Bach & Earth

Five Beautiful Movements - of Earth and Bach. Five of our best visuals, with Brian Hoffman's favorite Bach organ music - Canonic Variations

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Five years ago, Brian Hoffman set an audacious goal: to play and record ALL of Bach’s magnificent organ works. 321 recordings – each having its moment to shine. Last month he finished the final piece. Congratulations, Brian!

We featured several on Earth Music Theater, such as his joyous Trio Sonata #5 that we paired with photography by astronauts Suni Willliams and Butch Wilmore – our Earth Day special. Brian and I have also performed live together in the Bach in Space series – he plays the organ and I take the audience on a visual journey to Earth orbit.

We asked him “Do you have a favorite?” He said it depends on the moment and mood. . .but “my favorite Bach piece of all time, and by far, is the Canonic Variations (BWV 769) I think it's the most playful, danceable piece he ever wrote. To me, it captures the true essence of Bach. He's also at the peak of his canonic writing genius in this composition.”

So, let’s run with it! Here’s Brian’s masterful recording of Canonic Variations (BWV 769) aka Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her ("From Heaven above to Earth I come").

I took this opportunity to select some of my favorite Earth photography from the 50 prior movies. Here are Caribbean, Sahara, Aurora, Pacific and Sunset, paired with this music.

Brian said “Clouds over Pacific are like a free spirit dancing around the Universe.”

We call it Bach & Earth – Five Beautiful Movements.

Please love and care for Earth.