J.S. Bach, Come Sweet Death www.thejoyofmusic.org

[AAFDirectors]

Come Sweet death, MY all tive Fox favorite!

[mikedc2020]

Given Virgil's definitive playing of this hymn, why on earth would DB even bother. And of course, like everything she plays, she played it too fast, and ruined it.

[wainscottbl]

@mikedc2020 Regardless of her errors or not, and I am not expert, are you saying that because we have one great preformer that should stop all future performers? So no one can see Nessun dorma because Pavarotti was so good. Well, Paul Potts should have just kept selling phones...I understand your might might have criticisms, but one of them cannot be, "Well this great musician played it. Therefore no one else should."

[MANTLEBERG]

She who rides, and tames the mighty dragon, ride on..and excite our souls, ride on forever, you sweet angel of the earth, we give our thanks unto thee, for eternity.

[TomTRDEV]

She's a great organist, but everything is played at warp speed. Much too fast.

[ifuliki]

I heard this first when I was about ten when our choirmaster & organist played it. I find this rendition to be somewhat "muddy" I doubt JSB would have liked it. I like Virgil Fox's performance best and I really prefer it to be sung by a treble voice .

[swc789rjp]

Absolutely the most beautiful, ethereal, moving rendition of this piece EVER...Bach would be proud.

[ThatMinidotCom]

I defy anyone to sing this (yes, it was written to be SUNG) at Virgil Fox's speed. Diane's rendition conveys the hope of the Christian , that by death, he shall escape from death.

Precious soul! Cold death shall never

In its grasp thy life efface,

For the grave is but the portal

Of eternity's embrace.

Look to Christ, and look believing!

[giovannilaroche]

@ThatMinidotCom Are those the words to this? Were they written by Bach or do they come from a poem or something? They are so beautiful.

[ThatMinidotCom]

@giovannilaroche @giovannilaroche Hi - they are part of a hymn I wrote , and lost a long time ago. The preface to the Welsh translation of the Bible starts with the words, 'Enaid Gwerthfawr' (meaning, Precious Soul) and after hearing this quoted by our pastor, W Vernon Higham - wvhigham.org- , I wrote the words. Some day I might find them again, but for now, its just that much I can recall

[LJBSasha]

Yes, disturbing for those who don't believe in any sort of hereafter, & especially those who've not accepted Jesus as Lord & Saviour. For sure, those who believe that this world is either all there is OR is the best there is out there, this will be disturbing!! For real Christians however, Death is to be WELCOMED as the transferral of one's soul out of a world full of evil into a place of purity, eternal joy & so much else that's positive in comparison to which anything positive here pales...

[ifuliki]

@LJBSasha

Not at all. I learned my love of organ and choral music (and much more) as a choir boy in an Anglican choir and most of my religion as a Congregationalist at Sunday school, scouts &grammar school . When I reached the age if enlightenment at 14, 15 or so, I abandoned Christianity and became an atheist. I enjoy life and when I go to my eternal rest I want peace and quiet and not a lot of noisy angels hollering at me. I am not afraid of death and resigned to my corporeal annihilation.

[ms103127]

@LJBSasha Let's not forget that there are other people in the world with different viewpoints, different philosophies, and different religions/spiritual beliefs. I am a Christian, but I acknowledge that there are many paths to get to Heaven. I am not ignorant enough to think that those that do not "meet" Jesus in this life do not do so in the next.... Perhaps keeping an open mind and remembering the "larger picture" is the key? :-)

[LJBSasha]

@ms103127: You might wish to read up on your Bible (which tells us to work out "your salvation with fear and trembling")! Does it expressly say that there are many different paths to Heaven? Also, does it give any hints at reincarnation or meeting God in another life in the sense of more than one life?

Just asking... It's not mine to convert anybody (that's between people and God), but when one "believes" everything, does one really believe anything?

[LJBSasha]

Somehow, Ms. Bish's playing of this piece leaves me quite cold, as if there's something phony about her and her musicianship. Most certainly, while - in this piece - Virgil Fox might be criticised as too slow and sloppy (especially by purists! - not in the opinion of this writer...), at least he's nowhere near to being soulless; Ms. Bish however DOES make me feel as if she's, if not soulless, at least nowhere near as profound, alas...

[ms103127]

@LJBSasha Actually I am quite versed in study of the Bible, thank you... :-) I should remind you that it is clear in certain respects and open to interpretation by many.... You may state X, and I can interpret Y and Z and state that your justification of Q does not make sense to A and R and how certain writers - while divinely inspired - were also human (after all, Pat Robinson talks to God on a regular basis.... :-))....and so on and so forth.... :-)

[ms103127]

@LJBSasha Again, I respect your interpretations and beliefs, but please remember what God and Christ stated - and sometimes didn't state - in Holy Scripture. Looking at the larger picture makes it illogical for me to accept that the Trinity that I know and love would casually damn a Jew or a Buddhist or a Muslim or even a righteous Atheist to a cold Hell. You should know what is stated in the Bible about those that ignorantly judge and condemn and proclaim to know the Will of God.... :-)

[dacatholicbandorgan]

Diane was featured on EWTN?

[bishfan]

She still is weekly.  Check her website for the television schedule.

[Egestus18]

WAY tooo fast...

i like virgils tempo much more...

[bremick]

@Egestus18 .. I like Bish's tempo. Although a great Fox fan, sometimes he plays this piece too slowly

[polgarfan]

@Egestus18 I can agree with you; however, I think she's playing it for her show, not as a concerted performance. And when you're on tv, your time is very limited to what you can do. When we see Virgil Fox perform this, he's usually doing it before a listening audience, so he had more "freedom of expression" compared to a televised performance.

[silverstartrucker]

After hearing Virgil Fox's version, sorry I cannot enthuse.

[dieselheart001]

I heard this nearly forty years ago to this day, and still I find myself affected the same. Ms Bish's lovely interpretation left me transfixed, and my face wet with tears. Thank you for sharing this work, and Ms Bish's gift of bringing it to a realm including

but not confined by the aural sense.

may God bless...

dieselheart

[bishfan]

Upon death, he knows he will be going to a better place...