The “Fifth Evangelist:” The Life and Works of Johann Sebastian Bach

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🎼 lentovivace.bandcamp.com
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Please note that the clip at 9:59 was filmed several years ago as part of a short film project called “Johann Sebastian is Bach,” shot on location at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. (Go Fighting Pickles!)
📚 Sources/further reading:
“Bach: Music in the Castle of Heaven” by John Eliot Gardiner (Knopf, 2013)
“A Pedagogical Approach to the Bach Two Part Inventions” by Carol W. Coryell (Masters thesis, University of North Texas, 1969): digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/...
“Performance Practice of Johann Sebastian Bach's Passio Secundum Johannem - A Study of 25 Years of Recorded History (1982-2007) as Influenced by Events Surrounding the Historically Informed Performance Movement” by Michael Troy Murphy (PhD dissertation, Florida State University, 2008): diginole.lib.fsu.edu/islandor...
“A Study of J.S. Bach’s Sacred and Secular Vocal Works Influenced by Popular Stylized Dance of the French Baroque Court: A Performer’s Guide” by Dione J. Napier (DMA dissertation, University of Kentucky, 2014)
“Voice-Leading Patterns in the Fugal Expositions of J.S. Bach’s ‘Well-Tempered Clavier’” by William Jonathan Michael Renwick (PhD dissertation, CUNY, 1987): academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/vi...
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Classical Nerd is a video series covering music history, theoretical concepts, and techniques, hosted by composer, pianist, and music history aficionado Thomas Little.
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Music:
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048, performed by A Far Cry and available on IMSLP: tinyurl.com/yykz5yum
- Thomas Little: Dance! #2, arranged in a fugal style by Thomas Little and performed by Raymond Hawkins [ tinyurl.com/y3b3j8vt ]
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049, performed by the Gardner Chamber Orchestra and available on IMSLP: tinyurl.com/y2du3fho
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B-flat major, BWV 1051, performed by the Gardner Chamber Orchestra and available on IMSLP: tinyurl.com/y2mcgpha
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Contact Information:
Questions and comments can be directed to:
nerdofclassical [at] gmail.com
Tumblr:
/ classical-nerd
Facebook:
/ classicalnerd
Instagram:
/ the_classical_nerd
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All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information.

[@ClassicalNerd]

The unadulterated contrapuntal, organ edition of the theme music is now available for patrons [ www.patreon.com/classicalnerd ]. Thanks to Raymond for taking the time out of his Vierne album recording sessions to record it.

[@davidriggenbach6672]

Hey Classical Nerd, Do you know any compositions of Bach's time as a Koeniglicher Pohlnischer Hoff Compositeur (Other besides the Goldenberg variations?) Is there a list of compositions as court composer for Augustus III?

[@dansaber4427]

I actually met Bach in a bar in Brooklyn

[@dansaber4427]

@@davidriggenbach6672 it would have been nice if they hadn't destroyed so much of his work.

[@saidtoshimaru1832]

Every music school should have Bach chasing a bassonist with a sword through the hallways.

[@ClassicalNerd]

Well, at least for one evening, one music school did!

[@ChipsAplentyBand]

@@ClassicalNerd In 1975 as a newbie sophomore Euphonium player 'moved up' into the most advanced of my music school's three concert bands, I frequently attracted the dour attention, at length, of our ensemble's old-school conductor, and upon one occasion when I failed to adequately match the tone and phrasing of a Flute soli written three octaves higher than where the same melody was placed in the low register of my own instrument (Jerry Bilik's "Second Symphony for Band," Second Movement) well enough, I was summarily derided with "Young man, you sound like a nanny goat!" However, not until recent years when I have learned of the Bach/Bassoonist encounter in which the moniker "nanny goat" apparently originated, I didn't realize the full depth and historical significance of the insult bestowed upon me. Well, now I know, and I've actually had my 'revenge' in the decades since, as I've long ago given up the Euphonium and am now a composer myself.

[@ChipsAplentyBand]

@@DonnyKirkMusic Thanks for your moral support. I'm a music teacher as well as a composer and with very deliberate purpose I never demean or put down my own students. Life's too short and they're too important.

[@Richard.Atkinson]

Strong work as usual!

[@chickenflavor9880]

Your work is also awesome!!!!!!

[@maxalaintwo3578]

Sometimes I forget about how heartbreak all these constant stillbirths must be for a couple. Bach and his wives suffered so much loss

[@MrCarpelan]

And to keep creating such incredible works of music and also caring for the children who survived. It's remarkable.

[@operaticxingenue]

As an alto, I can confirm the boringness of our lines. I’m sick of singing the fifth mmkay? It’s why I adore Bach and Haendel. Everyone gets a moment to shine in fugues!

[@ClassicalNerd]

Some altos don't mind! Which I find baffling, to be frank, but to each their own.

[@Valreea]

Bach's music made me love and appreciate the alto tone. Altos sound so beautiful and otherworldly.

[@jackdomanski6758]

I am amazed with how your channel has improved over the last year or so. The sheer amount of work you put into these videos is incredibly apparent.

[@avaonalee]

I love the mix of skit, comedy, and information in here. Absolutely perfect ratios. Also the German !

[@Skimaskkass]

This video is awesome. I watched the whole thing. Great work.

[@zerksari]

Excellent work. Much thanks for doing this, solidly appreciated!

[@jcpractices]

What an incredible video. Thank you so much!

[@lacanian1500]

glad to see a redo of bach!

[@lacanian1500]

also it seems that the classical nerd lore has expanded. apparently morton feldman is living with you lmao

[@ClassicalNerd]

Yeah he started quarantining with me in April

[@Yazerhoun]

Yeah, can't wait for a video on Liszt someday hopefully. His life and work are sooooo rich and interesting!

[@juanpablovelez7656]

KZbin hardly has anything better than your channel, thank you so much.

[@revelation2and3]

Brilliant and fun to listen to. Great photos!!

[@FighterFred]

Good presentation of what is known, which is rather little. He might have been mundane on the outside, but certainly not inside. And you can follow his development from the early pieces to the later ones. What is mindboggling is how every note is perfect, take one out and the piece collapses. Here we have a person who is inspired by religion, with a technical skill that is on another level. A sense of wonder appears after playing his music. It's not sound effects, it's something magical talking to your soul. Indeed, it gives you inner peace. Rare these days.

[@SequoiaSounds]

Truly fantastic and enjoyable presentation. You're so engaging to listen to. I came here for your videos on Xenakis & New Complexity, and didn't think I'd be interested in listening to more about the famous oldies.... and I was so, so wrong! I've learned so much!! Thank you!

[@ksear9594]

Great video ! I would just like to point out that at about 16:15 you say the sonatas for solo cello, they are actually suites, which is quite different.

[@ClassicalNerd]

I could have been more clear, yes-the solo music in general comes from that period (sonatas, partitas, suites, etc.)

[@gingerfloof777]

Swiped right on Tunder. Well played, sir.

[@RobertJSedky]

Thanks for sharing 👏👏👏👏

[@mr.milehi9883]

Hi cmClassical Nerd. I bet you could use your videos as cliff notes for classical music theory. Also, I know so little about classical music. I am overwhelmed and delighted with what you do in your videos. Thank you, mr. Mile, hi

[@mitodrumisra8972]

The BEST of all THE videos you have created so far. SALUTE TO YOU SIR!!!! P.S. - Just a curious question: is Bach according to you 'The Fifth Evangelist'? 'Cause I heard that the writer of the 'Divine Comedy' - Dante had the title... Genuinely curious...! Once again, THANKS!!!

[@ClassicalNerd]

I agree with John Eliot Gardiner's assessment that many writings on Bach tend towards hagiographic interpretations. That's why the "Fifth Evangelist" of the title is in quotes-while Bach was certainly a believer, he was a flawed man as well, and instead of trying to push that under the rug, it's best to incorporate that into what we know of him. It contextualizes his accomplishments.

[@susandoerr3896]

from watching a golden retriever sing with opera greats to classical nerd channel. the dog was fun, you are homework but fun. thanks.

[@antoineminiconi4943]

great video!

[@TockTockTock]

Do you think you'll ever make a video on any of the Wandelweiser composers? Love your videos btw

[@miriamlevenson9430]

as a baroque stan i’m ready to watch this 40 minute bach video yes ma’am 💪💪

[@sallylarhette7083]

thank you

[@rumataastorskiy5734]

I have been wating for this for all my life, thank you!

[@crannmarbh8559]

Fantastic video. I can’t believe how high quality your content is now. The amount of work that you put into them is incredibly apparent. At first your videos were more like a brief introduction but now they are life stories. Also is George Walker in the request pool? Either way, if you can find enough information about him to make a video I think he’d be a good candidate.

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@armandom28]

Great video

[@cofkeflep3550]

Will you ever make a video about one of his sons, specifically Johann Christian?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@juanarreguin1]

Hey Thomas! Fantastic video, congratulations!! It's incredible to see this channel's growth. What are some 17th century monity composers do you suggest I give a listen to?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Barbara Strozzi! Great composer who used monody in the early Baroque era. _Lagrime mie_ is fantastic.

[@juanarreguin1]

@@ClassicalNerd Thanks, I'll give a listen to her music!

[@neilwalsh3977]

Great bookshelf!

[@tombruges1557]

Love the video! It may help for new watchers if you put timestamps in the description to show the structure of the video

[@ClassicalNerd]

I've done this for more intentionally structured videos (i.e. scripts that I break down into sections prior to filming) such as my videos on the concerto and on Duke Ellington. For many, though, there are simply too many points of connectivity between the parts to reasonably slice it into sections without repeating myself to viewers who want to listen/watch all the way through.

[@adamizakpospisil3486]

Great. Thank you. What about Alexander Mosolov, Boris Pasternak (yes, that one) or John Dowland?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@ronb6182]

Thanks I think this video fills some of the holes in the BBN stories of Great Christians the life of J. S. Bach. I missed some of the episodes. One thing to note the Brandenburg concertos was written when Bach was in Jail. Thanks again for this music history lesson on Bach. 73

[@hnywening6080]

Yes, we do... - From the Cellists Great humor throughout the whole video, btw

[@isaachilario7913]

Love this remake would love to see more btw a video on Carl Philip Emanuel Bach in the future?

[@AnnaKhomichkoPianist]

Yeeeees Carl Philipp please!

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@slwankaedbey775]

Great channel, waiting to cover Monteverdi

[@ClassicalNerd]

I did, many years ago. It's not as good or in depth, but it's more than nothing ...

[@jcrouse7461]

CLASSICAL 👏 NERD 👏 CINEMATIC 👏 UNIVERSE 👏

[@edgarvalderrama1143]

I automatically upvote anything with Bach's name!

[@ericrakestraw664]

I can't wait to see your updated video on the life and works of Ludwig van Beethoven -- hopefully in time for his 250th birthday this December.

[@ClassicalNerd]

I would like to produce far more videos than I am able to realistically do given my current schedule. But rest assured that it will happen!

[@UCDrumline77]

Great videos. I have a playlist I’m using to help get me ready for Master’s comps. Would really enjoy a Franz Liszt, Francis Poulenc, or Alan Hovhaness.

[@ClassicalNerd]

I don't add Liszt to the request pool because I _used_ to have a Liszt video up, but it was beset with such technical issues (and it focused more on his life than his music) that I ended up taking it down because it wasn't my best work. I want to redo it in the new year. Poulenc and Hovhaness have been added: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@ClassicalNerd]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXy6mqihbM5nhdk

[@UCDrumline77]

@@ClassicalNerd LETS GOOO

[@spav7597]

Could you make a video about the violinist Ysaye?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@NotJonJost]

You call the Coffee Cantata the only operatic or closest-to-operatic work of his, but actually there were some other pieces called "Dramma per musica" (the term used for operas at the time)-- most notably the Contest Of Pan And Apollo (BWV 201). There is also the strongly dramatic/dialogic Easter Oratorio. Really, the Coffee Cantata, and the earlier Wedding Quodlibet, make me sincerely feel that the world was robbed of an opera buffa by Bach.

[@dayta-base6862]

@Classical Nerd this is awesome and I'm glad you finally got to it bro. Is there any chance you can do G.F. Handel as well or better yet Handel and D. Scarlatti since they are also born the same year as J.S. Bach

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@willmpyle]

Love the amount of detail in all these videos, you should definitely venture into “great conductors” .....Furtwängler??

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@billl.6804]

could you make a video on Czerny?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@DenisPuscaOfficial]

As a gernam speeker i think you did pretty well! thanks for the awsome video!

[@ClassicalNerd]

Thanks! I studied it for a year in college and have tried to keep my skills up since.

[@kevinbarton7083]

You should do a video over David Maslanka. I think it'd be really interesting!

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@gwydionrhys7672]

Could you maybe do a video on Korngold?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@gwydionrhys7672]

@@ClassicalNerd Thanks!

[@neo-eclesiastul9386]

Cool video. Will you impersonate Ives too?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Not sure I have the makeup capacity for that! But I'll do what I can.

[@BB-xm8jc]

YESSSSSS

[@humbertouriarte5409]

What about a video on Albéniz, Granados, Turina, Esplá, Falla, Rodrigo, Mompou or any spanish composer?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Requests may be seen at lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html but I can only take five from any given user. Which five of these would you like to boost in the request pool?

[@humbertouriarte5409]

@@ClassicalNerd The first five ones

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted.

[@rumataastorskiy5734]

This is your best, and most ambitious video, wich is befitting a person the stature of bach.

[@unnamed_boi]

hey could you do a video on nikolai kapustin?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@espressonoob]

unrelated to the video, but what instrument(s) do you play?

[@ClassicalNerd]

I studied piano for twelve years, was self-taught on the organ for three, and have played instruments in Balinese gamelan ensembles since sophomore year of college.

[@joedewitwomey9627]

@@ClassicalNerd do you play the Dutch neon lunar sea cucumber though bro?

[@ClassicalNerd]

@@joedewitwomey9627 I don't understand.

[@ulisesdemostenes7074]

So...the earlier cantatas were thought with female singers in mind, as such they had(or could have) more virtuosic or complex parts while in the other hand the later cantatas employed children, as such they were less "complex" in that regard?. By the way, did I use "as such" right? Or I just invented that?

[@ClassicalNerd]

I don't consider myself a Baroque specialist by any means, but I'm not familiar with the use of female singers in church music in this era, in either Catholic or Protestant contexts.

[@stephanebelizaire3627]

Vivat for the Maestro J.S.Bach !

[@veebran7845]

Cool intro

[@manschettendichtung4783]

Please make a video about Krzysztof Penderecki! You forgot him in the "great composers" episodes :)

[@mitodrumisra8972]

He will make one. Just wait..😊😊

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@pablobear4241]

may i request Charles Gounod and Vladimir Horowitz?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@Acoustic-Rabbit-Hole]

What’s crazy is that my immediate assumption was that it WAS Morton Feldman in the doorway . . . yet it seemed so STRANGE that a great composer was “suddenly” speaking like a New Yorker waiting for a cab!

[@MeghalayaPhilharmonicSociety]

Was it Anna Magdalena who married J S Bach or am I wrong?

[@lsmith145]

I somehow predicted you were going to speak German with Bach lol

[@ClassicalNerd]

I have to take opportunities to keep my skills afloat! My roommate is pretty fluent but we speak it in such an intentionally mangled way (that is, with exaggerated southern American accents) that it's not much help ...

[@dominicstorella1903]

Have you done Liszt yet? If you have please link video and if not please please please do Liszt.

[@ClassicalNerd]

A Liszt video was up many years ago but I took it down due to technical failures within the video. I will remake that video, and hopefully sooner rather than later.

[@dominicstorella1903]

@@ClassicalNerd Awesome

[@andresabarca37]

7:32 Donald Trump moment lol. Amazing video Thomas!

[@saidtoshimaru1832]

mach die bachs wieder toll!

[@maxalaintwo3578]

Wir müssen ein Mauer bauen!

[@saidtoshimaru1832]

@@maxalaintwo3578 Und lassen Sie Telemann dafür bezahlen!

[@rickyv3042]

9:58 I'm dead lol

[@gleabesguitarchannel3305]

Please, make a video about Frank! We want it

[@ClassicalNerd]

Frank who?

[@gleabesguitarchannel3305]

Cesar

[@johnjacquard863]

Hello sir, I appreciate your content. So I dont want you to get the wrong I idea . I was having a conversation with you before on my TV as janeen Clark ( my womans TV ) I just wanted to have a discussion with yourself its not meant to be offensive. I am wondering why certain people ( and continue) to claim that equal temperament is done type of sacrifice and that you gain something by using ratio based temperament. I cannot understand this . I dobt judge people from past who did not have the demonstrable information which we have today. I just wonder why when they say they moved away from 12 tone e.t. brvuaee they felt like something was lost . From my perspective its all gains and not just a little bit of gains it opens right up possibilities that cannot otherwise be had. I also wonder why our current tonal music education has fetish for a narrow understanding of a certain time period teaching triad based intro to tonal music . But they don't just teach up to date information start to finish of tonal functional music. For instance a triad is something that can be played or used def. However tonal harmony is not based on and cannot be represented by using triads . I'm just wondering about your take on these things.

[@johnjacquard863]

For instance the full information about tonal music and functional harmony is that all 12 notes are in a key . Say the key of C major . Why don't we teach students straight out information and instead focus more on history of certain time period what they knrw then ( when we have learned the complete picture today which composers did not have access to then?) Its like a historical fetish . Weird ideas like a dominant chord resolves a fifth down or fourth up ( thats not true ) Ideas like a tritone is dissonance ( not true Key of C major has F# note as consonance . Weird ideas like chord inversions are not the same chord as the chord name ( not true ) A chord symbol really means any combination of those notes in any register and combination I'm just wondering your take on this.

[@ClassicalNerd]

Interesting questions. Let me respond to some of them in order: “I am wondering why certain people ... claim that equal temperament is [a] type of sacrifice and that you gain something by using ratio based temperament.” It's a true statement. However, proponents of just intonation (what you call “ratio based temperament” here) are almost entirely uncaring about modulation. You gain the ability to modulate with arcs and circles of fifths that you get with various temperaments. The freedom to move about the tonal space in a way that was also accessible to instruments is what led to twelve tones in the first place, but even the establishment of a twelve-tone-per-octave keyboard did not lead immediately to equal temperament. Even today, organs are built in various kinds of well temperament, and choirs and string players are taught to modify how they tune intervals to more closely match pure, just-intonation harmonics. Professional players in a string quartet may play very slight, subtly different versions of the same pitch over the course of a piece; if a violist's B, let's say, is the fifth of the chord at that moment, then the violist will be inclined to play it as closely in-tune with the E that they're hearing as is humanly possible. However, if that B is, for instance, the seventh of a dominant seventh chord, then the violist will have every reason to shade it flatter than usual to closely match the harmonic series. (This sonority is also what give barbershop quartets their characteristic sound.) “From my perspective[,] it's all gains and not just a little bit of gains[;] it opens right up possibilities that cannot otherwise be had.” Also, true! But the inverse is, as well; twelve-tone equal temperament allows for modulation and for a host of tonal arrangements and possibilities, but it also warps notes and intervals by either a little bit or a _lot_ out of their justly-tuned counterparts. Some people have the opposite perspective in that they value the idea of being exactly in tune more than they value the ability to modulate. Given the severe difficulty of notating and performing music outside the standard twelve tones of Western music, these composers would not have pursued this unless they genuinely valued the aspects of music that were lost upon normalizing an infinite spectrum of pitch to simply twelve equidistant intervals. “I also wonder why our current tonal music education has [a] fetish for a narrow understanding of a certain time period teaching triad-based intro to tonal music ... tonal harmony is not based on and cannot be represented by using triads.” I have an issue with how the common-practice period is taught, as well. Extended tonality of the late Romantic is tonal, but often so chromatic that standard analyses begin to break down and you have to look purely at the voice leading. Likewise, music of the Medieval and Renaissance periods do not use triadic harmony as we know it, but still have quite strong tonal centers through their adherence to the modes of their time. “For instance[,] the full information about tonal music and functional harmony is that all 12 notes are in a key.” That's certainly one way to look at it, and in the theory lab class that I've been teaching this academic year, getting my students to understand the syllables of movable-do solfège as ways of relating the full chromatic spectrum to a diatonic system has been an exploration of this. However, it would also be foolish to only inform students of how to analyze chromatic, but tonal music, when there is plenty of music out there to appreciate (and even analyze) which doesn't use this system at all. “Ideas like a tritone is dissonance” ... it _is_ a dissonance, though-at least, in most of the commonly-understood definitions of dissonance. (I did a video on the subject not too far back which might be of interest.) Its contraction (or expansion) gives dominant chords their tension, and thus their power to resolve to another chord, _not_ (as you rightly pointed out) solely as the root movement of a fourth. The only way in which it is _not_ considered a dissonance is if you think of it as a version of the eleventh harmonic, from which it is almost a perfectly equal-tempered _quarter-step_ away. The pure eleventh harmonic tends to sound quite odd to people who aren't used to quarter-tones, but is _far_ more consonant from an acoustical perspective in that it aligns almost _exactly_ with that overtone. This is a prime example of the kind of perfectly tuned consonance that 12-tone equal temperament is structurally incapable of accessing. “Weird ideas like chord inversions are not the same chord as the chord name” ... I must admit that the only times I've seen this have to do with the cadential 6/4 chord (of which there are two competing schools of thought and a synthesis of the two which avoids the controversy altogether by labeling it C6/4 and not either I6/4 or V6/4) and the added-sixth chord (which does not function like a first-inversion seventh chord when taking into account the overwhelming majority of contexts in which it is used; Vierne's sixth Organ Symphony comes to mind). I may make a video one day on the former controversy, because there are decent arguments about what to call that chord and underpinning it are very profound ideas about the importance of assuring the stability and consonance of the tonic triad.

[@johnjacquard863]

@@ClassicalNerd Great , I enjoy speaking with you on this. What you mentioned about 12 tone e.t Not being in tune as why some go in direction of mean temperament. I grant this however that tiny imperfection in my mind compared to playing in all keys I mean what can be done . Think about it. I play with like 50 chords per key ( like 5 note or larger chords at times) then I use Tonicization and modulation all in one peoce all 12 notes when you consider tbe decorations of grace notes changing tones and larger melodic structures on weak beats. I just don't get it . That tiny weakness about notes being out of tune in 12tone e.t. ( which i feel is a strength that out of tune wobble it gives a feeling of a type ) But to me playing diatonic triads in one key thats not even 1% of what I use . ( so to try to imagine giving up 99% in order iron out tiny tuning issues) I just can't understand ( finally I mic tonal language, modal language, polytonal, atonal and set theory all in one holographic fractal type style) To give all that up to have perfect tuning . I just can't see how thats a strength . ) of course now you can mean tune each chord if you wanted lol 😆) Iys great go speak with you on this .

[@johnjacquard863]

@@ClassicalNerd The way that I as a composer treat 12 tone e t . Is that I combine tonal music modal music ( of unity type ) polytonal and aronal into one fractal based harmony . ( there had been individuals i found in history that uncovered these " vertices " one was between tonal music and modal music .then other individuals using symmetrical structures unified tonal music with polytonal and atonal serial and set theory using " vertices " Combining all of these for years I worked out a person system that is a truly " fractal " music .( meaning a way to navigate all the possibilities are vertices where semantics of tonal, modal, polytonal, atonal intersect . I'm just curious if you have gone done this path of unification. The reason I ask is becusse similar to comparing a single living cell to a multi cellular organism, comparing say tonal Byitself or modal or atonal or polytonal , compared to them all unification into a true fractal harmony ( infinite variation with no need to repeat ) this opens up possibilities that any one tiny area simply never had . I'm wondering if you have studied these vertices ( the first historical references to unification was with symmetrical structures just in the tonal functional harmony itself for instance how a diminished7 chord is 4 separate dominant chords) Its very life changing to me as a composer. To uncover 12tone et a unification of fractal based harmony . Someone with your intelligence in music . I'd like to share correspondence on this matters . John Jacquard ( I'm just getting togther my film making equipment to create a youtube on this very topic ) I'm curious how you see these issues. Thanks for your time .

[@johnjacquard863]

@@ClassicalNerd In one of your videos , you asked for people to tell you how they hear dissonance. For myself only the mother chord and grandmother chord spund dissonant to me in 12tone.e.t. I cannot remember what things sounded like before I developed my ears .but when I hear mean temperament or ratio based ones . It sounds like one note with timbre changing. Now when I hear other equal temperaments larger than 12 its a unusual clashing wobble sound dissonance. I do vaguely remember when I was very young to me a major chord was dissonance at first and I think and 4 note chords and up like 7 note chords were dissonant. But now only 12 note chords are dissonance ( not in unpleasant way though ) its interesting

[@Meltorizor]

Dein Deutsch ist echt super!

[@ClassicalNerd]

Vielen Dank!

[@MertCalkan]

Waiting for Sergei Bortkiewicz , Sergei Lyapunov and Felix Blumenfeld.

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@qwaqwa1960]

Bach was familiar with Silb's pianos from the 1730s or so. I have a recording of the gamba sonatas using one, where the performers make a strong case that he performed those pieces-using the piano-at Zimmermann's! There's also a famous surviving "sales receipt" for a piano in Bach's hand (or signed by him)...he was perhaps the world's first piano salesman.

[@ManiacalForeigner]

1:25 Was that a dab?!

[@ClassicalNerd]

Not intentionally, although I have dabbed in videos before and I'm not ashamed of it.

[@KingofCogs1]

But what about his oddest son? PDQ Bach? eh EH?????

[@mr.milehi9883]

I second that other comment are about a Scarlatti video.

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@A_Muzik]

Explain "what's another dead men " between friends

[@ClassicalNerd]

That references the fact that Morton Feldman is dead and yet is somehow walking around in my apartment. Bach moving in is "another" dead man, and we're friends because we all are/were composers.

[@josephbarbarie692]

Classical Nerd -- holy cow you actually look like JS in that wig (from at least two portraits I'm familiar with). The same eyes and mouth . . . some distant familial relation perhaps?

[@ClassicalNerd]

I would be honored if that somehow turned out to be the case.

[@rumataastorskiy5734]

I like how you didn't even bother to get a propper costume, and just put on the most formal stuff you had hanning in the wardrobe.

[@wernerretief4569]

CPE Bach is Bach's best composing son, not JC.

[@mountainbiker8904]

Very cute

[@samhart2532]

stunningly few comments about your excellent joke at 12:07

[@zackmaster79]

Don’t forget pdq Bach

[@ClassicalNerd]

I struggle to think about how I'd do a video on him, to be honest.

[@silencedogood5766]

Bach was a incredible man as was Wolfie the just don’t make them like that anymore.

[@raminagrobis6112]

How could you write that J.C. Bach was the one who composed anything among J.S. Bach's sons? The one you should have shown instead is C.P.E. (Carl Philip Emanuel) Bach, who left far more and far better known compositions! P.S.: I was referring to the first mention of Bach's sons who were musicians, in the legend to JC. Bach's picture.

[@ClassicalNerd]

I mention C.P.E. Bach as an important composer of the _empfindsamer Stil._ However, J.C. Bach-of all J.S's kids-had the most significant impact on the development of Classical-era Sonata form (and the piano concerto in particular). His impact was felt for generations and across continents in a way that C.P.E. could never claim. It's a matter of relative musicological importance, not just who you or I might like listening to more.

[@julianmanjarres1998]

Why did so many of his kids die young?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Most kids didn't survive infancy in those days, as disease was rampant prior to the development of vaccines and proper medical care.

[@itsmeashbeel9175]

busy writing a fugue on the theme behind the picture

[@MrNicks-gn8jc]

Good German !

[@ClassicalNerd]

Danke!

[@PraveenMax]

Nice hair...haha!

[@basilmusicproduction]

Johann Taco Bell

[@ClassicalNerd]

Taco Bell's Canon (live más)

[@mariagibbons8437]

Ridiculous start... not worth watching!

[@ClassicalNerd]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIWcYXdmfLCNiK8

[@orb3796]

I'm begging of you to have a singular crumb of humor.

[@aarontham4402]

Bach being the fifth evangelist is unscriptural, unfounded and tantamount. Bach shall never be the fifth evangelist as there are more qualified individuals such as Isaiah who foretold the coming of Messiah who was also a prophet and Paul the apostle who wrote half of the New Testament.

[@ClassicalNerd]

Tantamount to what, exactly? Incidentally, if you actually watched the video, it's very clear that it's not a scriptural claim. The quotes around it should be enough.