Hi Brian,
Far travelled? Perhaps.
There was a period in my life of about 18 months where I had a contract with InMarSat (a satellite launching company which was recently in the news over its tracking of flight MH370). I wrote a couple of courses for them about their latest (at the time) technology and then delivered it to many telcos (e.g. BT) around the world. I'd just finished a week in Washington before the week in Sydney.
Sometimes I'd arrive a day or two early in order to have a bit of a rest from the 4 days, 7 hours per day lecturing. It was an extremely exhausting schedule. When I did arrive early I'd look for a concert. No chance in places like Dakar, and not enough time in Tokyo or Moscow. Nothing to be had in Jo'berg.
But I just couldn't miss the opportunity in Sydney, now could I?
Especially Die Zauberflöte ... and at a bargain price.
Bach? Where to begin. Yes, I suppose for the keyboard, the 24 are often used as teaching materials, covering every key signature.
It is now considered possible by a few that Anna Magdalena Bach (his 2nd wife) may have written the C major prelude.
There is no existing copy in his handwriting, but two in hers.
The Toccata and Fugue which some now think was not actually written by him (academic research).
The six Brandenburg Concertos are worth a listen, as is his wonderful Concerto for two violins.
The St John and the St Matthew Passions are wonderful as are various arias from his more than 200 cantatas.
Susanne sings several written for soprano and alto.
The Italian Concerto and the Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue, played on the harpsichord.
The oboe and oboe d'amore concertos ... when one has more than a thousand works to choose from it becomes difficult.
But, of course, it all depends upon one's preferences.
What you should know is that Bach never possessed a piano!
It wasn't invented until late in his life and he severely criticised the early ones.
Although he became an agent in his last couple of years for the maker, I forget his name now, he didn't own one.
All his keyboard music was composed for harpsichord or clavichord, or for the organ.
The harpsichord has no dynamics except for chords, so the 24 should, in theory, be played using many tempo changes to give them variety. And Bach didn't use the Equal Temperament tuning that we use today. That didn't come into general use (actually tuned ET) until the 20th century. It's all fascinating stuff ... if you're a geek like wot I am.
I could ramble on for hours on this stuff, and often do to anyone who'll listen, boring them rigid.
If you want a challenge, try the Sinfonia to cantata no 29. You'll find the music at the IMSLP.
You'll find a good few YouTube videos posted.
Strange, I love Nat's voice.
Hoagy Carmichael composed Stardust, Georgia on My Mind, The Nearness of You, three for which he is probably most well known.
He was nowhere near as prolific as Porter or Gershwin being again mainly a pianist.
He appears in several early monochrome films including one as a piano player in an early Bogart and Bacall movie.
The Mozart oboe concerto is good (I used to be able to play bits of it).
And I adore many of his operas. Again, Susanne sings some arias from a few.
We try to get to the Proms every year if we can.
I used to listen to popular music much of the time with a little classical thrown in.
Now it's very much the other way round.
Good to chat.
Kind regards,
John.
Added later:
Here's a rendering of the Sinfonia from my laptop.
https://app.box.com/s/pzzug777hm5uidil3quxd91vfo5edcpa