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Bach, Moog, and Carlos   December 28, 2003

editorial reviewer is clueless   December 14, 2003

"Wacky", "goofy", "hilarious" are words you use to describe a serious groundbreaking milestone in both classical and electronic music. You dismiss worldclass musicianship as a "battery of special effects". Shame!


The beginning for me   October 20, 2003
  6 out of 8 found this review helpful

What can I say about the influence Switched On Bach has had on my musical life? Back in 1968, between this album and my high school music appreciation teacher (and his awesome component stereo system), I got addicted to Bach and then to classical music in general. What started out as a novelty album to me became a passion. My high school vice principal owned a music store, so guess what? I was maybe the only kid in school who got hallway updates on what new classical music had come in! Oh man, how does $2 sound for demo/overrun LPs? I got quite a collection that way. Miss those prices too! If a parent wanted to slip a musical mickey to his children, this might be just the "novelty" to do it, but please make no mistake, Carlos has created masterful interruptations here. These are serious Bach gems that you will grow to treasure. Odd, but yes I started a classical love affair with a synthesizer! Get this music.


Fantastic exercise in ingenuity....   October 8, 2003
  6 out of 7 found this review helpful

This set of works on the synthesiser was actually among my first introductions to Bach, so cultivating my interest in classical (or more specifically 'baroque') music immeasurably. Given this, I think it would be safe to say, Wendy Carlos has achieved in this form a fantastic way of introducing people to classical music. It certainly is a fantastic exercise in ingenuity, on part of composer and performer, and if we allow ourselves to enter the world of the late 60's through 70's, this becomes even more apparent.

As one reviewer has said, the accompanying notes, provide a curiously fascinating insight into how the creation of these recordings came about, with Carlos' almost exhaustive description of every step of the way. I suspect this to be, for those who were caught up in this wave of the day, in some form, quite nostalgic.

The behemoth celebrity status that these recordings possess of their own accord, befits the resounding success they achieved. That one could be too partial to these recordings, is almost the premise of fiction.


How to be hip and still keep Bach alive!   July 18, 2003
  1 out of 2 found this review helpful

Ok, a lot of reviews have stated how 'quaint' and 'clever' Ms Carlos has been in her years of synthesis. I think the most important thing has been overlooked..the pure joy of Bach, Scarlatti, Monteverdi. These compositions have withheld the test of time as being truly classic. What Ms Carlos has done is to bring them to the modern age in a new form while retaining the pure fun of them. Dont forget, these efforts were made in the analog time of Moogs..no polyphonics, no digital...just pure muscianship. I think it is a tribute that these recordings have been given the chance to shine again. Unlike Tomita and other synthisists..Carlos takes care to preserve the tonal quality of the original arrangements but still gives them a modern push. Hey, its just my opinion..but these recordings are among the finest made of these Baroque composers, even though they have been made thru an electonic machine. But, whoa..a machine is only as good as the person using it...being a keyboard player myself, Im steeped in the so called Prog Rock master like YES and ELP, but you notice how even they pay tribute to the classics. Sometimes the greatest high is either playing Bach or just listening and marvelling at the sheer beauty and fun of them. Do yourself a favor, buy this box set..you wont be sorry!