*
Reviews and Comments on BACH & friends
Bach's Brilliant Friends
Bach on the organ? Of course. On the piano? Certainly. On the cello? Naturally. On the violin? Sure. But Bach on the banjo? The ukelele? The mandolin? How about the glass harp? Or the clarinet, the guitar, and the double bass? And let's not forget a cappella. You hear them all -- brilliantly filmed and recorded -- courtesy of BACH & friends, a gorgeous two-hour documentary by Michael R. Lawrence
Jan Herman, Straight Up | March 1, 2010
Richard Saul Wurman, creator of the TED & EG conferences
B R I L L I A N T !
Richard Saul Wurman
A Documentary About Bach Gives Food for Thought.
One of the most fascinating documentaries I've seen recently is Mike Lawrence's Bach and Friends. It's a two-hour compilation of some extraordinary performances coupled with information about the composer's life and times and personal reflections of musicians. The result is truly uplifting.
Alan Elsner, Huffington Post | March 1, 2010
Eric Siblin, author of The Cello Suites
Hello Mike,
Your film is as beautiful as it is smart. I was glued to the screen and could have easily watched another two hours of it. (I have yet to watch the performance disc - so I do have something to look forward to). You combined great talkers with top players and managed to connect the clips in a highly engaging and erudite narrative chain. From Glass to PDQ to the Swingles it was a thrill all the way through. Stunning shots of fingers on instruments. And the balance of words versus music was right on; you let the tunes roll long enough to appreciate the music while keeping the storytelling ball rolling.
Felicitations! I hope you get all the success this deserves.
Looking forward to Volume 2.
All best,
Eric Siblin, author of The Cello Suites | February 18, 2010
John Sunier, Audiophile Audition
There have been other filmed documentaries on Bach, but this is the best I’ve ever seen.
John Sunier, Audiophile Audition | February 13, 2010
Anne Midgette, The Washington Post
This is not a documentary about Bach, but about how Bach is perceived and exists today through the eyes of musicians (and others) who have a special connection to the composer.
Running through all of this, behind the words, are some impressive Bach performances by the project's participants, including Bell's only recorded performance of the Chaconne. As a fine perk, these performances are also offered on their own, without commentary, on a second DVD in the two-disk package.
In short, this is a love letter, given an additional glow by loving camerawork and equally loving visual editing. And it does have plenty to offer: some fine performances; some interesting information; and what amounts to a cross-section of today's classical music world, in many of its current manifestations, from highbrow to crossover.
Anne Midgette, The Washington Post | February 11, 2010
Read the entire Review
Three years after he started on the project, Baltimore filmmaker Mike Lawrence has released his latest documentary, "Bach & Friends," the kind of work that has "labor of love" all over it.
Lawrence's passion for Bach's music led him to ask a cross section of artists to discuss the composer's place in their creative lives. The result is an entertaining mix of ideas and emotions, along with music-making of a high caliber.
No one could miss the genuine enthusiasm and just plain reverence that the film's participants express. When pianist Simone Dinnerstein says that playing Bach is "as close to religion as I get," she's speaking for many musicians (even those who also have more traditional religious leanings).
Lawrence has achieved so much in his film. By vibrantly exploring and celebrating Bach's hold on today's musicians, "Bach & Friends" makes it clear why the composer will continue to exert just as strong a hold for generations to come.
Tim Smith, The Baltimore Sun | February 28, 2010
John Lewis, Baltimore Magazine
Local filmmaker Michael Lawrence has put together this fascinating DVD about the music of Bach and it's influence on contemporary culture. More than simply a Bach tribute, it takes a multi-faceted look at the composer's work through a prism of interviews with musicians, writers and scientists.
John Lewis, Baltimore Magazine | March, 2010
Garrett Brown, Academy Award inventor of the Steadicam
Dear Mike, Thank you for your spendid DVD's
Many of the performers brought tears to my eyes... Felix and Mike's Organ Fugues and many others -- in large part because of the artistry of your recording and and lighting and operating and editing. Bach & Friends and the performances were both superb, and every artist shined the brighter because of your taste and skill and love of Bach's music.
A transformative experience...
very warm regards, Garrett Brown
For Love of Bach
There is surely no composer whose work transcends cultural, geographical and temporal boundaries as does Johann Sebastian Bach’s. Just in time for the 325th anniversary of his birth on March 21, comes a terrific new 2-DVD set celebrating many facets of his work.
The brainchild of Michael Lawrence, a conservatory-trained guitar and banjo player turned award-winning documentary filmmaker, “BACH & friends” features performances and interviews with leading musicians including Bobby McFerrin, Simone Dinnerstein, Edgar Meyer, Philip Glass, Peter Schickele, Richard Stolzman, Hillary Hahn, the Swingle Singers, Béla Fleck, Matt Haimovitz and the Emerson Quartet. The first DVD contains the musicians’ commentary interspersed with musical clips, along with keen insights from pianist/scholars like Mike Hawley, who contemplates what the world would be like had Bach not lived, perish the thought.
The high point of the film for me is the stunning final segment in which the Emerson Quartet discusses and plays part of Bach’s last, unfinished work, “Art of the Fugue.” Here the sounds are coupled with computer-generated fractals that evoke the distant reaches of space, to which Bach’s music has been sent on the Voyager I spacecraft.
Donald Sosin, The Music Scene | March 4, 2010
Renate zum Tobel, author of The Physician of the Soul, Albert Schwitzer
Dear Michael,
I viewed the documentary this evening. I was overcome with emotion and am still somewhat in a daze and speechless. You did the impossible!
The ending described his 'Being' so perfectly! Dr. Schweitzer would absolutely agree with every aspect of your creation.
Wonderful, just wonderful... BRAVO! I will show it to my family tomorrow and will invite friends over to watch it with them as well, again and again... because you created a masterpiece. What an inspiration for us all on this planet!
For me he is one of the immortals, as alive today as ever.
Thank you from my heart,
Renate zum Tobel
J.S. Bach continues to be one of the must influential composers of all time, and a new DVD, entitled Bach & Friends, offers even more proof that the music of this amazing man (who lived from 1685-1750) has lost none of its appeal. Created by Michael Lawrence, Bach & Friends features a number of today’s greatest performers in the classical music arena who show their love of Bach’s music through their own words and performances.
Bach & Friends is a terrific testimonial to the greatness of Bach’s music. Lawrence, who has written, produced, and directed over twenty documentaries, brings you really close to the performers when they talk and perform, which gives this film a personal flair. The earnest and genuine quality what the performers say and how they perform make this film a must see.
James Bash. Oregon Music News | March 5, 201
Julian Mincham, Bach Recordings Group
A new film about JS Bach is always going to be keenly anticipated by lovers of music around the world. This has certainly been true of ‘Bach and Friends’, a thoughtfully and affectionately produced two-DVD set by Michael Laurence. It is neither a documentary nor an educational treatise; it is a celebration and one that is, in my experience, quite unique. It records the reactions of a large and particularly diverse range of musicians to Bach’s music and through that, it honours it and rejoices at its legacy.
JULIAN MINCHAM, Posted on Bach Recordings group | March 2, 2010
Dr. Andrew Talle, Bach Scholar
Hi Mike,
I want to congratulate you again on your great
movie. I think it's an amazing achievement and a testament to your
dedication, talent, and hard work. I think Bach would be proud.
Dr. Andrew Talle
Mike Hawley, Director of EG, pianist
Mike,
Gorgeous.
Just was able to give it a careful watch.
There are so many beautiful things --- the imagery and wonderfully varied intimate visuals, the thoughtful remarks, the beautiful playing. And the connections that emerge. It's so much fun to watch the Swingle Singers put together the Badinerie layer by layer while Ward lays his thoughts on top; or meet John Bayless, and then later watch him slide into the MRI. How cool that Richard Stoltzman loves the marvelous chromatic fantasy --- which I used to play all the time...
I found myself thinking about the transitions between things. I like the flow in general --- the way you have Phil Glass, with Simone playing Goldberg underneath, and Uri Cane, all interspersed.
Mike Hawley
ps, thanks for making me look so good!
Michael Emmerson, Bach Recordings Group
Posted on Bach Cantatas and Bach Recordings groups
Michael Lawrence's "Bach Project" DVD just arrived. I watched it, absolutely
spellbound for its entire two hours. The exceptionally intelligent and
sophisticated commentary by lots (and lots) of instrumental players (no vocal,
choral, or orchestral content, unfortunately--maybe on "Bach Project II," hint,
hint?) was insightful and riveting. A recurring theme involves JSB's
improvisational skills and what that means for modern composers and artists (and
brain research!). The performances are first-rate, too. While Bach "neophytes"
can certainly enjoy and benefit from watching this (it would be a good "pump
primer" for them), I suspect those who are already in awe of JSB will get the
most from, and be most moved, by it. This is a GREAT DVD. Bravo!
Michael Emerson
Vanessa Gould, filmmaker - Between The Folds
Dear Mike,
WOW, what a fantastic film!! From the opening titles, through such wonderful parts as Glenn Gould, Sid Meier, Bela Fleck, PDQ Bach, and the beautiful closing Contrapunctus and words from the Harlan Brothers and Josh Bell, it was just such a pleasure to become absorbed in the watching and the listening.
And the performances, too. . . the camerawork and incredible angles were a treat to behold. I think you've created something absolutely essential.
Thank you!
Vanessa Gould, filmmaker, Between The Folds | February 18, 201
Ken Hoover, Classical Voice of North Carolina
This is not a documentary about Bach's life but rather a documentary about Bach's music and as such it provides an appreciable sampling of the music that is the foundation on which most of what we call music today is based.
It is in the solo works: the organ works, The Well-Tempered Clavier, the Goldberg Variations, the violin sonatas and partitas, and the cello suites that we meet Bach intimately and personally. Here we have one musician and one instrument communicating, first of all, with each other and then conveying meaning and aspiration to others who may be in the same space.
The most jaw-dropping for me was organist Felix Hell's performance of the Fugue in D, S.532. You can hardly watch this guy's pedal work without falling out of your chair. Simone Dinnerstein's performance of the opening theme of the Goldberg Variations left me overwhelmed and breathless. The adulation and the performances are great.
The second DVD in the set is comprised of complete performances of the sample works without commentary or interruption. The sound and picture quality are superb. The editing flows comfortably. There is enough pure joy in this set to make it worth having on your shelf.
Ken Hoover, Classical Voice of North Carolina | February 22, 2010
Neil Halliday, Bach Recordings Group
The bonus DVD features very engaging performances as well as exciting visual experiences. The 23 year old Felix Hell performs the youthful, energetic organ fugue in D major BWV 532. The visuals of his brilliant pedal technique are astounding; this is an aspect of the concert organist's craft which an audience rarely gets to see. Simone Donnerstein gives a "heavenly, dreamy" (in the positive sense of the words) expressive performance of variation 13 of the Goldbergs, on a modern grand. Her total immersion in the music is instructive; it's as if time and space have ceased to exist for the performer.
This total absorption of the performer by the music is evident in all the serious contributions; Hilary Hahn is another that comes to mind. The Emerson String Quartet demonstrate what an effective medium their ensemble is for the realisation of The Art of Fugue. Their vigorous performance of Contrapunctus 9, with its jazzy brilliance, is visually and aurally stunning.
Violinist Joshua Bell concludes the music with a brilliant performance of the famous Chaconne. Visual highlights here include his vigorous "pumping" of the bow, as if forcing the relentless flow of 1/32 notes from the instrument in a most technically challenging variation. The image of a humming bird's rapidly fluttering wings comes to mind.
Neil Halliday, Posted on Bach Recordings group | February 17, 2010
Elliot Mandel, Chicago Classical Music
Michael Lawrence’s new documentary, Bach and Friends, is a two-hour love letter to the Baroque master. The film’s final sequence is its best, featuring The Art of Fugue. Here Lawrence artfully fuses the life and music of Bach in the performance by the Emerson Quartet.
Elliot Mandel | March 4, 2010
I enjoyed the DVD enormously. I've always had a tremendously intense emotional response to much of the Bach music being performed and have always had difficulty putting it into words. It's therefore reassuring and uplifting to hear such a collection of great musicians who get the same sort of impact and strive to communicate it to the viewer. Lawrence's simple and direct style makes the intensity of the passion felt by these musicians quite tangible, as do many of the clips of them playing. Clearly, the act of playing Bach's music has an effect that one can only describe as mystical. Some of the performances are wonderful: I was particularly taken by mandolin player Chris Thile's rendering of the prelude from the third Violin Partita.
David Karlin, Bachtrack.com | February 26, 2010
