Sinden.org

A visual followup to my "Bach for Barack" idea: "Baroque Obama"

Stabler, David. "Barack Obama: It was only a matter of time" The Oregonian 28 August 2008

Taft Chatham's image is for sale on a shirt.

Labels: Bach, Obama

Inspired by "Artists for Obama", I find myself thinking about a project I call: "Organ for Obama", or even better, "Bach for Barack".

O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sünde groß, BWV 622

B Minor Prelude, BWV 544

An Wasserflüssen Babylon, BWV 653

Meine Seele erhebt den Herren, BWV 648

Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 715

Are these good choices?

Is anyone interested in recording these and getting them on the web?

Discuss.

Messiaen for McCain? Anyone? It is a centennial year. For Messiaen I mean.

Labels: Bach, John McCain, Obama

A double-sided page of an organ part written by J. S. Bach has been found.

Labels: Bach

I'm on vacation today, so I'll give you this little video so that you too might escape from your work-a-day world into the glories of graphically realized pseudo-Bach.

Labels: Bach, BWV 565

The Calgary Herald reports that the recently discovered "Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns haelt" will have its North American premiere in Montreal today.

Where did I put my passport? And my sick day policy?

Previously: Bach, Johann Sebastian - new organ work by

Labels: Bach, Canada

A new Bach chorale prelude (or as one report refers to it, a chorale fantasy), "Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns haelt", has been discovered in Germany.

Sensationsfund in Halle: Orgelkomposition von Bach entdeckt (Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg) - includes tantalizing photos!

Lost Bach composition for organ discovered in Germany (The Earth Times) - describes a five to seven minute chorale fantasy!

New Bach composition discovered (News.com.au)

Bach's Cantata 178 is based on the same chorale.

Labels: Bach

Only recently did I notice the number symbolism implicit in Marie-Claire Alain's recording of Bach's complete music for organ. There are 14 CDs.

B   A   C   H
2 + 1 + 3 + 8 = 14

Numerological tricks involving the number 14 occur throughout Bach's music.

As a for instance, take the famous chorale prelude "O Mensch Bewein" from the Orgelbüchlein. Some scholars find it significant that at this fourteenth measure, Bach introduces the melody "Von Himmel Hoch" in the inner voices.

This might be a coincidence taken by itself, but these kinds of things pop up throughout Bach's work.

It's significant, I think, that Bach uses this personal locus to inject theological nuance in a work that is already a masterpiece.

Bach signed all of his compositions "Soli Deo Gloria", meaning, to God alone be the glory.

In a place where he should have signed his name, Bach offers praise. Just like measure number 14.

Although, it's not uncommon to find the notes BACH there either.

Whatever.

Happy Birthday Bach.

Labels: Bach