“I think in Baroque music, especially in the case of Bach, what really transformed Bach's musical language, what changed it for him was hearing Vivaldi, hearing the sort of manipulation of small cells of information and patterns in order to generate sort of huge blocks of harmony.” ThinkingOrderLanguageCasesInformationChangedHugeHarmonyMusicalPatternsHearingBlockCellsManipulationTransformedBaroqueBaroque MusicVivaldi Author:Mahan Esfahani
“The harpsichord was actually ideologically considered a very questionable instrument in that period, much like I think it's ideologically considered suspect today in some circles.” ThinkingTodayPeriodsInstrumentsCirclesSuspectsQuestionable Author:Mahan Esfahani
“One of the tracks that I have is Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach - by the way, that's Bach's second son - Emanuel Bach's variations on "Le Folie." You'll definitely hear - I mean, I think if we listen to, say, the last couple of minutes of that track, there's a wide range of colors that the harpsichord is capable of. And I think, you know, that gives lie to the assumption that it doesn't have that kind of variety. And I think it very much speaks for itself.” IfsThinkingKnowsWayGivingKindMeanLastsLyingSpeakMinutesColorSonCoupleCapableTrackWideVarietyRangeAssumptionVariation Author:Mahan Esfahani
“I think, you know, for someone who does play, let's say, old music or, you know, Baroque music or Renaissance music - and you know, and I do play a lot of that, obviously - engaging with new composers, engaging with young composers, is really exciting because it makes me look at people of the past in a very different way that they are also living, that there was a lot of subjectivity in the decisions that they were making.” PeopleThinkingKnowsWayLooksDoeDifferentPlayPastYoungDecisionExcitingDifferent WaysComposerEngagingRenaissanceSubjectivityBaroqueOld MusicBaroque Music Author:Mahan Esfahani
“Bach, of course, was my first love. He still is. I mean, he's the man of my life, that's for sure. And when I say that there's been a re-evaluation, look, to be perfectly honest, I think I have a re-evaluation of my relationship with Bach probably every day, and that will never stop. And that's probably why I still get up in the morning and I do this.” ThinkingMenFirstsLooksMeanStillsCoursesMorningHonestHe ManGet UpFirst LoveEvaluation Author:Mahan Esfahani
