Tag Archives: “Ahh Bach”

“Ahh, Bach!” — Creative Guitar Playing

Creativity/Spirituality, ,

“Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast, To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” (William Congreve)

I mentioned in a previous blog Hawkeye’s comment that when you said “Bach” that you’ve said everything (“I think once you’ve said that, you’ve said it all.”). For me there are “Ah, Bach!” moments that occur when musicians challenge my mind and soul. The literary references in Led Zeppelin, along with the music, soar above so many songs that I hear today; The Beatles wove stories through their music; U2 speaks for social justice.  Classical music is not the only genre that inspires and moves.

So, the other day I discovered—well, actually, I was sent this link (http://www.mikerayburn.com/flv/comicallyderailed.html) to—Mike Rayburn, who bills himself as The World’s Funniest Guitar Virtuoso. His artistic presentation, Comically Derailed, showcases creativity and performance that provided me with a lift to my soul and spirit. The range of music is amazing. Check him out. “Ahh, music!!! I’m charmed.”

“Ahh, Bach!” Moments

Creativity/Spirituality, , ,

In the TV series M*A*S*H—one of my all-time television favorites—, Season 1, Episode 14 (“Love Story”) Radar has fallen for Nurse Louise Anderson. They are from opposite worlds: his unschooled and earthy, hers scholarly and sophisticated. In trying to impress her, we hear the following conversation about music:

Radar: Ahh, Bach!
Louise: What does that mean? “Ahh, Bach”?
Radar: Uh, just that. Ahh, Bach.
Hawkeye: I think once you’ve said that, you’ve said it all.
Radar: Ahh, Bach.

I’ve begun thinking about “Ahh, Bach” concepts and moments in different venues, such as food, literature, art, music, etc. This is the beginning of a series of “Ahh, Bach” ideas. Each one will feature an exposition of an idea or object that is an “Ahh, Bach!” concept: an idea so obvious that you’ve said it all.

So, as we begin, let’s think about classical music. Is “Ahh, Bach” definitive of the genre? I am moved by all of his works in ways that few other composers have done, but that is not to disparage Beethoven or Handel or Mozart. Hey, Tchaikovsky? Even as I write this, I’m thinking of Beethoven’s 5th and 9th symphonies. They rock! Maybe classical music doesn’t have just one “Ahh, Bach” moment. Maybe it’s filled with “Ahh, Bach,” “Ahh, Beethoven,” “Ahh, Tchaikovsky,” and more (this is only the big names).

What do you think? Do we have any modern classical composers in this realm? Who’s a contemporary “Ahh, Bach” and why?