The Bach Effect: What the GREATS Hear That You Don’t

When i saw a thumbnail, i thought Rick is going to interview Bach.

Mozart tells you what it’s like to be human Beethoven tells you what it’s like to be Beethoven Bach tells you what it’s like to be the universe -Douglas Adams.

Dear Rick, I usually don't comment but I wanted to thank you for your video. I actually am a violin student from Leipzig and just yesterday in the evening I have played the St Matthew Passion by Bach in the St Thomas Church. It was great and during the concert I thought to myself how amazing it is to play music by a composer who lived many centuries ago and that the music still sounds beautiful today. I have played all of Bach's Motets and a few Cantatas in that church and also I play pieces from his Partita for solo violin when I'm not playing in an orchestra. Everytime I just wonder how he managed to compose such beautiful works of art and especially in that quantity. Your video made me appreciate the music more and summed up my thoughts about his music. Thank you, Rick :)

1:20 “Compared to Bach , man we all suck” Path Metheny Hahaha 🤣 That’s perfect! I love it ❤️

The cellist Pablo Casals, once said: "Every morning I go to my piano and I play two preludes and fugues of JS Bach. It is like a blessing, a benediction, on my house. Bach is like life: it is a miracle!".

Rick has got to interview Bach🔥🔥🔥

I went to the Thomas Kirche and sat there by Bach's tomb for a couple hours. All the emotions of human existence went through me. I was smiling and crying. I staggered out of the building completely emotionally devastated. At one point in my life I played alto sax for 3-5 hours per day for a couple years. I could improvise a pretty good solo over a progression. Then you put anything Back wrote on and you are just crushed as he weaves a tapestry of emotions into a couple bars which make you contemplate your entire life so far. How could one human brain have been so much better than any other for 350 years? It's the craziest mystery.

I was in my mom's car when I was 11, super into death metal and hardcore already, and she put on a CD of Bach's double violin concertos. I immediately was in ecstasy. Never looked back.

- When biologist Lewis Thomas was asked what message he would choose to send into outer space in the Voyager spacecraft, he said: “I would send the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach … but that would be boasting.”

When I was studying music at college, we were lucky to have the local cathedral’s organist attending lessons with us. One day, as a class activity, we went with him to the cathedral and stood next to the organ’s keyboard while he played Toccata and Fugue in D minor. I was in tears all through it, literally sobbing. This was early in the morning, and I remember going back home unable to watch any more lessons and just sitting on my balcony for hours enjoying the memory of the music. It was such a powerful moment which I will never forget. Bach’s music is the pinnacle of human achievement.

I suppose another comment won't add much to the thousands already here. But I'll add my anyway. :-) Some music hits you in heart - its wonderful. Some music hits you in the brain - its enlightening. Bach unites the two, that rare space where the heart and head find common ground. And its done that for countless people for generations. We all owe so much to Felix Mendelssohn for bringing Bach's music back from near oblivion.

How can a man be so extraordinarily superior. Just magnificent. 'Don't cry for me when I'm gone, for i go where music is born' Bach's last words.

What a touching tribute to JS Bach. RIP 1685-2024.

Right when you think Rick's videos and interviews couldn't get any better, there he comes with a JS Bach vid.

When I was a Second Lieutenant at Fort Sill Oklahoma back in the 80s I had a cassette tape of the Brandenburg Concertos, all 6 of them, and listened to it maybe a million times. :)

A long time ago, in elementary school, our music teacher did her best to educate us about the classical composers. I always thought,”Oh, no. Not those dead German guys again”. It took a while, but as I sang more classical music in high school, my appreciation of the classical works grew and continues to grow to this day. I am, officially, an old man now. I have too many stories to tell here, but I was fortunate to have traveled in Europe when I was seventeen. That was 1969. I participated in an international choir fest while in Freiburg, Germany. Our primary focus was on J. S. Bach. What a wonderful experience that was. I sing his works to this day.

Hey, Rick. I’m a member of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem (PA) and we have the wonderful honor of singing Bach’s music all year long, every year! We’ll be traveling to Germany this summer and performing at St. Thomas Church, which will be the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for me! I’ve been a subscriber for years and love your videos! Bach’s music is simply without equal!

The thing about Bach is that you never exhaust the music. Once discovered it's a life long gift.

I grew up in a very dysfunctional family, however I was given the gift of hearing and playing Bach from an early age. His music has given me great comfort and succour for over 60 years now. I’m not sure I would have made it without this gift.

I did exactly the same some time ago: sat by the tomb's side just crying. I just had conducted cantata BWV 4 and BWV 131 in the South of France in a small Chapel from 13. century. And now I just HAD to come to Mühlhausen and Leipzig to thank for those lifetime gifts a little closer....