Virgil Fox On:  J.S. Bach

From a recorded interview, 1974 (source to be revealed)

Virgil:

When there is a colossal meaning in a composition of music, I want every
ounce of that meaning to get across those footlights [i.e., stage
footlights].  And therefore I must say what [is] the idea in Bach’s mind,
what [is] the idea in the text, what [is] the idea in his heart, what [is]
the idea in his spirit, because right there, ol’ man, you have the reason
for the greatness of Bach. 

You see, his mind was universal, his heart was overwhelming, and his spirit
is transcendental….  Bach, like Shakespeare, felt everything.  And if he
felt everything, that means he has a message for every human being that will
ever walk on the face of this globe.

[Virgil has been discussing an up-coming concert.]

The concert will end with the great Prelude and Fugue in B Minor.  And this
composition is something near the end of Bach’s life when he was exploring
the universe … it has in it probings into what is to come in the future of
the life of a human being who has changed all of us by this flow of genius
that he was willing to put down on paper and give, without any holds
barred.… Any man can have all of Bach by simply opening up his heart and his
ears.  And I am so pleased that in this B-minor prelude I will have the
chance once again to take it apart, to show everybody exactly how I see he
is probing the future.  And it is something that will take us clean out of
our skins.  Can’t wait to play it!

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