What would Bach think?

[riddlemay]

Bach (along with all other composers who died before the late 19th century) could never have imagined a day when people could hear music by orchestras reproduced electronically in their living rooms. Today I wondered what he would think if he could hear such a thing. If Bach were able to hear one of his concertos over a modern-day high end music system, would he: 1) Jump for joy that so many more people could enjoy his music than he ever dreamed possible?; or, 2) Scream in outrage that the sounds he was hearing were a travesty of his work, because they simply were not a facsimile of the dynamics and realism of an orchestra? And let's face it, not even the best system provides this. We just "accept" that it does, and find the enjoyment we can in this, but no A/B comparison of the best reproduced sound and a real orchestra would fool even the tinniest of tin ears. Would this be a dealbreaker for Bach? I wonder.

[dkmonroe]

After he got over the initial wonder of sound reproduction and actually started to listen to it, I'm sure he would hate it.

Interesting topic!

[videoman]

I've long had a theory that one reason classical music remains so popular is that it was never recorded by the original artists. Hence, we can have 5,000 recorded versions of Beethoven's Ninth and never have a true 'definiative' version. Not to mention that a public performance by nearly any orchestra is deemed a work of art.

Contrast that with say, The Beatles, whose music lives and dies by their original recordings. It may or may not live on beyond the generations who grew up with the music (that still remains to be seen)--but even if it does, it won't live on in the same manner that Bach compositions do.

[Mike F]

no A/B comparison of the best reproduced sound and a real orchestra would fool even the tinniest of tin ears.He'd probably be as perplexed by the alien sound of non-historically informed performances, for example, the use of a piano rather than harpsichord.

Being a (super) genius, he'd probably adjust quite quickly. Maybe after checking out some of his more than 1000 compositions, he'd arrange for some studio time. :)

I've long had a theory that one reason classical music remains so popular is that it was never recorded by the original artists. Hence, we can have 5,000 recorded versions of Beethoven's Ninth and never have a true 'definiative' version. Not to mention that a public performance by nearly any orchestra is deemed a work of art.The varying interpretations are indeed an attraction but I don't think the principle reason for interest. There are poor performances possible.

[rod]

He'd probably be as perplexed by the alien sound of non-historically informed performances, for example, the use of a piano rather than harpsichord.


The changes in pitch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_pitch) since then might unnerve him a little bit too, but once he learned about ROYALTIES, he'd get used to it...

[scuzzer]

The man was first and foremost a musical artist. Once he understood the technology he'd exploit it for its utmost benefit. (If he could understand it)

[morinix]

He might be surprised that the Brandenburg Concertos became so popular and recorded so often. AFAIK they were never actually performed buy an orchestra while he was alive.

[coopmv]

This is definitely a very intriguing question. While I agree no reproduced sound will ever rival a live performance, regardless of how expensive the audio equipments may be, I do think JS Bach will be fascinated by the fact that his works can be appreciated on a massive scale without the limitation of space and time imposed by any live performance. Since the 1920's, more people can listen to some of his masterpieces such as the Brandenburg Concertos on any given day than all the people who had listened to this work during his entire lifetime. Nothing can be more flattering to this father of western music.

[kevinsinnott]

I think he'd like it, once he recovered from shock. Of course, automobile traffic would be just as shocking.

My guess is, once he thought about it, he'd make a quick call to his publisher and be disappointed that his whole back catalog is public domain. Then he'd probably start writing again, if only to get some publishing.

A little more seriously, I think he'd enjoy the more modern performances more than the so-called authentic ones, which he'd probably find not so authentic as we do. Just a guess of course.

[dkmonroe]

I suspect that regardless of the limitations of sound reproduction (which would b glaringly obvious to his ears in ways we probably can't imagine) he would also find the very notion of listening to a machine play music to be ridiculous and gauche, perhaps even harmful in that it enables people to love music without making any attempt to actually learn to play it. Think of it - if we were "music lovers" in Bach's time, most if not all of us would probably have to be proficient in at least one instrument and involved with a local chamber orchestra. How much more serious and fulfilling would this make the hobby?

[audio]

See also:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=120842

[DjBryan]

He would be a fan of no noise?

[riddlemay]

I suspect that regardless of the limitations of sound reproduction (which would be glaringly obvious to his ears in ways we probably can't imagine) he would also find the very notion of listening to a machine play music to be ridiculous and gauche, perhaps even harmful in that it enables people to love music without making any attempt to actually learn to play it.
Even if he didn't think it necessary for a listener to play music in order to enjoy it, he might find our practice of listening to electronically-recreated music insanely alienating, and he might wonder why we do this to ourselves. (Even apart from how sonically deficient our best-reproduced music would sound to his ears, which I do suspect would be a dealbreaker for him all by itself.) He might say: "What good is sitting alone in your room? Go hear the music play! Music is about human communication, genuine (not virtual) human interaction! Go hear somebody, anybody--some guy playing a guitar in the park is more what music is about than a 100-piece symphony orchestra falsely 'playing' in your living room."

Just a possibility. Of course, dramatists of his time could say the same thing about movies and television. But they might not be wrong.

[EdipisReks]

i think he would probably suck on a shotgun after hearing Bachbusters (http://www.amazon.com/Bachbusters-Johann-Sebastian-Bach/dp/B000003CTU) ;)

[dkmonroe]

Even if he didn't think it necessary for a listener to play music in order to enjoy it, he might find our practice of listening to electronically-recreated music insanely alienating, and he might wonder why we do this to ourselves. (Even apart from how sonically deficient our best-reproduced music would sound to his ears, which I do suspect would be a dealbreaker for him all by itself.) He might say: "What good is sitting alone in your room? Go hear the music play! Music is about human communication, genuine (not virtual) human interaction! Go hear somebody, anybody--some guy playing a guitar in the park is more what music is about than a 100-piece symphony orchestra falsely 'playing' in your living room."

Just a possibility. Of course, dramatists of his time could say the same thing about movies and television. But they might not be wrong.

I think you've hit the nail in the head. :righton:

[LesPaul666]

This would make a good Twilight Zone episode.;)

[Edwin Hawley]

He'd think we're daft and commit suicide.

[LesPaul666]

He'd think we're daft and commit suicide.


Probably. Just a little taste of this new and compressed music, he'd pull an "Little Alex" leap out of the window, ala Clockwork Orange.:D

[Edwin Hawley]

Probably. Just a little taste of this new and compressed music, he'd pull an "Little Alex" leap out of the window, ala Clockwork Orange.:D

Forget the music; he wouldn't be able to adjust to our way of life.

[John Carsell]

This would make a good Twilight Zone episode.;)

Oh Yeah! :agree:

[BeatleJWOL]

Switched-On Bach, anyone?

:D

[coopmv]

Switched-On Bach, anyone?

:D

performed by Wendy Carlos ... Yeah, I have that CD along with over 600 recordings of works by JS Bach.

[michael w]

He would listen to the Switched On Bach LP on a Well-Tempered turntable !

:laugh:

[His Masters Vice]

I don't think this is such hard question.

There were certainly many classical composers alive when the gramophone was invented toward the end of the 19th century. I'm sure that none of them anticipated such a development - so what did they think when people were able to sit at home and listen to music?

I'm not certain that Bach would necessarily be contemptuous of current sonic reproduction capabilities (I mean for classical recordings, not pop recordings!)

And as for being able to understand the concept of recordings ... well, if old fuddy-duddies in the 1800s could understand the concept then surely an intelligent man of Bach's area (1685 - 1750) could do the same.

I'm sure he'd see some downsides to recording technology, but I think on the whole he'd be pleased at the number of people who are able to hear his music who otherwise might not be able to. In his day the only way a piece of music could be "released to the public" was via the medium of sheet music...

[riddlemay]

I don't think this is such a hard question.

There were certainly many classical composers alive when the gramophone was invented toward the end of the 19th century. I'm sure that none of them anticipated such a development - so what did they think when people were able to sit at home and listen to music?
If it's not such a hard question, then tell us--what did they think?