I was raised on the music of Bach, even if it took me some time to recognize what a blessing it was, providing me with most all of the tools I needed to maintain a sharp mind and a caring heart.
During breakfast on Sunday mornings, the family would always listen to the cantata for that week, and to this day I will hum arias in my head, much like I imagine others sing along to the favorite pop songs of their youth.
Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit, or also known as Actus tragicus, was a favorite, probably because I was originally confused by some of the German lyrics, thinking it was about selling real estate, instead of getting one's house in order to meet our Maker.
Who would ever have thought that very similarly expressed Stoic sayings would put a smile on my face, so many decades later?
My preference has always been for interpretations of Bach by Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Concentus Musicus, though I am not educated enough in the workings of Early Music to defend that attachment.
Recently, I have been following the work of the Netherlands Bach Society, who intend to gradually release the complete works free of charge, in HD video. I will not see the project finished, but perhaps my son will. I applaud the noble intent to provide it as a sort of public service!
At any time of the day, for whatever the occasion, you can't go wrong putting on a record by Bach. It is music made to nurture the soul, straight to the root. If you ever doubt the immediate presence of the True, the Good, and the Beautiful in this life, Bach will promptly rid you of such worries.
Johan Sebastian Bach, Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit, BWV 106, Netherlands Bach Society
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