No matter your beliefs or what you think of the holiday season in general, music is the one connecting force that brings people together.  For some, it is the traditional carols, others enjoy the commercialized music produced for the sole purpose of selling a product, and others turn to local concerts and productions to get their holiday music fix.

Despite being a very secular person, the often sacred music of J.S. Bach draws my attention throughout the year.  Oratorio’s, Masses, and Cantata’s dominate a large part of his collective works.  It is the sound of these works that is so inviting.  The words are secondary and add another musical layer to the already complex equation of Bach’s music.  Listening to one of these works is like listening to a vast musical puzzle that while clearly difficult, also offers a level of simplicity.  Perhaps it is the complex nature of the works and how well they are put together that often leads to a calming listening experience.

J.S. Bach offers works for solo instruments without accompaniment to giant works that involve large orchestras, choruses, and soloists.  Whether you are listening to a Partita for solo violin or the Christmas Oratorio, you are immediately surrounding by the very distinct sound of Bach and of Baroque music in general.  The use of counterpoint offers the listener a chance to hear a work form, come together, and then play off itself in a variety of ways.  All of this occurs while the general theme remains the same.  Complex and soothing at the same time.

The life and career of J.S. Bach was dedicated to working for the church and producing music for the church.  Instead of limiting his creative, this position only seemed to push his creativity and the bounds of what he was capable of producing musically.  His sacred works provide some of the most intense listening experiences and expand far beyond the boundaries of religion and the message being offered.

On Sunday mornings, classical music 103.3 FM (Colorado Public Radio) offers “Sacred Classics” for several hours starting at an early hour.  The programming offers a wide variety of sacred music from composers ranging from the very old (Monteverdi) to the very new (Adams)  J.S Bach is of course prominently featured with a variety of works.  It is the sound of these works, the information provided about each piece that is so important for me.  Something is learned each time one listens for more than 15 minutes.   A new composer, new background on a familiar piece, or the excitement of finding a new favorite piece.

However you celebrate the holidays, keep music at the forefront of what you do and what you experience.  If you have not experienced J.S. Bach, pick a piece at random, sit back, and enjoy the musical complexity of one of the finest composers that has ever lived.