“Beethoven tells you what it’s like to be Beethoven and Mozart tells you what it’s like to be human. Bach tells you what it’s like to be the universe.” - Douglas Adams
Today was a relaxing day, with a leisurely breakfast, then a walk in our garden – freshly washed by the rain overnight. We went out to do some chores, go to the library, do some shopping and then back home as the weather was quite changeable, with more rain forecast. We had lunch, drank some champagne and celebrated being alive, being thankful for life’s bounty. We watched a movie and then it was evening, with more rain…
Here is one of the most sublime pieces of music ever written. It is Bach’s “Air on the G String” from his Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D Major BWV 1068. There is both a stately repose and a gentle, insinuating ever-forward moving impetus in this piece. The bass seems to drive the whole piece inexorably forward while the veils of sounds coming from the violins above caress the ears and touch the heart. The middle strings provide the silken support for the whole soaring edifice of sound. Here is the mystery of life and its simplicity laid out for all to hear. Immortal Bach!
Your sunset photo is quite lovely, the reflections perfect.
ReplyDeleteBach is indeed sublime - intricate, precise, heart-stopping.
What a sublime piece of music! One of my favorites by Bach!
ReplyDeleteThis has been a very promising post.
ReplyDeleteNicholas - I have a young nephew (whom I blogged about a few posts ago) that is a classically trained musician. I was so proud when I saw him at the proms on TV recently (baritone) and when performing Sang Till Lotta and I haven't had such a huge lump in my musical throat since.
My old dad (rest his tipsy soul) could play any instrument by ear and was an appreciator of most music kinds (jazz was his favourite!) But if we showed him an interest in any instrument, he chose a classical song, first and foremost, to play along to. He use to say ("classical's in our blood - like it or lump it"!)
I shall play "Air on the G String" this coming weekend (as it's my turn to plant the spring bulbs at his headstone) and for him to have a listen!
Bach is known in musical circles as the voice of God. So nice to finally come across another poet who recognises this.
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