Is Bach the best composer of all time? | Art Works

In the Western canon, Bach is sometimes described as the greatest composer of all time. But what exactly is it about this guy that makes the classical world go weak at the knees? #ArtWorksABC
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[@Auriga_II]

This is me every time I talk about Bach

[@bwv7186]

Ditto. But I disagree with his statement about the St. Matthew and St. John Passions, i.e. that they are "the greatest works of musical art - full stop." It may be true of the St. John Passion, but the St. Matthew is the greatest work of art. Period. By any artist, in any medium. And Pieter Breugel is my favorite painter. Go figure. But the only comparable painting is the crucifixion panel of the Isenheim Alter, now at a museum of medieval art in Colmar, France. I saw it there once, a chilling experience. It taught me that the greatest beauty can be achieved only from depicting the truth found in the most hideous and horrific, the most painful ... like the Matthew Passion, the full name of which (in Latin) translates as, "The Passion (suffering) of our Lord J.C. according to the Evangelist Matthew."

[@ampzamp]

Bach was the greatest preacher who ever lived. And he never opened his mouth to speak.

[@FriendlyCroock]

Bach is the most repetitive boring predictable composer of all time.

[@David-cw7pd]

3:48 Ive always felt like I could hear multiple instruments playing simultaneously from one instrument from Bach

[@giannidalessio1100]

A lot of jazz musicians adore Bach..👍

[@DrTWG]

Jacques Louisier.

[@Musicienne-DAB1995]

My favourite example is of Nina Simone, who said that Bach made her give her life to music.

[@enriqueernesto738]

Almost all

[@martinheimlicher1516]

I can't play anything but Bach on the piano. It feels so perfect to my hands and sounds of incredible depth to my ears,

[@SuiGenerisMan]

I feel like that about Pink Floyd. The mystery is too meaningful to me. Deciphering their sound would wash away all the magic and mute my tingling skin and chills running down my spine. I did that with the Beatles and ruined the intensity of my enjoyment but for some reason, Led Zepplin I have no problem learning and playing, while still enjoying listening.

[@enriqueernesto738]

​@@SuiGenerisManyou are absolutely right. There will be no other Bach, and no other Pink Floyd

[@superchaserbr]

Yes, by a hundred thousand miles.

[@Bwv1046]

Beethoven and Mozart are very close second, even matching bach

[@jaikee9477]

​@@Bwv1046 Because Bach taught them how to compose.

[@bwv7186]

Type into the KZbin search bar the name Johann Christian Bach. He was JS Bach's youngest son and a truly fantastic composer. But in 4/5 cases you'll think you're listening to Mozart. That's because Mozart met JC "John" Bach, in London, I think. And JC spent a LOT of time with him, teaching him about composition. Mozart spent so much time learning from him that they became dear friends, despite the difference in their ages. In all events, Mozart got his musical idiom from JS Bach's youngest son. Without JC Bach, Mozart would have still become great, but his compositions would likely sound much different.

[@aloisbreu6063]

@@Bwv1046 No.

[@burrahobbithalf]

How can anyone even ask that question? Nobody else comes close.

[@newagain9964]

Philip Glass got some stray shot fired out him. 😂

[@francescaemc2]

repeating two bars of Bach endlessly is hell! I've got seisures (literally) from listening to Phillip Glass.

[@martinstremlow2997]

Remarkable insight! Interesting analysis

[@semme01]

I recommend Helene Grimaud's Version of the Busoni Transcription of Bach's 2nd Violin Partita here on youtube.

[@LeventeZone]

In his case, as a culmination of everything that had led up to that point i.e. the entirety of vocal polyphony, harmony and melody are intertwined. Plus... to be this difficult technically, this complex, this mathematical in its superhuman contrapuntal design, but also this emotional at the same time... it is something unique. After Bach, we have a completely changed landscape, already from early Classicism people present their harmonies, their melodies, the go through clearly defined harmonic changes - but with Bach, everything is interconnected. Those who say that yes, but he is "emotionally restrained" (to quote a comment) are telling us that they have been brought up on Romanticism and its definition of what emotional is. And its definition of how one conveys emotion. There is no such wall-to-wall, spelled-out emotion in Bach. Not even in a B-minor Mass or his Erbarme Dich in the St. Matthew's Passion. It is entirely different in its register and how it is expressed/conveyed.

[@markharder3676]

It's true of most great classical music, but Bach especially, that in listening with focus, heart and mind work together. Deep feeling and spiritual awareness drive one to think, to pay attention to structure, to listen to as many voices as possible simultaneously; and on the other hand paying attention and thinking while feeling feeds the latter. I don't know about you, but all too often heart and mind work against each other.

[@prototropo]

Yes. One of the rare moments when informed agreement with the majority opinion is hopelessly inevitable and independently ennobling..

[@saidtoshimaru1832]

Yes.

[@TheStockwell]

If nothing else, he is the most successful composer in terms of how much of his music is constantly being performed or recorded. Holst or Orff are represented by one or two works - a small percentage of their output. Respighi or Copland? Maybe four or five works - out of how many total? Publishers calculate that 90% of Bach's compositions are regularly performed or recorded. That means he has 900 works in the active repertoire. His royalty checks must be incredible! 😏 Best wishes from Vermont ❄️

[@ordjk4797]

What Is the piece that Is being played from 5:46 onwards?

[@warriorson7979]

I think the 3 best composers are: 1. Bach 2. Vivaldi 3. Mozart Not a big Beethoven fan...😒

[@simplysimon966]

yes...................

[@edgarvalderrama1143]

Silly question - no one even approximates him!

[@Pablo-gl9dj]

Sounds like you like Bach

[@davidsalazar2466]

3:18 “God I mean Bach”😂

[@lumenvera9452]

Bach the great mathematician of music whose fugues and counterpoint are second-to-none. Bach, who composed "Soli Deo Gloria", the so-called 5th evangelist. Bach, the favorite of intellectuals and connoisseurs, the hallmark of the artistic and well-educated musical elite. Nevertheless, it is precisely his attributes which prevented him from being a universal musical reference , by confining him as a religious protestant preacher who utilized music to evangelize, the favorite of the enlightened ruling elites. Mankind deserved a secular humanist composer who possessed many of Bach's abilities, without seeing "God" as the only recepient per se, but God's manifestation. Someone who could inspire everyone without any religious bias, without preaching. Someone whose exquisite beauty and balance made music accessible for everybody, the rich and the poor. Someone who blended Heaven and Earth together. Someone who loved all mankind through music. This miracle, as many of you might have guessed correctly, is Wolfang Amadeus Mozart. So, Is Bach the best composer of all time? Yes, along with Mozart. Bach and Mozart are second-to none in different aspects. Both are the pinnacle of Western music. Both are unattainable, beyond this world. It is said that Bach is played in Heaven when God is adored. But when God smiles and hughs, He himself sings Mozart, and Bach sings along.

[@TheOriginalGankstar]

I can tell you for free if you'd like? Yes.

[@potsdam521]

Is Beethoven and just because simply he had a deep knowledge of Bach works. So he mainly expanded on that realm and in marvelous ways

[@davidriggenbach6672]

The orchestras and instruments had evolved which allowed Beethoven composed so differently. I still think Bach's work are superior.

[@jalapablocrypto]

Beethoven expanded Bach? Bach encompasses Beethoven. That's like saying the earth expands the sun.

[@marcossidoruk8033]

No. Simply no. Beethoven sure expanded musical form, and structire, but Bach is vastly superior to him in terms of harmony, counterpoint, structure and melody while still rivaling Beethoven in terms of structure despite composing in often smaller musical forms.

[@elias7748]

I believe many people feel obliged to say they like Bach, even when they know no more than 3 works by him. It's really amusing. Talk about pretentions.

[@shamlotbestrhapsever7437]

Lmao what? Most presumptious, bordering "pretentious" take, I've seen in a while. Gatekeeping even?

[@dextrosinistral7138]

“I love air and the cello one ☝️”

[@marcossidoruk8033]

That is true of every single musician or artist that a great number of people hold dear, nothing particular to Bach.

[@peterchuck4077]

To me as a beginner Bach was ok but diifficult to learn

[@rodrigo-andresedelstam9131]

Bach is God. Full stop.

[@nasigil5928]

I get it Bach is GOAT but you don't have to diss Philip Glass like that lmao

[@andrewashdown3541]

There is no such thing as a 'best' composer. Puerile!

[@alexmay2825]

❗ Bach is completely overrated. *Salieri* is the real deal.

[@SevenDeMagnus]

Bach is truly the best but after Gregorian Chant monk composers. God bless.

[@scotthullinger4684]

Some composers were just show-offs, and loved the attention. Not Bach. He was hired help for church music. He also composed things just for himself, family, and friends. Bach was the most ordinary of men ... and a GREAT composer. Let's make a comparison: Mozart was very far from ordinary, because he was always such a scoundrel, and he was a "good composer." Or maybe "great" on some occasions if you love opera. His piano concertos are supremely pleasing, but not much besides easy listening. Bach often demands and requires you to wrap your entire brain around his music. But not so true of Mozart's music. Mozart is very far from pedestrian, but he surely is lightweight when compared to Bach. In that regard, I agree with pianist Glenn Gould.