3 ms·

Those pieces you mention aren't exactly the things I would categorize as "moving", though. What about the pieces for solo cello (BWV 1007-1008)? The Goldberg V

Those pieces you mention aren't exactly the things I would categorize as "moving", though. What about the pieces for solo cello (BWV 1007-1008)? The Goldberg Variations? The solo violin sonatas (BWV 1001-1006)? His motets (e.g. BWV 227) and cantatas (too many to mention)? Or the Matthäus Passion (BWV 244)? Most people would also mention the Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major (BWV 1068, more famously known as "Air on the G string"). Then, for sheer awesomeness, his Mass in B Minor (BWV 232) is hard to beat. That said, aside from some of the above pieces, Bach is often too dense, complex and (heh) baroque to be truly moving. The beauty of many of his pieces are in their construction, not in their ability to give you goosebumps.

jly 9y ago
I still remember where I was when I first time I saw the piano partitas (BWV 825-830) performed. Gould playing the one in C minor moves me about as much as any music, along with some of the others you mentioned. Bach's compositions are unquestionably beautiful and technically brilliant, but not all of his music was written to stir an audience. He composed in a different time and for different reasons than the classical composers that came after him.
- sigil 9y ago
  “The purpose of art is not the release of a momentary ejection of adrenaline but rather the gradual, lifelong construction of a state of wonder and serenity.” ― Glenn Gould
archagon 9y ago
One scene in Ingmar Bergman's Persona made me realize just how moving Bach could be: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx9iW3bOBhs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx9iW3bOBhs Or try the start of the St. Matthew Passion, imagining Christ carrying the cross up Golgotha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6As1Pvz-mHs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6As1Pvz-mHs
wrs 9y ago
Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor (BWV 582). Actually, just the Passacaglia.
FraKtus 9y ago
The Goldberg Variations is a good starting point because it evolves gradually to builds in complexity. And it was designed to relax, so it's a perfect companion for a long session of coding.
notyourwork 9y ago
I don’t agree, music is art and subject to interpretation to different people in different ways.

jly 9y ago

I still remember where I was when I first time I saw the piano partitas (BWV 825-830) performed. Gould playing the one in C minor moves me about as much as any music, along with some of the others you mentioned. Bach's compositions are unquestionably beautiful and technically brilliant, but not all of his music was written to stir an audience. He composed in a different time and for different reasons than the classical composers that came after him.

sigil 9y ago
“The purpose of art is not the release of a momentary ejection of adrenaline but rather the gradual, lifelong construction of a state of wonder and serenity.” ― Glenn Gould

archagon 9y ago

One scene in Ingmar Bergman's Persona made me realize just how moving Bach could be: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx9iW3bOBhs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx9iW3bOBhs Or try the start of the St. Matthew Passion, imagining Christ carrying the cross up Golgotha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6As1Pvz-mHs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6As1Pvz-mHs

wrs 9y ago

Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor (BWV 582). Actually, just the Passacaglia.

FraKtus 9y ago

The Goldberg Variations is a good starting point because it evolves gradually to builds in complexity. And it was designed to relax, so it's a perfect companion for a long session of coding.

notyourwork 9y ago

I don’t agree, music is art and subject to interpretation to different people in different ways.