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Bach the Genius
Why Beethoven & Brahms Quote Bach.
The concept of genius has fascinated and captivated humanity for centuries. Genius is nearly impossible to precisely define, and a rigorous scientific measure of genius does not exist.
However, its ill-defined nature hasn’t stopped us from making certain observations about it or trying to identify it. Genius is extremely rare, and it can manifest in many forms, ranging from mathematical to musical.
Johann Sebastian Bach, a German composer of the Baroque period (~1600–1750), is considered by many to exemplify genius.
Bach’s music employs a breadth of compositional techniques with a seemingly unmatched rigor and expression. These include the rules that govern the progression of musical chords (four-part harmony), changes in key as the music evolves (modulation), and the elaboration of a small musical structure (motive) to construct a large-scale work (motivic development).
However, Bach’s use of counterpoint is perhaps his most sophisticated and expressive skill.
Counterpoint is an advanced compositional technique in which multiple independently evolving melodic lines form a harmonic structure that progresses according to strict rules. The pianist András Schiff astutely noted that the works of great composers, in particular Mozart and…
