Bach vs Beethoven in a Battle of Musical Minds | Intelligence Squared

Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven are without doubt two of the most sublime musical geniuses who ever lived. But which of the two was the greater? To battle it out, Intelligence Squared brought to the stage two celebrated figures from the world of music: world-renowned cellist Steven Isserlis for Bach and acclaimed music critic Norman Lebrecht for Beethoven. The pianist is Mishka Rushdie Momen and the event was hosted by Reeta Chakrabarti.
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Intelligence Squared has established itself as the leading forum for live, agenda-setting debates, talks and discussions around the world. Our aim is to promote a global conversation that enables people to make informed decisions about the issues that matter, in the company of the world's greatest minds and orators.
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[@JBorda]

They were born 100 years apart. There’s no possible competition

[@CM_7]

Nothing better than Bach 😊

[@basstian]

Yeah. Like there's even a choice to be made there!

[@bachdeanOnline]

Beethoven : Not "brook" [in German: Bach], but "sea" should he [Johann Sebastian Bach] be called because of his infinite, inexhaustible richness in tone combinations and harmonies

[@user-hq1hp3ux9e]

Bach. He is the OG. Every note is there for a reason. Beethoven feels like he is just flexing. (both are great)

[@MrYuryZ]

J.S. Bach is just above all and on another level. Listening to him everyday since discovered Sublime Beauty, Peace and Devine Harmony a few years ago.

[@joha3156]

I respect Bach but I love Beethoven. It has to be Beethoven.

[@Meine.Postma]

I concur

[@mysticmouse7261]

Without Bach there would be no Beethoven. He always pierces my soul and is the most eloquent argument for the existence of God.

[@kp6215]

Thank you as I discovered each composer in 1963 at 12 in my Music Appreciation Class at same time the Beatles became known. I love both of these composers received an A in the class and still remember the final exam.

[@Meine.Postma]

Ludwig van, no competition for me

[@dramatika116]

Many thanx for this ❤❤❤

[@ttrons2]

I could not make that decision Bach or Beethoven. Both equally. Bach for the tonal scale and Beethoven for the structure of music.

[@KMHill]

Beethoven. Period.

[@BenRobinson1974]

Bach every time Cathedrals of sound

[@fredhubbard7210]

For me, Bach is the greatest musician ever, and Beethoven is my favourite composer ever. I can appreciate a kind of divine quality to Bach--floating above the whole disaster. But Beethoven is so fully and unapologetically human. My mother was a narcissistic abuser, and Beethoven has been my refuge, mentor, and comforter since my teens. Whereas Bach gives an escape to some divine order, Beethoven gives dignity and companionship to human suffering. Yet, maybe Beethoven is divine, and the issue is that I was given a misguided understanding of what it means to be Christ.

[@JJJRRRJJJ]

I enjoy Beethoven’s greatest hits more than I enjoy Bach’s greatest hits, but Bach has an insanely huge amount of incredible music in the category just beneath “All-Time Best.” So it’s a tough decision ultimately.

[@tahaouhabi3520]

Your heart may choose Beethoven but your brain knows Bach is better

[@user-nx9ip6jf1h]

Beethoven is better

[@tahaouhabi3520]

@@user-nx9ip6jf1h I respect your opinion

[@kschuman1152]

Brahms. BRAHMS!!

[@Joshua_Froschauer]

I know who the winner is: Me...cos I can enjoy almost at will their genius content!

[@ewalichorowicz4614]

No doubt Beethoven! ❤ Thank you for this fun discussion! Both composers are great and contributed so much to the world!

[@goldennuggets75]

Mozart?

[@wibblewabblewoo6249]

Bachoven for me Cannot decide I’ll choose Miles Davis 😂

[@kp6215]

Give me Beethoven

[@Francis-mt8xu]

Both are Genius they have their own kind of talent and brilliance in Music . Its just so happened that Beethoven is my most favorite because his Music can connect in all forms of human emotions .while Bach can connect through passion and faith to God ..❤

[@10joshua18129]

"... sublimates suffering through beauty." 19:33

[@robertr.1052]

What happened? After 38 minutes the video ended. No conclusion.

[@ernestmendez5487]

I am so glad that we're not diminishing MOZART: as all musical comparisons to him are absolutely unqualified, unfair, senselessly academic, and consequently, scientifically pedantic.

[@fintanusa]

If we are being emotional as suggested here. I will prefer both, depending on my emotional state. Yet, in general I will go with Vivaldi who inspired all you followed so intensely. Thus without whom this discussion would not take place..

[@Me-uv6kc]

You could probably make a similar argument for Handel, who was a beast too

[@archangecamilien1879]

8:08...Beethoven for me...the problem is a problem of ratio...for a given composer, the ratio between the pieces I like from a given composer, and those that leave me relatively indifferent...some of my favorite pieces are from Bach...but I like almost everything from Beethoven, and small part of what I know from Bach...if you take the composer Edvard Grieg (can never spell his first name), I probably like more pieces from Bach than him, but I know so few pieces from Grieg and like almost all of them, and I know many more pieces from Bach, and it's only a small part of them that I like...the cello suite is one of the ones I like...so it's like, composer X has 80 pieces that I know but I really care only for 20 of them, and the other composer has 8 pieces that I know and I care for 7 of them, I feel that means I like the second composer more, because 7/8 is larger than 40/80, lol...so it's a question of ratio, for me...when I like Bach, I really like Bach...but most of what I've heard from Bach leaves me relatively indifferent...

[@archangecamilien1879]

Lol...11:21 - 22...he's preparing for his opponent's argument that Beethoven moved music forward, I'm guessing, by showing Bach did too...

[@extendedclips]

Beethoven All Day 🎹

[@robertholland8283]

Lol! Ok cut it short want ya! I enjoyed still!

[@RasielSuarez]

The debate for who really is the best will continue forever but it's clear that almost everyone agrees the bronze medal goes to Mozart

[@clavichord]

I'm in no position to judge or make judgement. Both are great composers in very different ways. However, Bach influenced Beethoven. Beethoven, for obviously reasons, didn't influence Bach. Bach also created new genres, or was the first to write in them... for example, as far as I am aware, he wrote the first keyboard concertos.

[@zocho09]

Bach is Michael Jordan of classical music

[@Meine.Postma]

Just playing Bach and saying he is god will not convert anybody one would think. Bach was a pastor of music, Beethoven was a modern composer

[@eduardoguerraavila8329]

Bach could be more technical, but he doesn't deliver to me what Beethoven does. And one million years won't be able to convince to me of the opposite.

[@maryheiman4091]

Beethoven every time

[@venkydhanu]

Beethoven is better than back because beethoven plays better songs

[@axelbauer4408]

The guy who plays the Cello says Bach is the greatest, the guy who thinks Beethoven is the greatest is ... a critic. That tells you all, among people who know about music, understand this language and play it, almost all will say Bach is the greatest ever!

[@susanstein6604]

This is off-topic but comments are always turned off on lectures about Jews and anti-Semitism. Why is it that people who have no knowledge of Jewish history at all or scholars who study anti-Semitism are capable of deciding if something is anti-Semitic. If you’re going to respond that it isn't necessary, you’re wrong. It often is not obvious or simple. Even the FBI does not understand anti-Semitism. Jews make up approximately 0.2% of the world's population but the entire globe is obsessed with Jews. There are vast areas that have no Jews at all. This obsession isn’t positive

[@jamesalfaro9674]

Why should any one choose for either one, the both fenomenal, this moderator is crazy trying to pit one against the other.

[@Meine.Postma]

Well.. they started with that.. just watch it before you comment

[@p-u-t-n-e-y]

Both the video and the comments (including my comment) are simply a waste of precious lifetime. People who make music a competition don't understand anything. Just listen to Bach, Beethoven or whatever and enjoy it.

[@armenghazarian3515]

They opened this video saying that this isn’t grounded in any kind of objective truth, it’s more of an exercise to explore each composer. A lot can be learned by comparing two things, even if their comparison isn’t grounded in anything logical. It’s not an actual competition.