Tough day today (taking care of a sick-but-not-too-sick 3-year-old) so I badly needed to decompress. Was listening to Bach's Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (BWV 61) far too loudly on the headphones when Alice (my 6-year-old) came in and we listened together. It was a great father-and-daughter bonding moment, although it stung my conscience to be reminded how much I hope she fulfills my ambitions as a frustrated musician. 
However it also gave me cause to reflect that I really couldn't get through life without Bach. To deal with the death of a close friend or relative I always turn to his G major Cello Suite, going on holiday has me reaching for the Italian Concerto etc. It seems whatever my mood the man has a piece of music for the occasion. It reaches into my soul deeper than most other music put together.
So, in answer to that awful hypothetical question "If you could only have one..." my answer has to be Johann Sebastian.
Who's your 'must have' composer and why?
Tough day today (taking care of a sick-but-not-too-sick 3-year-old) so I badly needed to decompress. Was listening to Bach's Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (BWV 61) far too loudly on the headphones when Alice (my 6-year-old) came in and we listened together. It was a great father-and-daughter bonding moment, although it stung my conscience to be reminded how much I hope she fulfills my ambitions as a frustrated musician.
However it also gave me cause to reflect that I really couldn't get through life without Bach. To deal with the death of a close friend or relative I always turn to his G major Cello Suite, going on holiday has me reaching for the Italian Concerto etc. It seems whatever my mood the man has a piece of music for the occasion. It reaches into my soul deeper than most other music put together.
So, in answer to that awful hypothetical question "If you could only have one..." my answer has to be Johann Sebastian.
Who's your 'must have' composer and why?