![]() Some of the comparisons with Bach’s contemporaries, though almost always adequately explained, may prove to be less than illuminating to those of us who are unfamiliar with their music. It is filled with un-translated German titles and Latinisms, as well as technical musical terminology (ever heard of an appoggiatura, ritornello, or a vokaleinbua ?) Thankfully, there is a glossary. It is incredibly detailed – a strength of the book to be sure, but at times it can be overwhelming. I must warn you, it is not always an easy read. ![]() ![]() ![]() For those interested in learning more about Bach the man through his music, I warmly recommend Sir John Eliot Gardiner’s new biography entitled, Bach: Music in the Castle of Heaven. However, many of us are exceedingly unfamiliar with the man behind the music. And – for good or ill – Bach’s music is used to sell all sorts of things from life insurance to luxury cars. After Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March,” no piece of wedding music is more popular than “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” Many of our hymns, including such Good Friday classics as “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded,” are set to his tunes. Most evangelicals, even extremely non-musical evangelicals, are familiar with the music of J. ![]()
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