Members of the Bach Mailing Lists
Discussions - Part 19: Year 2017

Continue from Part 18: 2016

Introducing myself

Frank Ortner wrote (April 8, 2017):
Being accepted in the BCML as a new member I want to introduce myself shortly. Originally being interested more in Bach's instrumental work and classical music, esp. Haydn, I got to know the cantatas better and learned to love them eben listening to a weekly radio-program called 'la cantata del domingo' when I came to Buenos Aires two years ago for my work. For everybody who is speaking spanish: I can highly recommend this program,, which is playing one of the cantatas for the very Sunday of the church year (Gardiners pilgrimage always) every Sun. at 8 a.m. local time in Radio Nacional Clasica de Argentina. You can listen and will find it easily via the Internet. Maestro Mario Videla, who is a conductor, organist, head of the Academia Bach and obviously a splendid person, is talking about and giving very worthy explanations on the cantata he chose. Now I cannot get enough of the cantatas and spend a good part of my leisure time listening to and reading about the cantatas. I doubt, that I will be able to contribute much in this forum tough, as my knowledge is very limited in comparison to most of you, I guess.

It is not Importamt, I find, but here comes some personal information: I am 49 years old, married to a wonderful wife, Austrian and working in the foreign service. For all members of the BCML, who are living in Buenos Aires: I would be happy to meet you at the concerts of the Academia Bach.

My fondest regards and best wishes

Introducing Myself

Floris van Vugt wrote (April 12, 2017):
I read that as a new member I'm supposed to send a message introducing myself so here I go. I'm a neuroscientist and amateur musician. I've loved baroque music from when I first started playing the oboe, my main instrument, and then throughout the years played in various ensembles. I've always felt a particular connection with Bach's music. Recently I've started learning the baroque oboe and it's been such an amazing journey to rediscover Bach's music through the instrument that he imagined when he composed. What I appreciate so much about Bach's music is that it seems to have these layers that as you work on it more and more, you discover more and more, and instead of it becoming dull like some music one actually starts to enjoy it more deeply. As Lewis Thomas said, when asked what we should send out into space as a first communication to alien civilisations, "I would vote for Bach, all of Bach, streamed out into space, over and over again. We would be bragging of course [...]"

Jane Newble wrote (April 12, 2017):
[To Floris van Vugt] Welcome Floris, it is always wonderful to see people who love Bach. It must be a lovely experience to play baroque oboe!

I so agree with you about all the layers in Bach's music, I sing in a choir and we are studying the St John's Passion, and some of the harmonies are just incredible!

The Bach Cantata website is a bit like that too. Aryeh Oron has managed to get lots and lots of layers and hidden corners in it, truly treading in Bach's footsteps, and I wish you joy exploring the website!!

Continue on Part 20: 2019

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