Neighborhoods ‘Bargemusic Christmas Eve’
by Michael Downes
When asked if he believed in God, Dr. Kevorkian replied, “I have my own: Johann Sebastian Bach.” Ever since Glenn Gould restored Bach to preeminence with his 1955 Goldberg Variations, the pious composer has himself become a figure of idolatry among musicians and other sociopaths. But the real irony is that today we claim the most emotionally restrained of Bach’s works, such as the Variations, are his most spiritually compelling, whereas he originally wrote the piece for a series called “Keyboard Practice.” Young Stephen Beck, a veteran of Bargemusic’s floating concerts along the Brooklyn Bridge, faithfully celebrates the Christmas Vigil with Bach’s masterpiece of high formalism. With complimentary egg nog.
Thu., Dec. 24, 8 p.m., 2009