Showing posts with label J.S. Bach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label J.S. Bach. Show all posts

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Watching Bach Played

 [second version]


Each string ensemble player

leaned, turned, and swayed

in chairs differently as

they played. The women's

backs looked strong in gowns.

The men's feet in black shoes

stayed fixed to the floor.


Sometimes violin-bows poked

straight up as if reach for unseen

clouds just above the players'

heads. Portly cellos had to be

held up like friendly drunks.

They mumbled low genial

gratitude. One man stood


above the players, waving

his arms and a stick as if

to try to get someone's

attention. The violinists

may have glanced at him,

I don't know, but mostly

they cuddled their polished

wooden instruments, and


let their bodies feel the music,

and let us feel the vibrations

that they herded in the hall. 


hans ostrom 2015/2021

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Bach to Basics
















Watching Bach Played


I saw a string-ensemble play
Bach's music. Each musician
leaned, turned, and swayed
in chairs differently as
they played. The women's
backs looked strong in gowns.
The men's feet in black shoes
stayed fixed to the floor.

Sometimes violin-bows poked
straight up as if probing unseen
clouds just above the players'
heads. Portly cellos had to be
held up like friendly drunks.
They mumbled low genial
gratitude. One man stood

above the players, waving
his arms and a stick as if
to try to get someone's
attention. The violinists
may have glanced at him,
I don't know, but mostly
they cuddled their polished
wooden instruments, and
let their bodies feel the music.


Copyright 2009 Hans Ostrom