In the Beginning, There Was Bach
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This opening sentence from the Gospel must sound familiar to you as well. So, what was there before the Word? If we look to the Bible, nothing. Billions of Christians throughout history have followed this Word. A film adaptation of The Silence Before Bach tailored to the Bible would probably go like this: In the beginning was Bach. Bach was with God, and Bach was (for music) God. For Bach lovers, this is a very familiar expression in terms of the divinity they attribute to Bach. In this view, Bach’s music is a divine grace sent to the world as the godly voice of music. Bach: The Silence Before Bach is a film woven with Johann Sebastian Bach’s music, fragments of his life, and transitions between past and present. Some brilliantly and cleverly constructed scenes seem designed to tantalize the palates of Bach and music lovers alike. In an empty subway station, a cellist begins playing Bach; another ap...
