Posted by Wade on April 07, 2001 at 15:35:47:
In Reply to: Bach, the composer posted by Grant MacIntyre on April 06, 2001 at 22:58:17:
The music is buried within the notes. Listen harder. Do this for as long as needed to see that he IS saying stuff...deeply profound stuff at times.
When you see that Bach was a titan in his field, THEN you can decide if you like him or not. Even though the practice of concert programming (up until Mendelssohn) was to let a composer's music die with him, many Classical and Romantic Period composers intensely studied Bach's scores. Why? Mozart revered him. Why? (Of course, if you think that Mozart was bad too, well, I don't know what to tell you.)
Just don't be so flippant about a composer and performer of this caliber when you have yet to grasp what he is saying. Or the people you're addressing at the punch bowl (keg?) will smile outwardly and dismiss you as being obtuse. And we wouldn't want that, would we?
Or go ahead and dismiss him as being anything less than brilliant, or even a hack; whatever...this is your opinion. But when making such a bold statement, be as informed as you can. If you really couldn't care less for Bach (or whomever) then say that. Just try not to make blanket criticisms about his abilities...after all, the guy IS dead, you know.
I guess its all about you, man.
Wade Rackley