The Concerto Number 2 features trumpets, recorders, oboes and violins playing in the extremely high register. Back in Bach's day, the trumpets had no valves, so this was very difficult for them to play. On the recording I have-one with Casals conducting the Marlboro Festival Orchestra-they substitute flutes for recorders. Today on the radio, I heard a nice version that used recorders. It had a much warmer feeling on the whole. My version sounds precise and meticulous and is played fast, which is OK considering the intellectual pyrotechnics one sometimes witnessed on "Firing Line."

The Andante-the second movement-has the cellos play a clock-like accompaniment to the slowed-down, but still high flutes and violins. It has a contemplative, deliberate feel to it. By contrast, the last movement explodes with a trumpet playing a very high flourish at a rapid tempo. The flutes and oboes join in and play counter point to the orchestra for the remainder of the movement with a driving rhythm that ends triumphantly and majestically.

I've been writing a now for some time about the feeling of rebirth that one feels all around during Spring. Bach himself experienced something of a rebirth thanks to the efforts of yesterday's feature composer, Mendelssohn. After Bach died, his music faded into obscurity and his reputation was eclipsed by his four sons who became famous in their own right as composers. I wonder why they did not champion his music more-he tested most of it out on them. Maybe there was some Oedipal reason for them remaining silent.

In 1829, however, 75 years after Bach's death, Mendelssohn, who in addition to being a composer and performer, conducted Bach's St Matthews' Passion to critical acclaim and the old man came back into vogue. He has remained so to this day, his albums selling as much as the other two German Bs: Beethoven and Brahms.

It makes you wonder how many works by other composers, writers or artists throughout the ages have remained hidden in attics or old church lofts somewhere. Before televised sports sucked the last bit of creative energy out of people, most almost everyone sang songs, played an instrument, or found interesting ways to channel their artistic energies. When composers composed, they did not use electronic keyboards to sample other songs and then add a synthetic drum beat.

One last note, yesterday, March 20, was Bach's birthday. He would have been 314 years old had he lived. He also would have been incredibly wrinkly by now. But no matter; his music lives on and still wakes us up and gives us joy, even on rainy Spring days like today.

Bach Bio

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