Our Church Speaks Episode 47 - Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer (with special guest Orlando Palmer - "IAMSON")
Oct 27, 2025
Orlando Palmer, known as I Am Son, is a musician and songwriter with roots in a musical family and a passion for church music. He and Ben delve into Johann Sebastian Bach's profound legacy as a church composer and discuss how his faith influenced his work. Orlando shares how growing up in a musical household shaped his own artistry and the significance of hymns from his grandmother. They explore the impact of congregational singing on creativity and encourage listeners to integrate music into their daily lives.
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Committed Genius, Not Tolerated Myth
- Johann Sebastian Bach worked humbly as a church musician, teacher, and provider rather than a fame-seeking genius.
- His industrious, faith-driven routine produced music that later became a pinnacle of Western art.
Disposable Worship, Enduring Legacy
- Only about 10% of Bach's works were published in his lifetime and many compositions were treated as disposable liturgy.
- He composed week-to-week for worship, not to build a personal legacy, yet left an immense posthumous influence.
Bach As Foundation For Modern Art
- Musicians across genres credit Bach with foundational influence on Western music and structural advances like counterpoint.
- His innovations enabled later achievements in architecture, science, and music, according to modern artists and thinkers.