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| Great Composers - Bach | 
 enlarge | Director: James Runcie
Studio: Kultur Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $10.24
You Save: $9.75 (49%)
Buy New/Used from $10.24
Avg. Customer Rating:  (1 reviews)
Sales Rank: 46403
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), German (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 59 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 4119
UPC: 032031411999
EAN: 0032031411999
ASIN: B000HDRANA
Release Date: September 26, 2006
Theatrical Release Date: 1997
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Description
J.S. Bach occupies a pivotal place in the history of music. His compositions represent both the height of the Baroque and the beginning of the Modern Age of music. Filmed in Leipzig, London and America this documentary, both fascinating and authoritative, features specially-filmed extracts with John Eliot Gardiner conducting the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, performing the Mass in B minor, Andras Schiff playing the Goldberg Variations, Jacques Loussier improvising on the Toccata and Fugue in D minor as well as demonstrations by Ton Koopman, Tini Mathot, Joanna MacGregor and the Thomanerchor of Leipzig. Biographical and critical commentary is provided by leading Bach scholars, Christoph Wolff and Robert Marshall, while Charles Rosen and Jonathan Miller discuss Bach?s masterpiece the St Matthew Passion.This landmark series presents the lives and works of seven musical giants from the Baroque era to the twentieth century. It examines the backgrounds, influences and relationships that make these seven composers part of the very fabric of the history of western music. Each composer?s life and work is presented through extensive performance sequences, and through interviews and comment from some of today?s greatest artists and most respected authorities.
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| Customer Reviews:
"The immortal god of harmony" March 15, 2007
15 out of 18 found this review helpful
+++++
"[Bach was] the most stupendous miracle in all music."
The above quotation was uttered by the great opera composer Richard Wagner who admired the composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 to 1750). (The quotation that titles this review was uttered by Ludwig van Beethoven who also admired him.)
You'll find this quotation (and the one that titles this review) in this documentary that presents the life and works of Bach. Besides learning about the man behind the music, we also get to hear, through actual performances, beautiful extracts of his universally appealing music.
Throughout this documentary are brief comments made by respected others such as leading Bach scholars, pianists, music professors, and conductors. I found all the comments very interesting.
The film is narrated by the actor (especially known for his Shakespearean talents) Kenneth Branagh.
What amazed me about this documentary is that, despite being only an hour long, it covers an incredible amount regarding Bach's life. With the addition of actual performances of Bach's works, this film is also incredibly enjoyable and not ever boring.
I will give Bach's principal works below and include a specific extract example(s) of such a work from this film in parenthesis:
(1) Sacred vocal works: over 200 church cantatas (Credo); 7 motets (Mass in B minor, St. Matthew Passion)
(2) Secular vocal works: over 200 cantatas (Cantatas 131 and 140)
(3) Orchestral music: 4 orchestral suites, 6 Brandenburg Concertos (Brandenburg Concerto in D major), concertos for one and two violins & for one, two, three, and four harpsichords (Concerto for Harpsichord)
(4) Chamber music: 6 sonatas and partitas for unaccompanied violin; 6 sonatas for violin and harpsichord; 6 suites for cello; flue sonatas; viola da gamba sonatas
(5) Keyboard music (The Well-Tempered Clavier, Goldberg Variations, The Art of the Fugue, Air on the G String)
Finally, the DVD (the one released in 2006) is perfect in picture and sound quality. It has no extras.
In conclusion, for those looking to find a quick way to learn about J.S. Bach and become acquainted with his music, this is the film to see!!
(1997; 1 hr; full screen; 13 scenes; made for TV)
+++++
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