The Way of Bach: Three Years with the Man, the Music, and the Piano

I've returned to the piano at the age of 66.I am now ready for Bach.This book is the ideal guide and an incredible pieceof serendipity for me.Maybe for you too.This author writes beautifullyabout his encounter with great beauty.Take his hand, let him lead you.Highly recommended.

This is a terrific book. Dan Moller, a professor of philosophy, tells the story of how, as an adult, he returned to the piano primarily because of his life-long passion for Bach. Along the way, we get generous doses of fascinating biographical information about the great composer, helpful explications of technical musical concepts like counterpoint, comical glimpses into life as a professor today (one student insisted "that a B+ contravened his human rights"), philosophical reflections on the meaning of music and the difference between genius and craftsmanship, and much more. The writing is brilliant, and brilliantly witty; hardly a page goes by without some clever metaphor ("as if I were playing with hot dogs taped to my fingers") or aphorism ("the only thing worse than teachers are students"). Many of them caused me to laugh out loud ("for Wagner the meaning of life was Wagner"). Some of the set pieces are truly masterful--e..g, the description of Bach playing the organ in a Hamburg church, Moller's eventual conquest of a particular piece. It's full of strong opinions (some of which I found maddening, like his characterization of Beethoven as a "pompous nose-blower") and curmudgeonliness, but they only make the book more interesting and endearing. At root, though, it's a beautiful and moving homage to one of the greatest (according to Moller, THE greatest) composers of all time.

Dan Moller's love of Bach's music shines through on almost every page of this stimulating story of the author's struggle to master some of the beauties and difficulties of this timeless music. That love mirrors my own, a love that has lasted for almost 80 years. (I am now 89 years old!). If you are new to Bach's music this book may start you on a path to the joy that this glorious music can bring.

I just started piano in my forties and this guy is my more articulate partner in crime. He can turn a phrase and the impression he leaves of struggling but persisting is very real and motivating. He is a philosophy teacher. In fact, this is the best philosophy I have read in quite some time. I highly recommend this for piano students of all ages but especially adults seeking to learn piano or another instrument. Really nice to read the story of someone who seems to get the frustration but obsessive compulsive nature of piano as an adult. He is great but grumpy companion on the journey.

I dislike having to write a negative review but the book drones on about nothing. It may be my preference that a writer setup what is worth knowing, then say what is worth knowing. This book seems to lack a point on anything. Not my style.