Songs Inspired By Bach

[@newwavepop]

It is just unbelievable the beauty Bach created time after time after time. "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" takes one of the most beautiful pieces of music EVER composed and turns it into one of the most beautiful and haunting songs of the entire POP era.

[@javiceres]

Best bassist in history: J.S. Bach

[@THyperon]

Yes, with Trombone 32' stop.

[@ilkeadrall710]

I think Cliff Burton would concur.

[@JuanIparraguirre]

You remembered me Billy Sheehan playing Jon Lord's Hammond solo from Burn - huge Bach influence.

[@audiotomb]

Bach’s Left Hand

[@topsecret1837]

@@audiotomb 👀

[@rafaelzenteno8226]

4:52 "We weren't as stupid as we looked" -One of the greatest composers of all time

[@yantar-rx9kl]

Not composer, he is a songwriter. He did not really add anything to "composing"

[@bachagain1685]

@@yantar-rx9kl tell that to Schubert.

[@bachagain1685]

@@yantar-rx9kl My point was just that writing "songs" doesn't always diminish one's musical ability.

[@yantar-rx9kl]

@@bachagain1685 no I understand, he can be great but he is not really a composer

[@Jugejukka]

@@yantar-rx9kl McCartney is not even close to classical giants. Calling Macca "one of the best" is just nonsense.

[@skim1589]

Thank you for showing the origins of Blackbird. I’m so impressed by McCartney’s originality and musicianship. The inspiration came from Bach but he created something truly pristine and elevated of his own.

[@numcrun]

"All the good music has already been written by people with wigs and stuff." - Frank Zappa

[@kaloarepo288]

Actually there was an Italian 18th century composer called Francisco (Frank) Zappa and when the modern Zappa found out he wrote an album inspired by the earlier composer.

[@drinkwater319]

Mozart didn’t wear a wig

[@JeanPaul-Hol65]

@@drinkwater319 Often he was forced to wear it.

[@harvey1954]

@@drinkwater319 But he did wear Crocs.

[@jsbach9848]

@@drinkwater319 Oh yes, he did.

[@steveneardley7541]

Bach was also tremendously influential on classical music, particularly for composers who were interested in exploring new harmonies. This includes Schubert, Mendelssohn, Chopin, and later on Rachmaninoff and Gershwin. Bach was already exploring a lot of harmonies that were quite odd in the early 18th century--for instance the use of the flatted second. Bach fell out of favor for almost a century, but was brought back into fashion by Mendelssohn, who conducted Bach's Mass in B Minor, in a romanticized form fitted to contemporary tastes. It was a giant hit, and Bach has never again fallen out of the repertoire. Bach's work has so many strong ideas, both harmonically and melodically, that it sounds good even on a synthesizer, and lends itself to being repurposed by other musicians.

[@markharder3676]

Yep. The truly great composers weren't afraid to use a little dissonance now and then. Bach does it all over the place and always to great effect.

[@Myrtone]

Note: During his lifetime, Bach's works were not "classical" music but popular music. Yes, a lot of works we think of as classical today were actually works of popular music when they were first released. Today's "classical" music was not always as high brow as it is today.

[@AutPen38]

Of course The Beatles' pop music used to be dismissed as ephemeral bubblegum pop for teeny-boppers. No one imagined in the early sixties that it would later be regarded as "classic". As weird as it sounds, some of the autotuned pop in the charts of 2022 will one day considered to be "classic" too.

[@Myrtone]

@@AutPen38 What has that got to do with Bach? I did not say it was "bubblegum" pop but popular music, which by the way, used to be for adults. I did not say it was dismissed as ephemeral.

[@thealexanderbond]

That's a bit of a myth, Bach never really fell out of favor with other composers. Mozart played Bach, Beethoven was a huge fan, when the young Liszt was brought in front of Beethoven he tested him by asking him to play Bach fugues from memory but in a different keys, which of course Liszt could do, since he was already familiar with his works. Bach only fell out of favor with the sorts of oafish toffs and elites who consumed most music in those days, since following fashion and the latest trends was paramount.

[@TouFik]

Blackbird is such a masterpiece. I now understand why it vibrates so much into our souls.

[@Guitarist166]

It was based off the bourrée in BWV 996 if you like that check out the gigue in the same suit. BWV996 gigue. It's an insane piece of guitar work I'm trying to learn at the moment.

[@williamoverly1617]

McCartney told his audience he was watching protests during the American civil rights movement of the 1960s and was inspired to compose a song about a black girl (girls are called "birds" In the idiom of English slang) living through this era. Ergo: BLACKBIRD. .

[@kathleenbergeron1292]

I got a kick out of a small story in the old Reader's Digest, back in the sixties. It seems that in a rural area of Australia, a local character, famous for stealing sheep, had died. In spite of the man's terrible deeds, they had a nice service at the local church. But at that funeral service, a few people started giggling when the beautiful music began to play. It was Bach's "Sheep May Safely Graze."

[@billiev8705]

This made me laugh so hard! In a way, that was a nice tribute to the sheep thief. 😂

[@coyotegraysr]

I have been listening to Bach heavily for several years now. Beethoven called him “progenitor of harmonies”.

[@maallee]

That "Blackbird" backstory is fascinating. So incredibly creative.

[@leedress2187]

I always wondered why I loved Bach so much. His sense of harmony and counterpoint are all over the rock world. Many of the Aerosmith harmonies have Bach written all over them.

[@playlistone923]

Bach is a pinnacle, have been awed most of my life. Read a great biography of him last year by Waltz and learned so much and now am brought to tears more easily knowing what a dedicated, humble, generous person he was. His work was using the gift of music to glorify god (not to get religious here). He was enourmously respected in his own lifetime and still remained, in his eyes and others', a humble servant simply using what he had in service. Music is the gift to us all, ego is the enemy of creative spirit, so please don't argue. Fact is we will never know if anyone SINCE Bach could have created the beauty each have, IF Bach had not lived done so much. Thanks. Love this, glad to have found David Bennett!

[@jorden123]

The Beatles - All You Need is Love Towards the end, the trumpets performing a tiny variation of "J.S. Bach - Invention in F Major" :)

[@RonHeusdens]

true

[@beback_]

Oh god how did I not notice that

[@stevesmith291]

That was the first thing I thought of when I saw the title of the video.

[@kenchristie9214]

The Bach trumpet was first used on Penny Lane. Paul said to George Martin he heard these fantastic trumpets whilst watching a concert on TV.

[@Kirke182]

I think that was a sample on a mellotron. Same with the Glenn Miller "In the Mood" intro. Just hit the sample button over and over.

[@ericclemens8420]

The Beatles' "Michelle" guitar solo is also inspired on a pattern by Bach Chaconne Partita No. 2 BWV 1004

[@MediaArchive2-z9f]

Wow; really?

[@Marksbrother]

The piano solo in “In My Life” by The Beatles....the story goes that John told George Martin to “play it like Bach.”

[@mljrotag6343]

Yes, the solo sounds like Bach just dropped in for a quick cameo.

[@stargirl6659]

I heard that

[@steven6709]

He actually played it slower in a lower key on piano. The tape was sped up to give us what is on the record. Even though it sounds like a harpsichord, it was played on piano.

[@FernandoAburtoAlmazan]

It does sound like Bach

[@AlanHope2013]

@@steven6709 That trickery is probably why it doesn't sound at all like Bach, or like Bach played by a schoolchild on a school piano.

[@Peaceful_Rayne]

Ah, yes. Simon and Bachfunkel

[@TomSistermans]

Bach did do more for Simon and Garfunkel than Garfunkel did that's for sure

[@conanichigawa]

Ah yes, that one joke comment that the creator liked.

[@jts3339]

Bachmon and Johannkel ?

[@soundproductionandadvice]

:) Nice! hah.

[@FabioBadalamentiComposer]

Ahahahahah

[@Kris.G]

I was kind of expecting Paul to start his Blackbird story with "Well, I was sleeping, y'know..."

[@misscalu]

😂

[@jcee6886]

He does say y'know a lot.

[@chrisw4997]

I had a dream and it sort of came to me y'know

[@ffggddss]

As in, "Please don't wake me, no, don't shake me, leave me where I am, I'm only sleeping" ? Fred

[@BartSchram]

@@ffggddss That was John, who wrote that :-)

[@mikedaniels3009]

Everything comes from Bach and leads back to him. What a guy. Thanks for YOUR contribution here. Happy New Year.

[@treymurray4780]

Bach is probably the greatest musical genius ever

[@ahenathon]

Listen to Prince.

[@jaikee9477]

@@ahenathon Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin didn't listn to Prince, they listened to Bach.

[@kaanozk]

@@ahenathon prince is a monster ,without a question, but writing melodies, bach is 3d while everyone else is 2d. prince couldnt even compete with mJ, only with multiinstrumentalism

[@PanduPoluan]

Nicht Bach! Meer sollte er heissen: wegen seines unendlichen, unerschoepflichen Reichtums an Tonkombinationen und Harmonien. ~ Ludwig van Beethoven (translation: 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.)

[@MattiaManzini]

@@ahenathonPlease tell me you were joking

[@Pierre50mm]

Bach is the top. He tried everything. He even added jazz chords to is music. Nobody did that after him untill the beginning of jazz.

[@skyblazeeterno]

Surely you mean jazz added Bach chords

[@Pierre50mm]

@@skyblazeeterno Yeah, it's a way to see it. Why not. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZTZhnuanbeCqM0

[@Bati_]

Maybe it’d be a good idea to listen to some Debussy and Ravel to test this

[@odonohut]

Actually the circle of fifths, with major/minor 7th were used by Bach, but all the big names (ie Mozart, Beethoven and everyone in classical music) followed suite, adding 9ths, 11ths and 13ths.

[@omglolgiraffe]

beethoven has a section in his op.111 piano sonata that is essentially ragtime.

[@revjohnlee]

In late 1977, my mom bought a new Lincoln Town Car. It was the '78 model. It had an 8 track tape player and the car came with a demo 8-track that contained a little bit of all sorts of music. I remember it as being boring except for one thing. I had Virgil Fox playing Bach's little fugue in G minor. It was the most incredible thing I ever heard. I wore that tape out. I learned that there were other performers I preferred, E. Power Biggs comes to mind, but nothing will ever replace the memory of the beauty of that Fox recording in my mind. It inspired me to try to learn organ and forced me to accept, many years later, that I could have a great love of music without having any talent whatsoever. Today, I still love Bach organ works. I also still try to play, if just to amuse myself and annoy the cat. BTW, that car in 1978 was the best vehicle anyone in my family ever owned.

[@dougimmel]

Procol Harum : I have loved whiter Shade of Pale since I first heard it as a 10-year-old In 1967 climbing up the stairs to Anne Frank's attic in Amsterdam. It has remained important and haunting ever since. I've also enjoyed the search for actual origins within the minor mystery of the Procol Harum name origin. The stories are full of fun personal trivia, misspellings, and slightly off the mark guesses. Great song - great inspiration.

[@SoCalMinion]

This is a beautiful memory! Thank you for sharing this 😊

[@BlessedHope7.7.7]

I hear " Sleepers Awake" in it

[@stevetournay6103]

Man, that song certainly would stick with you, hearing it in that location...

[@MoosePantz]

Bouree - Jethro Tull. Worth a mention. Your programme is superb! Thank you.

[@edwardofgreene]

It was odd to see Bouree mentioned without mentioning Ian Anderson's flute rendition.

[@ejkcup]

One of the most magical moments of my life was during my honeymoon in Egypt. We were traveling by bus through the desert to Abu Simbel and at sunrise the bus stopped on the side of the road so we could get out and take pictures. It was icy cold and Air on the G String was playing on the radio. The combination of that beautiful music with that wonderful sunrise in that place, at my loved one's side, was an unforgettable moment.

[@davidford694]

I, Johann Sebastian Bach, musician, cantor of Saint Thomas’s School in Leipzig, being near my end, praise God for his mercies; for although I am blind so I was not always, for the Lord gave me great power among all men to sing unto His greatness; witness my works which I leave behind me. For I strove long in anguish of spirit, with my soul I battled long with the Lord’s angels, knowing it was to His glory. Though I was in darkness yet I saw Him. Though I am in darkness yet I see Him. In music I saw Him, I walked with Him before the gates of Paradise, the smooth and glowing pearl, they fled apart, I walked within and heard the music of His courts echoing, twining before Him in divine, subtle-ordered canon. In my striving with His angels too I heard songs of Zion; these I have sung with deep notes of organ and organ’s sweetness I have adored Him, with choir and strings and trumpets I have praised Him greatly, and with tenderness of oboe mourned for Him. All men know me and no man, for I went alone before Him, and strove alone. Now Lord take me, for I am blind, I am blind yet the eyes of my spirit see: the ears of my spirit hear the songs of Zion no man else heard. Now take me Lord, Bach, cantor of Thomas’ school, at my end.

[@btcustis]

What is the source of this quote, please?

[@uckbee]

Didn't Bach write "Jesus, Joy of Man's Desiring" on his deathbed?

[@ap6765]

Thank you for sharing his final thoughts.

[@Discrimination_is_not_a_right]

@@uckbee No, the last thing he was working on was "The Art of Fugue", before blindness took him. Actually, the blindness had already started to take him before a botched eye operation finished him off.

[@daihawkins8177]

Out of all his compositions, I think the the Art of Fugue must count among his very greatest.

[@tocov]

Of course there is the part in "In My Life" by The Beatles where I believe actually George Martin plays a Bach inspired baroque piece.

[@snookerwither9955]

And the flugel (I think) solo in Penny Lane was inspired by a Bach piece

[@MaggaraMarine]

@@snookerwither9955 Not sure about Penny Lane, but the outro of All You Need Is Love quotes Bach's Invention No.8 (F major).

[@nigelhaywood9753]

@@snookerwither9955 Piccolo trumpet?

[@Sh.moon.]

I don't think the harpsichord-sounding part in "In My Life" was inspired by any specific Bach's composition. Rather, it just has baroque feeling to it.

[@brianwolle2509]

piccolo trumpet. wayyyy up there. not a regular trumpet.

[@CrystalCountess]

The tribute to the prelude in c arpeggiated chord changes is really, the most beautiful thing I've heard in a long time. I had it pounded into my brain when I was a kid studying harmony, that J.S.B. is the "grandfather" of modern harmony. I chose to follow in good faith as I couldn't prove otherwise. Now, as a senior, I want to pound it into the head of anyone who'll listen! lol Love this channel and the work. Thanks.

[@marshwetland3808]

Something I kept hearing back in the 80s when I went to a lot of classical, baroque, and early music concerts was, from the classical people, that Bach was boring and mathematical. I have no idea wtf they were hearing in classical music that they thought was better than Bach. I never found him mathematical, always found him the most passionate. I'm a rabid atheist and I think my favourite Bach of all time is the Agnus Dei sung by Andreas Scholl. So passionate, and it's not about religion for me, even though I had to say those words in church every sunday and know damn well what they mean. I just hear the glorious music. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpWvdJaHnt2BrMk

[@chrisb8075]

A Whiter Shade Of Pale is a true masterpiece in it's own right. Stunning piece.

[@BlessedHope7.7.7]

I hear " Sleepers Awake" in it

[@simonsmashup]

When I listened to it for the every first time, I thought i was in heaven.

[@happyron]

Love this would love to see a whole video on "Classical Influences On The Beatles", thought I saw a video/podcast on this a few weeks ago and was SOOO frustrated when I couldn't find it. Thanks for all you do, you remind me of myself when I was younger except you play better piano.

[@ancienbelge]

“What Shakespeare is to Western literature, Bach is to Western music.” (David Bennett)

[@enkiitu]

That really is a bold statement considering that most of the western world doesn’t speak English as first language. It’s influential, no doubt, but… Music is an universal language. You might not speak or understand English but unless you are deaf you won’t be having trouble enjoying Bachs music.

[@volt9903]

You forget his influence from the Greek literature....

[@seanleith5312]

Those people he mentioned are not qualified to shine shoes for Bach, not in the same conversation.

[@PointyTailofSatan]

I think it was either Chopin or Beethoven that said that Bach's music was so important, it basically formed the "Old Testament" of Western music.

[@phanlong9682]

Bach wasn't immune to stealing either to arrange his sauce. In cooking, as in music, everyone borrows from everyone but as Master chef Stravinsky famously said " Good chefs borrow, great chefs steal."

[@cwkronenberg9838]

Thnx! Bach's harmonies are quite prevalent in the jazz genre too; in fact his use of the 7th (both major 7th and flattened 7th - like the dominant 7th, for example) was quite outlandish for his time. though his melodies may not feature in jazz that much perhaps, the 7th (also 2nds & 6ths, but to a lesser degree) as well as some chordal progressions (I-IV- I6/4- V7, for example) is a key feature in Cape African jazz!

[@matpull9014]

There's a short guitar piece by Genesis called "Horizons" which is based on the Cello Prelude in G major by Bach. Also, you could make "Songs inspired by Rachmaninoff" too, as there are a lot of them based on his music: Space Dementia, All By Myself, Never Gonna Fall in Love Again, Full Moon and Empty Arms, etc.

[@franciscotoscano314]

Exactly

[@revensteed9539]

I love Horizons

[@cheopys]

Love the Bach cello suites.

[@ancienbelge]

The organ solo in Deep Purple’s recent “Nothing At All” is lifted verbatim from Simfonia from Cantata BWV 29 (which Bach himself also reused, transposed a whole step up, for the opening of the violin sonata in E major)

[@timmccarthy872]

I liked this. Here in the United States, musical historians often point out how much of American pop music was inspired by (or appropriated from) African music, and they're often right... but it bears remembering how much of it comes from Europe, too.

[@Mark95876]

All modern music contains elements of African, Irish, or English Music Hall (early David Bowie; Ian Drury).

[@steveeliscu1254]

But the African influence is what makes it rock!

[@txt9710]

@@steveeliscu1254 Bach IS rock 'n roll, my friend.

[@billiev8705]

@@steveeliscu1254 or swing!

[@Bass_Fishing_101]

@@txt9710 Bach and roll

[@TheStockwell]

If you evaluate a composer's success by how much of their music is regularly performed and recorded, Bach is at the top of the heap. Some composers are actively represented by one work (Carl Orff: "Carmina Burana," Samuel Barber: Adagio for Strings ), but 90 percent of what Bach wrote is still performed and recorded. He wrote over a thousand works, so we're looking at nine HUNDRED works of his which are in the concert repertoire. Man, his royalty checks must be amazing!

[@kozzak80]

It’s a joy to watch your videos, man. Thank you!

[@jakobbansch4838]

The real question is: Which songs are NOT influenced by Bach...

[@kidabear782]

yeah I wonder how different music theory and the current music we have would have been, without the existence of Bach

[@mrbaker7443]

Jakob Bänsch “Scum” by Napalm Death

[@acyutanandadas1326]

@@mrbaker7443 Every hiphop rap 'song'

[@VintageSG]

A lot of Jon Lord's work with Deep Purple was influenced by Beethoven. That which wasn't was Bach, so, err, as you were :-)

[@jakobbansch4838]

VintageSG But I would be surprised if Beethoven was not influenced by Bach

[@ricomajestic]

Great video! Love it when songwriters talk about how they were inspired to write the melody.

Considering Bach made a huge contribution to the developing of the tonal system, we can say that *everyone* is influenced and inspired by him.

[@ihbarddx]

The song, _In the Mood_ always reminded me of _Prelude in C Major_ . Maybe it's just the arpeggio thing going on. Also, Ray Manzarek always credits Bach's circle of fifths in his explanation of the intro to _Light my fire_ . (Never understood what he was talking about.) At any rate, there are several Bach-like hooks in the song. Particularly the last chord. I can almost hear E. Power Biggs (albeit playing an inexpensive instrument).

[@robbiehorn7690]

This was really interesting, I’m trying to look into more examples of how composers from previous centuries have influenced more modern music, and this was exactly the type of thing I’m interested in. Thanks for the great content!

[@isomeme]

When I was nine years old in early 1972, I began my lifelong love of Bach thanks to Apollo 100's "Joy". This instrumental is a simplified pop-rock version of "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring". It keeps the melody of the original, along with the modulation from major to minor and back, while taking more liberties with other aspects of the piece. It charted in the US top 10 and got a lot of airplay, and I was mesmerized every time I heard it. I still listen to it occasionally when I need a jolt of childlike happiness to dispel a dark mood. It works every time. 🙂🎵

[@RobertOrgRobert]

QE2 Mike Oldfield ‘Conflict’ contains a small piece of Bach - part of his Suite no 2 in B minor

[@orekingcatan8142]

jimmy page plays bourree in the "how the west was won" live rendition of heartbreaker and it inspired me to learn it. I've probably played bourree 10x more than any song in my life and I highly recommend learning it!

[@howard5992]

I really like that you spend time on each example - providing an analysis and illustrating both the origin and the end result.

[@elisha770]

Man, Netflix should sign you for your work ! Thank you

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks! That would be amazing!

[@espenlilleslatten5252]

“Good composers borrow, Great ones steal,” Igor Stravinsky

[@wilburmcbride8096]

What does that mean?

[@nadimmostafa7663]

I've always thought that's just an excuse.

[@devueltosalcampo768]

@@wilburmcbride8096 it means you take a composition that already existed and use it in your own art

[@cheopys]

Music cannot *express* anything. - Igor Stravinsky

[@musicalguy9]

Stravinsky died in 1971

[@cyberdiatriber2]

My favorite rock group in high school was Jethro Tull and my favorite Jethro Tull song was a flute and bass version of "Bouree." Only later did I find out it was a classical music song causing me to wonder why I was listening to rock when my favorite song was classical! I came to believe that there are only 2 kinds and music-good and bad, and genres are irrelevant.

[@antimimoniakos]

I used to listening to them in highschool. They were ahead of their time.

[@elizabethharalson7903]

I've recently bought " AQUA LUNG" and " THICK AS A BRICK" I enjoy these endlessly. How many times have I paid for these before?

[@IdeologieUK]

The live version on Bursting Out simply rocks!

[@bobbylee2853]

Paul McCartney was inspired when he heard a piccolo trumpet in a Brandenburg Concerto. It was then included in Penny Lane.

[@samspianos]

and who directed him to the Brandenburg?

[@johnlewis3324]

@@samspianos Jane Asher and her parents, according to him.

[@samspianos]

@@johnlewis3324 trying to "educate" him?

[@robertovelloso1192]

@@samspianos He heard it on BBC. Take a look at this kzbin.info/www/bejne/hamyZaGFeah6epI

[@lilianelucas8123]

@@samspianostrying to educate him? Why do you say that? Yes, Paul was born in a working class family but was well educated by his parents, he was brillant at primary school so he could enter a good school at 11 years old. Of course his parents didn’t teach him music classic and didn’t visit museums with him. Just have money for a house and food. But he was so clever and curious so in his twenties he learned himself arts, read a lot of books....At 18 or 19 he worked in a factory because he had to earn money, at 20 he was a millionaire and now he is the richest singer of the world. Not too bad for a working class boy.

[@bigsquisums6333]

I can’t stop thinking that young Paul Simon with that hair looks like Lord Farquad 😂

[@ronanteixeira1663]

And that guy from The Monkees as well

[@gunofapreacherman1340]

He totally does look like Lord Maximus Farquaad 😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@stevethordarson5198]

Same height too.

[@keithmills778]

spicy chicken If you take the album cover w/ Art Garfunkel standing behind Paul Simon and you cover Paul’s face, it looks like Garfunkel has a massive Cossack moustache.

[@poookah]

And he also looks like Lionel Messi... 😊

[@helenaforbes2650]

Muse’s The Handler is also inspired by Bach’s Tocata in the part Matt starts that hammer on pull off sequence after the chorus.

[@QuartzSTQ]

Jimmy Page in Led Zeppelin also plays the start of "Bourrée in E Major" at the end of the "Heartbreaker" solo in "How the West Was Won". That's from where I recognised the melody when played in the video... Obviously this doesn't surprise me since Zep frequently interpolated other music into their own, perhaps a bit too much so in some cases.

[@elceelcevet6998]

Bouree plays Anderson and YT.

[@BrandonCuringtonOfficial]

"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants." - Sir Isaac Newton

[@promerops]

'I worked hard. I worked very hard. Anyone who had worked as hard could have achieved the same.' J S Bach. (I think there was quite a bit more to it than that.)

[@bronktug2446]

promerops where from?

[@annek3296]

Actually, the Newton quote goes back centuries before Newton. I believe there's a book giving the history of the quote.

[@maxmustermann9587]

Not every musician believes in God, but almost every musician believes in Bach.

[@ericscaillet2232]

@@maxmustermann9587 well...Bach is God in a way 😉

[@helgardforche3400]

Ich finde es schön, daß alte Musikstücke junge Musiker inspirieren. So bleibt die schöne Musik der alten Meister lebendig. ❤

[@koshersalaami]

You may not know about another Beatles example: Paul saw a performance of Bach’s Second Brandenburg and loved the high trumpet, so he wanted to write something like that. The result was the high trumpet part in Penny Lane.

[@NicholasCox85]

Ron Altbach, playing alternate versions of Bach..... I love it. He was born to do that.

[@sytsebuwalda6570]

That weird moment when you're listening to a very interesting vid and suddenly hear your own voice singing the first line of Hasslers ' Mein G'müth its mir verwirret'. LOL

[@jenko6196]

That was you? Damn that’s awesome!

[@billiev8705]

Ha, geweldig! Prachtig stuk ook. Heeft Michael Chance dat niet ook eens opgenomen? Morgen even in de CD-collectie graven...

[@sschmidtevalue]

I love the way you substituted Bach for Art Garfunkel in that photo! Groovy!

[@lilTwigLP]

This guy is just so good, his videos are just so well put together goddamn! Clicked on it not realizing it’s him and then I knew it’d be a good video. Keep it up mate.

[@brownie3454]

David Bruce and Adam Neely are also great channels for music analysis

[@hui5gui6]

I’ve been playing in a brass choir in Germany for quite some years and playing valve instruments and my love and passion the trombone. Thanks to you and your examples I think I‘ve got a first glimpse of a beginning of understanding what Bach‘s counterpoint is - and how it works. Thank you very much.

[@ftumschk]

14:57 The interesting thing is that, after starting off with two bars of Air on a G String, A Whiter Shade Of Pale goes on to echo figures from another work by Bach, the chorale/organ piece "Sleepers awake" ("Wachet auf"), BWV645: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jafaln1nobGWkMU

[@mikeoverton7644]

Yep you are absolutely right. I just listened to it. Never noticed that before. Weird how stuff can remain invisible while in plain sight. Well done for pointing it out. I still think Procol Harem's version is a brilliant piece in its own right though and emotionally in a register of its own.

[@warrenburroughs3025]

Watching that Paul Simon interview as he was explaining the basis for Bridge Over Troubled Water and I was thinking "that's American Tune not Bridge". 2 great songs from one source, not bad.

[@AppleheadIsCool]

I was just about to comment this!

[@Oesterreicher94]

The same for me.

[@tmarkjames]

To be frank, I suspect Paul Simon was just misremembering which of his many songs was inspired by "O Sacred Head Now Wounded".

[@AB-oc5lj]

Definitely American Tune.

[@radioactivehummusengine2407]

The part of O Sacred Head Now Wounded that Paul Simon used is the end of a different verse. Not the one he showed. I guess he played that one because it is the more recognizable part. I used to play it on flute in school and recognized it right away.

[@stevetournay6103]

As David mentions, Simon later borrowed the front half of the O Sacred Head verse almost unaltered for American Tune...

[@jonasll]

Your piano song showcased at the end is beautiful David, immediately made me think of Like Spinning Plates. Well done.

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks 🙂🙂

[@bohbro]

Nice song of yours David. I actually made it through the credits listening to it!😀 Thanks

[@QHarefield]

Thank you, David; that was most interesting - especially the info about 'O Sacred Head.' I always enjoy watching your videos : they are well-presented, and there is always something to learn. (Incidentally, Matthew Fisher, Procol's organist at the time, says that his chief influence in AWSoP was 'Wachet Auf' - also by Bach!)

[@luminousmossmusic]

"Blackbird" is my favorite song by the Beatles! I'm glad it was finally an example in one of your music theory videos.

[@kasiam6561]

Jethro Tull has used lots of Bach in their songs and just arranged his music, you must've heard their arrangement of Bouree

[@rob-v1y]

Cry You A Song

[@hongkongfui04]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGO1f5hon9x7e5I

[@lucanavarrete7234]

I'm not sure if it's Bach but Yes also covered a classical song on their album Fragile

[@chuckmccroskey4864]

Definitely, that tune (Bouree) is what led me to start studying classical guitar in 1977. I still play Bach’s original version today, probably three times a week.

[@Congruencia]

@@lucanavarrete7234 Yes recorded Cans and Brahms (Extracts from Brahms' 4th Symphony in E Minor, Third Movement) in Fragile. ELP also used to play lots of classical arrangements (Béla Bartók, Sergéi Prokófiev, Modest Mussorgsky, Alberto Ginastera, Leoš Janáček, Aaron Copland, etc.) and they included Bach in "Take a Pebble" (in their first album) and Carl Palmer played Bach's Invention in D minor in Woks, Vol. 1.

[@TampaZeke]

To the shock and surprise of my parents I fell in love with Bach at the age of four and the romance has continued ever since.

[@shopshop144]

With a middle name of Hayden, it shouldn't have been that big of a surprise!

[@billiev8705]

How could you not? His genius endures. I have too much vibrato, really,but I still love to sing Bach despite having more of an operatic voice. And the Cello Suites never get old despite having heard them so many times.

[@frederickglasser5617]

David your videos are costing me a lot of sleep. Absolutely magnetic.

[@weepingscorpion8739]

As for the usage of Bach in Bridge over Troubled Waters, I think you looked at the wrong segment, as those 4 notes in BoTW's sound more similar to the final segment of this chorale. I play the church organ and we use this melody as a hymn a whole lot. :)

[@giuseppelogiurato5718]

Pachelbel's variations for organ of "O Sacred Head" are especially fun; I recommend!

[@JohnSmith-oe5kx]

Giuseppe LoGiurato Did you watch the video? Paul Simon was discussing Bridge. After which David mentioned American Tune. As for "stolen", it was merely borrowed.

[@spriggan3935]

Jethro Tull's Bourée, from Stand Up album, 1979.

[@lorenzogiani7190]

THIS

[@hvac01453]

I immediately thought of Tulls Bouree of which he immediately gives credit all the time

[@geoffreygustin2462]

David, I just began this video and it seems to me Paul utilized this melody by Bach more in American Tune than Bridge Over Troubled Waters. Thank you for all of your videos. You are great! Chow

[@MakerfieldConsort]

Correct. American Tune uses the whole melody, Bridge uses just the last line, and in a slightly different rhythm.

[@gcecg]

The Toys: Lover's Concerto, based on Minuet in G major from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach.

[@TecsPlusLLC]

With a different time signature as well.

[@uhdudewhy7980]

That was the first song that came to mind when I started watching this video. Not mentioned in this video but it's mentioned in the movie Mr. Holland's Opus.

[@zanti4132]

That song is now notorious as having *not* been written by Bach. Bach's notebook included works by other composers, in this case "Minuet in G Major" by Christian Penzold.

[@RigAJigglypuff]

2:20 David Bennett:"This just goes to show that even if you use an existing piece of music as your kicking off point of your resolting song doesn't have to sound anything like..." Me: "THIS SONG! THIS IS JUST A TRIBUTE! YOU GOTTA BELIEVE ME AND I WISH YOU WERE THERE!"

[@brianwolle2509]

david bennett is completely right and it's a great way to write!

[@AndrewMoore58]

Creeping in my consciousness over many years of my listening to Bach is the Largo from the harpsichord and violin sonata BWV 1017. I cannot understand why this has not been used in popular music. It is haunting. It sings like the Bach the world has yet to know.

[@sammoffettmusic3909]

A section of Van Halen's "Eruption" is most certainly based on Bach's Prelude in C Major from WTC 1.

[@MaggaraMarine]

Are you talking about the tapping part? I honestly doubt it - it's just basic arpeggios (and there are plenty of pieces based on arpeggiated triads), and also the chord progression he creates with those arpeggios doesn't sound anything like Bach (at least not like Prelude 1). Reminds me more of some kind of a virtuosic violin piece TBH. He did quote Rodolphe Kreutzer's Etude No.2 in the solo, though (the tremolo picking part).

[@alexbowman7582]

As Chuck Berry said you can’t think of anything that Beethoven hasn’t already thought of.

[@LS-dp2gs]

Beethoven, like Mozart, did not think of everything. He discovered and studied Bach, whose works were banned in their days.

[@coconutflour9868]

@@LS-dp2gs Bach's works weren't banned as far as I know, they were just not very well known until a couple of later composers discovered him and were inspired by him, propelling Bach to the well-known status he enjoys today

[@LS-dp2gs]

Coconut Flour I remember reading Mozart’s bio and might have incorrectly gotten that impression. The family was poor, and after he died, many things went unpublished. And yes, His legacy came back big time with genius musicians like Mozart. Interestingly though Bach’s own son was a very good composer himself.

[@MrmelodyUs]

@@LS-dp2gs Banned?

[@MrmelodyUs]

@@coconutflour9868 Wow.

[@andyjay9346]

From childhood and learning the piano and guitar I have always believed that Rock music would be completely stuffed without its grandfather the Classic composers. We are in so much debt to these men for our music today.

[@lauterunvollkommenheit4344]

About the "O Head full of blood and wounds" chorale: Gerhardt had nothing to do with the melody. He was not a composer but a hymn-writer. He translated Arnulf of Louvain's Latin hymn (Salve, caput cruentatum) into German. Bach used Hassler's melody with Gerhardt's text.

[@c.a.g.3130]

Precisely.

[@lamper2]

@@c.a.g.3130 you guys cracked me up-just by showing no matter how far back you go-someone ELSE did it first!

[@c.a.g.3130]

@@lamper2 No knucklehead, Gerhardt was a poet, not a musician. He wrote lyrics, not melodies.

[@pts5217]

Paul McCartney “Get Bach!” “Bach in the USSR!”

[@johnallen6039]

actually back in the ussr is a homage to the beach boys california girls

[@russellcampbell9198]

Good one.

[@compassft]

ACDC Bach in Black

[@MisterMoccasin]

Bachbird

[@mipani]

I, as a German who knows how to pronounce "Bach" correctly, cannot understand your joke. Paul Simon and Paul McCartney pronounced "Bach" correctly, whereas Carl Wilson and the video presenter did not. The German "ch" is pronounced very similar to the "j" or "x" in Spanish, e.g. as in "México" or "Juanita".

[@Mikalyn]

Its funny when you mentioned american tune - cause i heard that one right away - love the songs and as a keys based writer and singer - i worship Bach (and paul simon) :) - great channel David, its amazing how many melodies are "borrowed"

[@thatguy_apu]

Somewhat more obscurely, the intro to Metallica's "Damage Inc." is heavily inspired by "Come, Sweet Death". Cliff Burton loved classical music, and got Lars Ulrich into it as well. I think that's how S&M came to be

[@WizzbrozzGamerzz]

You're a really smart dude. I'd love to be as good as you in music.🙂

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thanks!!

[@warkosy]

I can't remember the title, but Tenacious D lifts some Bach into one of their songs. "Last Rites/Loved to Deth" the opening track on Megadeth's debut album "Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!" directly lifts/incorporates elements of Bach's Toccata & Fugue in D minor. I watched a video where The Door's keyboardist Ray Manzarek explained that the intro to Light My Fire was him going through the circle of fifths, but was based on Bach IIRC. And lastly German metal band Rage has done Metal version/adaptations of some Bach pieces.

[@whycantiremainanonymous8091]

Sure someone already mentioned it, but there's a rendition of the same bouree McCartney used in Jethro Tull's second album, Stand Up.

[@janeelsner]

Jethro Tull’s so underrated😩

[@birbamour6]

"To the End" by My Chemical Romance also has the Toccata and Fugue part in the bridge to the last chorus! I noticed it as soon as I started listening to MCR

[@blancalezama409]

I find it very interesting how modern musicians get their rhythms and melodies out of those beautiful classical compositions, you do a great work. Thank you

[@THEScottCampbell]

Byrds leader Jim ("Roger") McGuinn used "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring" for a guitar solo on the flip side of "Turn, Turn, Turn" in 1965, long before The Beach Boys.

[@MICKEYISLOWD]

The piece you wrote at the end is very beautiful in a haunting way. Where can I hear the entire piece..? You have talent for sure:)

[@al5068]

I agree, I was floored listening to it. 🤩

[@sophiavomkind8929]

sehr schön gemacht, ich verstehe kein englisch aber ein wenig Musik, danke David, ich bin begeistert

[@EricRoss57]

Bin ich auch! Tolle Sache!

[@andybuzzi1005]

It’s “American Tune” that truly exemplifies this riff, not “Bridge Over Troubled Water”.

[@gijsschubert7901]

0:58 the original title is "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden" from the Matthaus Passion. Very nice that you reveal the origin of the song They by Jem at 12:15 (BWV 881)

[@nishantpawa949]

Great composition at the end man :) and of course, the rest of the video was amazing. thanks

[@MarloweStern]

ELP's Toccata was based on the fourth movement of Ginastera's Piano Concerto No.1.

[@THEScottCampbell]

EXACTLY. A toccata is a TYPE of musical composition and ELP's "Toccata" was heard and approved by the original composer.

[@Kirke182]

That's what I was thinking. The Bach piece they stole from came from Tarkus called Infinite Space which borrows Toccata in F for the organ and then a bit of a Well-Tempered Clavier prelude (VI, I think) when the piano kicks in.

[@uovocosmico]

Boureè by Jethro Tull EMINEM - BRAINLESS (toccata e fuga in re minore) Ennio Morricone - La resa dei conti Homburg - Procol Harum (should be Schafe können sicher weiden) Hey Jude - The Beatles (Arioso (Sinfonia from Cantata No. 156))

[@lutubo07]

The Franco Mussida solo in "La Carrozza di Hans" of PFM, from the same suite used by Jethro Tull

[@seanchambers8507]

Genius in action from Paul! So great it brings tears to my eyes! 🤯😌

[@beegojeeson1834]

The intro to Orion by Metallica was based off of Come Sweet Death by Bach. Cliff Burton was a massive classical fan and Bach was one of his all time favorites. You really should check out a lot of his bass lines and you'll notice the influence immediately

[@maximgulyaev1635]

Omg you definitely deserve much more followers and views

[@DavidBennettPiano]

Thank you! 😇🙂

[@TM-us5ti]

Jethro Tull's To Cry You A Song has a bit similar to Bach's BWV 1029: Sonata for Viola da Gamba & Harpsichord in G Minor.

[@Me-uv6kc]

that's not the melody of jesu joy of man's desiring, that's Bach's countermelody to the actual melody which is the hymn part (the part where they start singing) . Bach is so great.