March 21, 2023 - Good Morning! It’s Tuesday, March 21.
On this day in 1685, the man who, arguably, was the greatest musician in history, was born. His name was Johann Sebastian Bach. He died in 1750, a quarter century before America was born, producing a body of work, in his 65 years, unparalleled by any other composer.
Mozart and Beethoven were also born after Bach’s death, and both were big fans. Mozart called him the “Father of Music”. Beethoven made a play on words about Bach’s name (it means “brook” in German) when he said, “He is not a brook, he is the sea”.
I’m a big fan, too. One reason is that, throughout his life, Bach earned his living as a church musician. The bulk of his music was written for Sunday services, and so it is centered on the organ and the choir.
During his lifetime, Bach was known, if he was known at all, as an organist. He was said to have prodigious powers of improvisation - like a modern day jazz musician. Google Toccata and Fugue in D Minor to get an idea what Bach may have sounded like at the organ.
But for a century after his death, Bach’s compositions were largely forgotten. A “Bach Revival” in the mid-1800’s established his reputation, and in 2019, 200 of the world’s greatest composers voted Bach the greatest composer in history.
At his heart, though, Johann Sebastian Bach, remained a church musician, and I leave you today, with his famous quote.
“Music’s only purpose and highest aim should be the Glory of God!”
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
