of the concertos, so they must be good):

www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/ ... =classical

www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/ ... =classical

www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/ ... =classical

www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/ ... =classical

www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/ ... =classical

If any of these aren't the one you meant, please lemme know! Thanks again!

[Guest]

(these are the top-five best-selling of the concertos, so they must be good):

Good one!

I think I'd recommend them in the order you have them listed. My best recommendation would be the first one, with Martin Perlman conducting Boston Baroque. They're a great group, playing on period instruments, the Telarc label has great recording quality, and the price is in the mid range.

The second is by I Musici. The price is even better. The group plays modern instruments. That's not a problem for me, I just go with period instruments if there's a recording available by a group I trust. The recording is also older, which is why it's a Philips/Duo, which means 2 for-1-price. You listen to the Beatles, so you know that older recording are often great. And you can listen to the samples, so you know the quality is good.

[Worm of Despite]

I'm assuming the knowledgeable guest is none other than our Fist and Faith! If so or if not so, then thanks anyway! I've gone ahead and ordered the Martin Pearlman conducting Boston Baroque off Amazon.com. I feel like I'm evolving to a higher existence, music-wise. heh . . .

[Fist and Faith]

Yes, it was me. And yes, you are. And the little dance to honor the purchase:

GO FOUL!
GO FOUL!
GO FOUL!

[Worm of Despite]

Well it came in today, and by far my favorite composition on there is:

Concerto No. 1, In F Major: II. Adagio

No words can describe.

Interesting coincidence: Bach was born in the year 1685, whilst my birth date reads as "February 16, 1985". Hmm, better start playing that organ! Actually, if I was musically talented or at least knew how to write music, I would be putting some killer beats out. It'll probably always remain trapped in my head, though. O, what a horrible imprisonment!

[Fist and Faith]

Whatever reason anybody finds to be interested in Bach is a good thing! He was born March 21, if it helps anyone.

And hey! How long has that been your sig??? I just watched that yesterday! First time since it was originally in the theaters.

[Worm of Despite]

Well it was a quote I had in the year 2002, and just recently I put it back on. I always rotate new quotes in, and unless someone comments on one of them, then I'll just keep the rotation going. I think that quote alone made Blade Runner great.

[Fist and Faith]

Yes, it did. That's always been my favorite part of the movie.