'What Makes Bach - BACH?' (feat. Evan Shinners founder of WTF Bach Podcast)
What makes Bach’s music more influential than say, Handel’s, or Vivaldi’s? Why does Bach’s name stand above all others as the most important composer in musical history? Tonebase artist, Evan Shinners, examines several aspects of Bach’s art that laid the foundation for him to become the most prominent figure in western music: from his solutions to the tuning problems European music faced in the early 18th century, to the technical mastery which defined the techniques of string, keyboard, wind instruments, -even vocal music- to this day. Understanding how Bach himself thought of sharing his own collections of music with the world, the audience will come away with new ideas about their own musical trajectories, with renewed appreciation for Bach's music.
Check out Evan's "WTF Bach Podcast"!
About Evan Shinners:
Host of ‘The WTF Bach Podcast,’ Evan Shinners attended The Juilliard School where he studied with Jerome Lowenthal. A devotee to the music of J.S. Bach, Evan is also a clavichordist and studied harpsichord with Béatrice Martin. Winner of MAW’s first Alumni Enterprise Award, he is the founder of The Bach Store: temporary concert venues where Evan performs the complete keyboard works of Bach, for free, daily, in unused real estate spaces around the world.
Bach Stores were/are in: Manhattan in 2018 and 2019, The Thüringer Bachwochen in Germany in 2022, The Bach Festival of Schaffhausen, Switzerland in 2024, Brighton, UK, 2024.
His ambitious podcast dissects daunting subjects such as the structure of The Art of Fugue to an audience of non-professionals. Guests interviewed are among the most influential in current Bach thought: Brad Mehldau, Robert Hill, Chris Thile, Christoph Wolff and others.
Follow this event link to tune in!
https://app.tonebase.co/piano/live/player/what-makes-bach-evan-shinners
We are going to be using this thread to gather suggestions and questions!
- What questions do you have on this topic?
- Any particular area you would like me to focus on?
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This looks very interesting! I look forward to it!
Questions for Evan:
Where (and when) did your interest in Bach begin?
What "seeds" were planted that blossomed to bring you to where you are today in terms of Bach?
What features of the clavichord and the harpsichord are most appealing to you? Why?
I would like to hear more about this: how was your discussion of "the structure of The Art of Fugue to an audience of non-professionals"?
Is there something you would like everyone to know about J.S. Bach that you don't think most people know? If so, what is it?
What do you think is most surprising about Bach?
It appears he was a humble man. His genius is glorious - ineffable.
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What kinds of adjustments do you have to make when you play Bach on three different instruments….harpsichord, clavichord and piano? Do you have to focus ultimately on one, or can you play all three equally without one negatively affecting the other?
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Hi Evan, if Telemann wrote more pieces than Bach, why was Bach more famous? And if Bach is the beginning and end of all music, where can you find Schoenberg’s music in Bach?
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Dominic Cheli why are my questions still “pending review”? Thanks
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Bobtheblob sorry it is very random when sometimes the system flags a question! I have approved it. Apologies!
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Very interesting quote by Bach at about 22:40. I am so impressed and grateful for the seamless technological collaboration between Dominic and guest.
It is amazing that we are able to view this Live session via Los Angeles, California and Portugal!
Thank you, Evan! Thank you, Dominic! Thank you to all who asked meaningful questions!
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I enjoyed the quotes at the conclusion of the program, too! Thank you, Evan!
