'Ah...Bach!'

The Bluffer's Guide to Music recommends, tongue-in-cheek, that 'Ah...Bach!' is all you need to say if a conversation veers in Bach's direction.

In a way, that is correct; it's hard to find words which adequately encompass his range and genius, or the sheer indestructibility of his music.

Bach is an all-weather composer, a man for all musical seasons, surviving exposure in unlikely venues and amidst unlikely musical bedfellows. Which other composer can be performed satisfactorily, according to individual taste, not only in the five ways Gavin lists, but also on a Moog Synthesizer, by the Swingle Singers, or in the style of Bobby McFerrin - and be an integral part of decades of cigar advertisements as well?!

Bach often used transcription, his own music appearing in different guises and reworked on different instruments. As a pianist, I find it fascinating when his music for violin, for instance, is presented pianistically by other composers: Busoni - the Chaconne; Rachmaninoff - the E Major Partita; or by Bach himself.

The current Grade 5 ABRSM Piano syllabus includes a movement from an unaccompanied violin sonata transcribed for keyboard by Bach. It's not too difficult, and it's quite short - but it is ravishing.

So how do I like my Bach? I like my Bach - transcribed.