The term “I am thankful for blah” seems a little to abstract for how I feel this year.  I truly feel thankful to very specific people.

• I am thankful to all the people who came before me and created this wonderful world we live in, including this wonderful country.
• I am thankful to the generations of people that put up with various injustices knowing that eventually we would form a more perfect union.
• I am thankful for all the scientists, engineers, doctors, teachers, artists, musicians and other professionals that contribute to our society in real and profound ways, and make my life better.
• I am thankful for those who serve our society and sacrifice their time for us.
• I am thankful to my employer for deciding to keep me employed during these hard times.
• I am thankful to my friends, of which I am extraordinarily lucky to be able to count as many.
• I am thankful to my wonderful family.
• I am thankful to my cat for not being completely pissed at me for his new insulin injection.
• I am thankful to my wife.

Metallica is quite possible the greatest musical group of all time.  Since seventh grade they have been the standard by which I have judged all other music.  And if you dismiss that, you are a sorry judge of music.  To those unfamiliar with classical Metallica, let me tell you that the arraignments are on par with any type of music you will find.  At least for this untrained ear.  I still discover nuances of Metallica today.  Metallica are true originals.  Metallica is our Bach.

I first became interested in Johan Sebastian Bach when I read GEB. Bach is a figure of some importance in that book.  I had, of course, listened to classical music like anyone else in America.  So, I really didn’t give Bach much regard during the early parts of reading GEB.  Slowly, I started to think that maybe I was missing something.

Amazon and The Musical Offering

I finally decided I should give Bach a try.  I downloaded his famous Musical Offering from Amazon.  Of course there were a couple of “offerings”.  I chose the most approved; perhaps you have a better taste or another recording.

I was no short of amazed.  I have grown to love the tracks.  Bach is an absolute master.  I compare it to a soundtrack to a movie; the greatest soundtrack to any movie ever.  The themes seem to weave back in and fro.  The complex compositions astound me.  The fact that Bach wrote a 6 voice fugue and here it is, for anyone to listen to, is a miracle (and here it is to figure out).  Its like he is just screwing around with the audience sometimes (but just a little).  But not really, because as awesome as it all is, the end lacks that egocentric tone that some other composers exult.

I would wonder what Metallica, and a symphony, could do with Back’s Musical Offering?  I would love to hear that!