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Bach Movies:
Bach's Life & Documentaries: Index
by Title | Index by Year |
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Bach Movies:
Bach's Life & Documentaries: Index
by Title | Index by Year |
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Details |
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See: New Bach Movie |
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New Bach Film |
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Aryeh Oron wrote (July 15, 2007):I received the message below from Michael Lawrence about a new Bach film. I thought you might find it interesting. ******************************************** Here is the latest on the Bach project. João Carlos Martins called and we have selected some 1994 footage of him performing the Prelude #5 from Book 1 of the WTC for the film. I will film an interview with João Carlos in New York in September. Also, I was contacted by the Washington Bach Consort and they have offered to allow filming of their upcoming performances for the production. Last week I got a call from Leon Fleisher and we had a very pleasant and detailed talk about the film. Leon liked the personal nature of the film's structure and said the premise was an attractive one for him. He wanted to know who would be in the documentary and was curious to know what piece Charles Rosen would be playing for the film - which is the six-part ricercare from A Musical Offering (BWV 1079). Leon suggested that he might be interested in playing the Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue (BWV 903) or my favourite, the Capriccio in Bb for the production. He did not think one of the transcriptions that he performs would be appropriate. Leon also mentioned that filming in his home studio with his 9 foot concert grand might be best. Leon said that he would get back to me when he returns to Baltimore at the end of July. July 5, 2007 Press Release Michael Lawrence Films has begun production on a new film on Johann Sebastian Bach. Hilary Hahn, Edgar Meyer, Béla Fleck, João Carlos Martins, and Matt Haimovitz have all agreed to be in Michael Lawrence's new film on J.S. Bach. In addition, Bobby McFerrin has expressed an interested in doing a duet with Béla Fleck for the documentary. Yo-Yo Ma, Dave Brubeck and Leon Fleisher have also expressed an interest in appearing in the production. What started as a small personal and local film for Mr. Lawrence has blossomed into a major national and international production. An Emmy nominated filmmaker, Michael Lawrence has written, produced, and directed over twenty documentaries, including productions for PBS, CNN and HBO. His films have been honoured by awards from major film festivals around the world. Johann Sebastian Bach's music has always been a very personal experience for Michael Lawrence who is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of Music. He decided to approach this film in the same way with the primary focus on world-class Bach players performing one favourite Bach piece - not so much as a performance but rather allowing the audience to share in the performer's experience with the music. Each performer will also film an intimate interview that will explore the player's personal feelings about the piece, reflections on Bach as well as comments and stories concerning Bach - the man, his music and his influence. As the project grew and developed, Mr. Lawrence decided to expand the perspective of the documentary. Bach scholar Christoph Wolff will do an interview for the film as will Sid Meyer who wrote the computer program CPU Bach. Joshua Rifkin is also considering granting an interview for the production. Due to the support of Tim Page the Washington Post Pulitzer Prize-Winning music critic, David Posen, attorney for the Glenn Gould estate has opened up the entire Gould archive for use in the film. Also materials from the Rosalyn Tureck archive are also available due to the help of Teri Noel Towe and Michael Charry. Production will begin in August with Felix Hell, the acclaimed young German Bach player performing on the Holtkamp organ at Peabody. Charles Rosen is enthusiastic about appearing in the film and will perform the six-part fugue or ricercare from A Musical Offering. Manuel Barrueco will play and comment on the G minor fugue from the first sonata for unaccompanied violin. Michael Lawrence especially wants this film to reach out to young people who have almost completely disassociated themselves from classical music. By including Felix Hell (20 years old), Hilary Hahn (27 years old) and Matt Haimovitz, who often plays in rock clubs, Mr. Lawrence hopes to rekindle the love of Bach in young music lovers. Peter Schickele of PDQ Bach, who will also appear in the film, said, "it is about time someone did an out-of-the-box film on Bach." "I have looked at dozens of films on Bach and not even one is truly engaging or worthy of the master," said Mr. Lawrence. With a little luck, he hopes this production will fill that void. Mr. Lawrence is currently seeking the additional funding needed for the expanded production. More information on Michael Lawrence Films can be found at: http://www.mlfilms.com/ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1676041/resume YouTube Clips of Michael Lawrence Films productions can be found at: YouTube ICOM Magazine Announcement of Bach Film. |
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Santu de Silva wrote (July 16, 2007):[To Aryeh Oron] I'm only too delighted to hear about this project! As to whether there are Bach films worthy of the master, it is traditional to be critical of one's competition before the project gets underway, but Swinging Bach, the Bobby McFerrin entry is not bad at all, neither are any of the Bach DVDs. Only the Bobby McFerrin DVD even tries to touch on a large variety of Bach opuses (opera?) we must grant, except for The Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach. Unfortunately, artists who are left out of the project will probably be thoroughly disappointed! I think it's a wonderful idea. I thoroughly endorse Bela Fleck's participation; I just had to have his CD when I heard it. I wish they would also consider Brian Slawson, one of many percussionists who adore doing Bach. (Gosh, I just would not have the nerve to start a project like this; I would be too anxious about leaving too many people out! For instance, though Yo-yo Ma's Simply Baroque was just wonderful, I don't know really what he could add to a project like this. On the other hand, Lukas Foss's Art of Fuguing has some fabulous movements, which might be hard to incorporate into a visual medium, such as a film.) As far as appealing to younger listeners, I wonder how much can really be done. How much, for example, did Amadeus (the movie) do for Mozart? Is the word definitively in on that? Perhaps what is needed now is a combination of the sorts of Bach music that would catch the imagination of younger folks, together with a movie with more personal interest, e.g. something on the lines of the A-M Bach movie, but less apologetic. Youthful imaginations are fired by personalities rather than abstractions, imo. |
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Bach Film |
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Michael Lawrence wrote (July 28, 2007):[To Aryeh Oron] Here is the latest on production for the Bach Film. We begin filming with Felix Hell at Peabody on August 19th. Teri Towe went to Felix's NTC Trinity Church concert yesterday and said it was a big success. He opened the program with Bach's Prelude and Fugue in D Major. The fugue is the piece Felix will play for the film. Here is a link to the video: Also, I will shoot Hilary sometime in August. João Carlos Martins is flying specifically to Baltimore for his filming which we will do either September 8 or 9. Matt Haimovitz is set for October 11th in Arlington at the Iota Club. I just today realized I could sign up for you email mailing lists which I did. I guess I missed you posting an announcement for the film on your lists. Please send me a copy when you get a chance. Teri Towe said he would also post to his list. Baltimore Sun Bach Article ICOM Bach Film Announcement MLF Movie Trailers are up! You Tube Clips |
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Michael Lawrence wrote (September 3, 2007):[To Aryeh Oron] The Bach project is off and running. Here is the link to an initial cut of the first day's filming with Felix Hell. João Carlos Martins, who was suggested for the film by Dave Brubeck, will fly into Baltimore at his own expense to do an interview next Sunday at the Peabody Conservatory. He is also providing archival footage of his performance of the D Major Prelude and Fugue from Book one of the Well Tempered Clavichord. We will also film João Carlos giving a lesson to a student that Leon Fleisher has recommended. Other filming dates are falling into place. On October 11th, we film Matt Haimovitz at the Iota Club in Arlington Virginia. Then we film Manuel Barrueco in his home performing the G minor fugue from the first violin sonata on October 29th. MICHAEL LAWRENCE FILMS 6708 Danville Avenue Baltimore, MD 21222 (410) 633-0558 (410) 633-5868 Fax Baltimore Sun Bach Article ICOM Bach Film Announcement MLF Movie Trailers are up! You Tube Clips |
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Michael Lawrence wrote (September 17, 2007):[To Aryeh Oron] I put up an initial cut of the João Carlos footage and the links are below. If your computer has difficulty playing Quick Time files, the clips are also up on You Tube with the links below. Bach Film - Joåo Carlos Martins Cut Joåo Carlos Martins Cut on You Tube Bach Film - Felix Hell Initial Cut Felix Hell Cut on You Tube Baltimore Sun Bach Article ICOM Bach Film Announcement MLF Movie Trailers MLF You Tube Clips |
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Michael Lawrence wrote (October 27, 2007):[To Aryeh Oron] I hope all is well. I thought you might be interested in seeing a clip of the latest shoot with Matt Haimovitz. I film with Manuel Barrueco Monday. Matt Haimovitz, Cellist - October 11, 2007 Initial Cut (QuickTime file - Highest Quality - Broadband - recent computer) Matt Haimovitz, Cellist - October 11, 2007 Initial Cut (YouTube) I got the final OK from Bobby McFerrin to appear in the film. I have had a tremendous response to the clip of João Carlos and due to it, I am being considered for the: http://ark.media.mit.edu/~eg/draft/ http://www.the-eg.com/ Michael Hawley is currently arranging the EG ’07 schedule and hopes to find a brief time slot for me to make a presentation on the Bach project. The EG ’07 gathering is in Los Angeles in December. Also thanks to Mike, I met with Morton H. Meyerson who is interested in providing some funding for the film. The Dallas Symphony Hall bears his name. Bach Film - Joåo Carlos Martins Cut Joåo Carlos Martins Cut on You Tube Bach Film - Felix Hell Initial Cut Felix Hell Cut on You Tube Baltimore Sun Bach Article ICOM Bach Film Announcement MLF Movie Trailers MLF You Tube Clips |
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Michael Lawrence wrote (November 7, 2007):[To Aryeh Oron] Hi Aryeh: Thanks for listing the Bach project on your Video page. <> Here is the current list of participants: Already filmed: Felix Hell August 19, 2007 João Carlos Martins September 9, 2007 Matt Haimovitz October 11, 2007 Manuel Barrueco Oct. 29, 2007 Committed to being in the film: Hilary Hahn Peter Schickele Charles Rosen Béla Fleck Benjamin Ivry Sid Meier Edgar Meyer Christoph Wolff Tim Page Teri Noel Towe Glenn Gould Estate Rosalyn Tureck Estate Bobby McFerrin Ward Swingle Interested but waiting for confirmation: Yo-Yo Ma Wendy Carlos Chris Thile Joshua Rifkin |
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Michael Lawrence wrote (November 17, 2007):[To Aryeh Oron] I've been invited to show a sample reel of the Bach project at the prestigious EG'07 conference in LA Dec 2-4: Bach Film Sample Reel at EG'07 I have been busy cutting the sample reel and will get you a description for you web page when I return. I hope t raise some funds there for the Bach project. I now have a fiscal sponsor, The Handel Choir of Baltimore so donations can go to a 501(c)(3). A donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, has come forward and offered to match any funds given to the project. The terrific young Bach player, Simone Dinnerstein has come aboard the Bach project. Her recenrecording of the Goldberg is the best I have heard since Glenn Gould and I love many, many other Goldberg recordings. Simone Dinnerstein Thanks again for your support of the Bach project. Bach Film — Manuel Barrueco Cut Manuel Barrueco Cut on YouTube Bach Film — Matt Haimovitz Cut Matt Haimovitz Cut on YouTube Bach Film — Joåo Carlos Martins Cut Joåo Carlos Martins Cut on YouTube Bach Film — Felix Hell Initial Cut Felix Hell Cut on YouTube MLF Movie Trailers MLF YouTube Clips |
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Bach Film at EG'07 |
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Michael Lawrence wrote (December 13, 2007):[To Aryeh Oron] It was such an honor for the Bach Project to be featured at this year's EG'07 - Richard Saul Wurman's sequel to his landmark TED conferences. Attending and being a presenter at the conference was the experience of a lifetime. What an amazing group of creative people! I met everyone from Steve Wozniak to Norman Corwin, Marvin Minsky and Bob Dylan's son Jesse. The eclectic group included quantum physicist Brian Greene, author Amy Tan, founder of the MIT Media Lab Nicholas Negroponte whose current project is the $100 computer for kids in developing nations, pianist Leon Fleisher came directly from receiving this year's Kennedy Center Award and performed for the group of five hundred attendees and the great Jonathan Winters brought the house down. The ten-minute Bach sample reel was screened midday on the first day of the three day conference which was held at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. Projected on a thirty-foot screen, the high definition sample of Bach footage looked as sharp as a tack and the quality of the sound was spectacular. It was very well received; and when the house lights came up, people were still applauding. After the screening, I gave a brief talk and mentioned the funding needs of the project. I closed my presentation with the story of Carl Sagan asking Dr. Lewis Thomas what we should include in the Voyager 1 mission - the first probe to search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Thomas suggested to Sagan, "I think we should send all of Bach - but of course we would be bragging." I ended the presentation by commenting that Voyager 1 has now left our solar system and is streaking through the Milky Way with Bach as our calling card. A number of people came up to me after the screening offering to contribute to the project including John Abele, the founder and chairman of Boston Scientific. When I returned to Baltimore, I received an email from John saying that he will donate a significant amount to the project in an out right grant and also put up an even larger amount in matching funds. A check from the Argosy Foundation, his family foundation, will be sent to the Bach Project's non-profit sponsor The Handel Choir of Baltimore. When the conference's founder Richard Saul Wurman gave his closing presentation, he mentioned only two of the fifty or so presentations - Negroponte's $100 computer and the Bach Project. Richard also mentioned that he appeared in my Library of Congress film many years ago and that he recently viewed the hour film and said it was as powerful today as it was fifteen years ago and urged everyone in the audience to have a look at Memory and Imagination: New Pathways to the Library of Congress. With John Abele's generous support, the filming which had been at a standstill is off and running again. There are a lot of great Bach players that have agreed to be in the film and are waiting for a filming date. We start with Simone Dinnerstein in New York on December 18th. Simone Dinnerstein, Pianist Hilary Hahn, Violinist Peter Schickele, PDQ Bach Charles Rosen, pianist Béla Fleck, banjoist Benjamin Ivry, music writer Sid Meier, game designer/CPU Bach Edgar Meyer, bassist/composer Christoph Wolff, Bach scholar Tim Page, music critic Teri Noel Towe, Annotator/Music Writer Glenn Gould Estate Rosalyn Tureck Estate Bobby McFerrin, singer/conductor Ward Swingle, Swingle Singers I guess dreams do actually come true. Have a great holiday season. Bach & Mike @ EG'07 Bach Pages & Cuts are Up @ mlfilms.com |
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Bach Project 2008 |
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Michael Lawrence wrote (January 4, 2008):The Bach Project is off and running in 2008. Thanks to John Abele and the Argosy Foundation, initial funding is in place and matching funds are available for future donations. EG'07 Blog Kevin Bazzana, author of "Wondrous Strange: The Life and Art of Glenn Gould" has written up the Bach Project for the Glenn Gould Foundation Web Page. Production is now moving forward at full steam. Next up will be filming with Joshua Bell in Philadelphia on February 1st. In December we filmed Simone Dinnerstein in her Brooklyn home and Tim Page, the Pulitzer Prize-Winning music critic and close friend of Glenn Gould in Baltimore. Here is the latest web cut with Simone Dinnerstein: Simone QuickTime Cut Simone Cut on YouTube TO BE FILMED Joshua Bell, violinist Peter Schickele, PDQ Bach Charles Rosen, pianist Béla Fleck, banjoist Hilary Hahn, Violinist Benjamin Ivry, music writer Sid Meier, game designer/CPU Bach Edgar Meyer, bassist/composer Christoph Wolff, Bach scholar Teri Noel Towe, Annotator/Music Writer Glenn Gould Estate Rosalyn Tureck Estate Bobby McFerrin, singer/conductor Ward Swingle, Swingle Singers COMPLEPRODUCTION Tim Page, Music Critic Simone Dinnerstein, Pianist Manuel Barrueco, Guitarist Matt Haimovitz, Cellist Joáo Carlos Martins, Pianist/Conductor Felix Hell, Organist All the best for the new year, Bach Project on Glenn Gould Foundation Web Page Eg'07 Blog Bach & Mike @ EG'07 Bach Pages & Cuts are Up @ mlfilms.com |
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Why We Love Bach - article in 'The Baltimore Sun' |
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Teri Noel Towe wrote (December 21, 2008):Here is a link to the article in today's Baltimore Sun about Michael Lawrence, who is making the documentary about Bach: http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/music/bal-al.bach21dec21,0,3194371,full.story For those who may be interested in viewing the rough cuts of some of the clips, here is a link to the index page for The Bach Project: http://www.mlfilms.com/productions/bach_project |
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John Pike wrote (December 22, 2008):[To Teri Noel Towe] Many thanks for this, Teri. Sounds inspired. I love the idea of a child pianist coming and playing Bach to the residents of an elderly care home. The music mentioned (Chaconne, KdF, WTC, Goldbergs) will present Bach at his (almost) incomparable best and it sounds as if the film gets to the heart of what makes Bach's music so great...its universal appeal, its ability to heal all sorts of psychological hurt, even to save lives, its resilience to all sorts of treatments and to still speak. I can't wait for it to come out. |
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Santu de Silva wrote (December 22, 2008):[To Teri Noel Towe] I wonder whether we could come up with a structure for such a documentary? I have found that different people --and this is not a huge discovery-- have different ways of appreciating Bach, ranging from the sheer uncritical pleasure in the music such as among the very young, for instance, who cannot articulate why they love it. They may not have the concepts and the vocabulary, but their enjoyment of Bach is none the lesser for that. As we go to music lovers of high school or college age, they attempt to put their appreciation into words, with various degrees of success. But individuals in this age group know themselves a lot better than younger folks, so they can reason along the lines of: "I know what I like, and I like Bach, so X must be why I love Bach." As one grows older, I believe (and this is true for me), one once again gets less confident about why one loves Bach. I sometimes find myself weeping, listening to Bach, for no good reason at all. All good art appeals to our own personal history, or whatever about it is universal experience. Sometimes it is admiration of Bach the man, sometimes it is admiration of his methods, sometimes it is our reaction to Bach's response to some stimulus, such as the passing of a princess, or the purchase of a new and glorious instrument. Then, when one is old, one sees the important things. One has perspective, and one knows that it is more important to hear the music and smell the roses quickly, than to analyze why the experience is important. Life is fleeting, and there's so many roses to smell! |
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Jean Laaninen wrote (December 22, 2008):[To Santu de Silva] When I listen to BWV 82a sung live by Anne-Katherine Olsen at ASU, the tears simply stream down my face, so I am partially in agreement with what you have said below. But I also find analysis fascinating--how Bach built the structure of his works, his choice for instrumentation, why he chose a soloist over a chorus to convey a particular message and visa versa. And I'll be 65 in January. That's old enough to have already lost friends along the way, and to know that I want to go on much longer exploring both the emotional uplift or serious moments, and to really engage my mind with the details. Dad recently turned 100, and one of the first things he said to me in a conversation by phone was, "I learned some new things today about..." Thanks for talking about the very personal side of the experience...it is wonderful. But don't give up on the analysis--it may prolong your life, IMO. |
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Aryeh Oron wrote (December 22, 2008):Michael Lawrence's Bach movie [was: Why We Love Bach - article in 'The Baltimore Sun'] Santu de Silva wrote: "Here is a link to the article in today's Baltimore Sun about Michael Lawrence, who is making the documentary about Bach: <> I wonder whether we could come up with a structure for such a documentary?" You can find the basic info about this movie at the page: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Movie/F0020.htm which also includes some cuts from the movie in process. I believe that at the page: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Movie/F0020-D.htm you will find the answer to your question. |
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Joshua Bell and the Bach Project at EG'08 |
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Michael Lawrence wrote (December 23, 2008):Hi Aryeh: EG was terrific this year. Mike Hawley did a great job of putting it together - especially in such tough times. I ran into old friends and met some really interesting new people. Teller of Penn and Teller was there and I hadn't seen him since filming for my Library of Congress film. It ends up Joáo Carlos Martins is one of Teller's favorite Bach players. I put them in touch with each other. I met Alvy Ray Smith, the co-founder of Pixar and he has put me in touch with Pixar's genius Loren Carpenter. There is a good shot of Loren doing some animation for the Bach Project - fractal zooms and Voyager 1 with Bach as our calling card streaming through the cosmos. Also, I met several wonderful still photographers who did presentations and whom I am speaking with about using their portraits for a montage of the faces of humanity. I'm currently thinking of calling the film The Faces of Bach. On the last day of EG'08, I gave a short talk on the progress that has been made with the Bach Project and ended with a quote from Dr. Lewis Thomas from my film The Shared Experience: "The real surprises that set us back on our heels when they occur will always be the mutants. We have already had a few of them - sweeping across the field of human thought, periodically, like comets. Bach was able to do this. And what emerged in the current were primordia in music. In this sense, the Chaconne was for the evolving organism of human thought, feathered wings, opposing thumbs - new layers of frontal cortex." Josh Bell then came up on the stage and played the Chaconne as well as I have ever heard it. Everyone was blown away. When I got back from California, I had one day to do final preparations for the the last day of production. Friday we filmed with Philip Glass in his NYC studio and he was terrific. Philip's insight and love for Bach just radiated throughout his interview. His friend, cellist Wendy Sutter, played Philip's Chaconne from his new composition for unaccompanied cello, Songs and Poems. This will be the only piece in the film not written by Bach. Mort Meyerson and Sally Rosenthal visited and watched some of the filming. After I take a breather for the holidays, I will go to work on the final film. I hope to have it done by summer. Have a great holiday season. Mike Tim Smith's Baltimore Sun Article on the Bach Project, 12-21-08 MLF Bach Project Joshua Bell & The Bach Project at EG'08 MLF Clips on the Web / MLF Clips on YouTube |
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Bach Project In Post Production |
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Michael Lawrence wrote (February 12, 2009):Hi Aryeh: The Bach Project has come a very long way since it was launched at EG'07. This magical journey was only possible because of such a broad and shared love for the music of the great one - Johann Sebastian Bach. In addition to the wonderful Bach players who took a chance to join this effort, there are so many other advisors and supporters who have helped make this happen. Over the last year or so, we have completed 36 shoots in 30 days of production. The crew has done a terrific job. Though working at greatly reduced rates, they all feel it is among the finest work of their careers. Shot in High Definition Video using the finest state-of-the-art equipment, the finished documentary will look and sound as good as any high-quality national production. The crew and I have traveled to Nashville, Raleigh and on many occasions up to New York. All this has been accomplished with the $100,000 that has been generously donated to the Bach Project. The quantity and quality of the footage is quite extraordinary for this size budget. And the spectacular array of outstanding Bach players is well beyond my wildest dreams. The production phase is now completed and the job of editing this wondrous and massive amount of material into a moving and meaningful narrative has begun. Though I work alone on my home editing system, I have many co-contributors and advisers to this enormous effort. Loren Carpenter, the computer genius behind Pixar, is creating an animation section specifically for the Bach Project. Philip Johnson is contributing his dazzling morphing animation technique to the faces of Bach from Teri Towe's historical portraits as well as to the faces of the film's many participants. Here is a link to Philip Johnson's morphing technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRdzkSP9ewY&feature=related I am also fortunate to have many very talented advisers who have and will continue to offer ideas and suggestions as the editing progresses. I hope to have the feature length documentary completed this summer. The final DVD will also include a bonus video section with complete uninterrupted performances. In many instances this will be the first time the artist has recorded the piece. One example is Josh Bell's performance of Bach's greatest masterpiece, the Chaconne, which he has never before recorded. Also, Hilary Hahn has never recorded the Grave and Fugue that she played for the film. Each day I receive emails from people around the world who have visited the Bach web pages and are moved and reinvigorated in their love for Bach. Just yesterday I received an email from a pioneering geneticist who said, "The Bach Project is inspirational and heart-warming. Thank you for making an important part of humanity better known to mankind." Another email read, "Congratulation on your fine work Sir! You are really making a difference! God bless you!" Bach web cuts have been viewed on YouTube more than 165,000 times. I am convinced that when this film is released, the power of the Bach playing in the documentary will uplift and touch the lives of many millions of people around the world. As I now face the final stages of this effort, I must once again seek funding. I will need $40,000 to cover the cost of completing the Bach film. I still owe the crew for the last two shoots and will need funds to pay for the video/computer finishing, audio mix and DVD authoring as well as promoting the finished film. Any suggestions or ideas for support in helping to complete the Bach Project would very much appreciated. I realize we are in a very difficult period and even small gifts would be a lifeline. Richard Saul Wurman who founded both TED and EG just called to personally donate $1,000 to the project. Mike Hawley has invited the Bach Project back to the next EG to celebrate its completion. This Kismet story would not have happened without the support of Mike, Richard, EG and so many others. If you can think of a friend or associate who might be interested in supporting this effort please pass on their contact information. Thanks again for your enormous contribution to making this dream a reality. Warmest regards, Mike MICHAEL LAWRENCE FILMS 6708 Danville Avenue Baltimore, MD 21222 (410) 940-8527 (cell) http://www.mlfilms.com/ mlfilms@arion.net P.S. For potential donors, checks can be made payable to the Bach Project's 501 (c) (3): The Handel Choir of Baltimore 3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 150 Baltimore, MD 21211 (410) 366-6544 Please designate that the check is a contribution to the Bach Project. New Clips Up! Harlan Brothers/Emerson String Quartet, Bach & Fractals - Philip Glass/Wendy Sutter - Hilda Huang - Sharon Isbin/Rosalyn Tureck Tim Smith's Baltimore Sun Article on the Bach Project, 12-21-08 MLF Bach Project Joshua Bell & The Bach Project at EG'08 MLF Clips on the Web / MLF Clips on YouTube |
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Bach Project Editing |
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Michael Lawrence wrote (April 15, 2009):Hello Aryeh: The Glenn Gould Foundation web page has put up a new article on the Bach Project: http://www.glenngould.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=459&Itemid=1 The editing is moving along very well and over the weeks, I have cut lots of powerful segments for the final film with many wonderful surprises along the way. I am reminded every day of how fortunate I am to have such rich material to work with. What an array of exceptional Bach players! Thanks to my talented crew the image quality and more importantly the sound quality is first rate. During this stage of editing, I have been concentrating on just the performances and making the very best cuts possible for each piece that was filmed - all fifty-three of them. Everything from improvisations by Bobby McFerrin & John Bayless to entire cello suites by Matt Haimovitz and Zuill Bailey. The initial web cuts were done very quickly but now I am approaching the footage in a much more careful and comprehensive way - essentially starting from scratch. I want to make sure that nothing is overlooked and that every nugget of gold ends up in the final film. I will choose from these music-only cuts in making the final documentary and also select many for the DVD bonus disk. Phil Setzer of the Emerson Quartet cautioned me about using too much talking and to be sure and let the music take front stage. He is absolutely right and as I look back at the web cuts, I realize there was too much talking and not enough Bach. I hope to have all the performance segments cut within a few weeks. Then I start cutting the final documentary. I wanted to share one of these extraordinary music-only cuts but it has been difficult to choose just one. Below is a link to Chris Thile playing Bach's E Major Prelude from the 3rd violin partita. It is quite extraordinary! QuickTime - YouTube Chris and Edgar Meyer have a new CD out that is terr- very innovative and like nothing I've heard before. The bass and mandolin make a great duo. Jake Shimabukuro sent me his new CD and it includes the Bach invention that he learned for the Bach Project. Sharon Isbin also has a new CD out featuring Mark O'Connor and Joan Baez. Béla and Joan will join an amazing array of performers at Pete Seeger's 90th birthday concert at the Garden on April 4th. Johanna and I wouldn't miss it for the world. Thanks for all your help and support. I'll keep you posted as the editing continues. Warmest regards, Mike P.S. If you are curious as to how I juggle all the possibilities for the documentary, I have attached a PDF of a program called FreeMind that has been a big help. This is one of a half dozen maps on different aspects of the production. See: Bach Map Overall [PDF] MLF Bach Project MLF Clips on the Web / MLF Clips on YouTube |
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Bach Project In Post Production |
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Michael Lawrence wrote (July 17, 2009):Hello Aryeh: The editing for the Bach Project is cooking right along. I am very pleased with how the film is coming together though my wife Johanna always warns me not to fall too much in love with the cuts. I now have 40 minutes of the film in very near final form. The finished documentary will be somewhere between an hour and a half and two hours long. The bonus music-only DVD will be of a similar length. I plan on locking down the picture in November and then do the video finishing, mix and DVD preparation and manufacture. The completed documentary will be featured at EG in Monterey, January 21 -23. Thanks to Richard Wurman (TED Conference) and Mike Hawley, the film was launched at EG'07. John Abele was kind enough to donate the majority of the production funds. Though production ended several months ago, a new participant has joined the Bach Project. I am so pleased to include Robert Tiso's spectacular playing of Bach on the glass harmonica. He is an extraordinary musician and when you hear his performance of the organ Toccata in D minor you will never forget Robert's playing. Robert lives in Bologna and the Bach Project did not have the funds to film him in Italy nor to bring him to the States for filming. Robert decided to make a DVD of his playing and he sent me the video files which I had converted from European PAL video formate to NTSC, the US video formate. I have done an initial web cut and here is the link: http://www.mlfilms.com/productions/bach_project/robert_tiso More good news for the Bach Project: Pioneering computer graphic artist Ken Knowlton is creating a mosaic based on the Bach Hausman portrait for The Faces of Bach opening segment of the film: http://www.knowltonmosaics.com/ The Bach coffers are down to a few hundred dollars; so if you know of anyone who might like to support this effort, please pass them on to the Handel Choir of Baltimore, the 501 (c)(3) fiscal sponsor for the Bach Project: http://www.mlfilms.com/productions/bach_project/funding Hilary Hahn's performance of the Grave from the 2nd Violin Sonata will be the last web cut and should be up in a few weeks. Warmest regards, Mike MLF Bach Project Science in the Bach Project MLF Clips on YouTube / MLF Clips on the Web |
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OT: Bach Movie |
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Paul T. McCain wrote (August 1, 2009):Does anyone know when the Bach project movie is coming out? I'm really looking forward to seeing it all put together. |
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Aryeh Oron wrote (August 1, 2009):[To Paul T. McCain] You can read about the progress of the Bach project movie at the page: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Movie/F0020-D.htm and watch cuts from it at: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Movie/F0020.htm |
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Ed Myskowski wrote (August 1, 2009):Aryeh Oron wrote: >You can read about the progress of the Bach project movie at the page: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Movie/F0020-D.htm < From which site: >Though production ended several months ago, a new participant has joined the Bach Project. I am so pleased to include Robert Tiso's spectacular playing of Bach on the glass harmonica. He is an extraordinary musician and when you hear his performance of the organ Toccata in D minor you >will never forget Robert's playing. < I look forward to the result, notwithstanding that: (1) The glass harmonica was developed post-Bach, but in time for Mozart, as I recall. According to Grove (Concise Encyclopedia) the *modern* instrument was perfected by Benjamin Franklin in the USA, ca. 1761. He probaly stole it from the Russians, however. (2) Tocatta in Dm (vampire music, per my spouse) is now very questionable, as suthentic J.S. Bach. There was a glass harmonica manufacturer in the Boston area for many years. His name was Finkelheimer (sp?). His day job was fabricating custom glassware for lab work (also per my spouse, a client for many years). He disappeared mysteriously a few years ago, when he took off on a solo airplane flight, never to be heard from again. Perhaps he is in heaven? Or considering thermodynamics and theologics, some other place? Either way, the glass harmoncia makes a heavenly, if not necessarily Bachian, sound. Often it makes no sound at all, and never without a bit of lubrication. It never sounds bad. I am striving for the same condition. |
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Josh Klasinski wrote (August 1, 2009):[To Ed Myskowski] How will this movie be availiable? At the cinema or via video rental? Sounds like it will be interesting!...especially if it features a glass harmonica! |
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Paul T. McCain wrote (August 1, 2009):> How will this movie be availiable? At the cinema or via video rental? < It is going to be released on DVD, for purchase, from what I can tell from the reports. |
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