Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item(s) in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.
Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Nikoloz (class of 2026) and features works relating to Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). Thanks, Nikoloz!
The Architect of Music: How Bach Built Cathedrals in Sound
We often think of classical music as elegant and pleasant. But listen to Johann Sebastian Bach not for melody, but for structure. He wasn’t just a composer; he was a master architect who built intellectual and spiritual cathedrals using only notes.
Working in 18th-century Germany, Bach was less a tormented artist and more a brilliant craftsman, composing for the church and court. Yet, within that formal role, he achieved a superhuman balance of mathematical precision and profound emotion.
Consider his Goldberg Variations. It begins with a simple, graceful “Aria.” What follows is not just a series of songs, but a universe built from that single theme.
Bach takes this Aria and puts it through 30 different transformations. He creates canons at every interval, turns it into a furious fugue, a delicate dance, and a mournful lament. Every variation is a new room in this vast musical palace, yet the blueprint of the original Aria is always there. It is a breathtaking display of controlled invention.
Why This Matters for You
You don’t need to be a musician to appreciate Bach’s genius. Listening to his work is like watching a master engineer solve an impossible puzzle. There is a deep, human satisfaction in hearing complex parts interlock perfectly.
In a world of chaotic noise and fleeting trends, Bach offers a different experience: the beauty of perfect order. It is music that appeals equally to the heart and the mind, a timeless structure you can return to again and again to find both solace and awe.
Find out more about Bach and his work at the Parson’s Music Library through books like The World of the Bach Cantatas or streaming audio and more!