Bach’s Organs For Sale

Just kidding, they’re free.  James Kibbie has made Bach’s best organ pieces available for free at his website. Kibbie, an expert on Bach, recorded these pieces on Baroque era instruments in Germany similar to the ones with which Bach himself would have performed.  If you poke around the site you will find the complete works of Bach, or at least what is commonly thought to be his works, along with unfinished works played as found.

Or if you want a performance as good as Gould, here is the Goldberg variations by Glen:

What makes Bach so damn good? He knew his stuff backwards and forwards. Literally.  It’s called Polyrhythmic counterpoint and it’s the best thing since sliced bread. Explanations often confuse more than enlighten on this topic, so watch this video to see how Bach fires his canons.

Now, not all Sebastian’s pieces can be folded into a mobius strip, such as the immaculate Chaconne for solo violin in the top video . If played correctly, it sounds as if multiple violins are being played, almost dueling. The polyrhythm forms from two or more progressions, forming a third rhythm. At the top,  Josh Bell  is on his 1713 Huberman Stradivarius violin (I’ve heard he likes to jump in the pool playing The devil went down to Georgia on it at parties). If you prefer a angrier, fuller version, Markov below has you covered. But hey, if it’s not Baroque, don’t fix it.