jtotheizzoe: The Genius of J.S. Bach’s “Crab Canon” Visualized...

jtotheizzoe:

The Genius of J.S. Bach’s “Crab Canon” Visualized on a Möbius Strip

Holy harpsichord.

We know J.S. Bach was a genius composer. Certainly among the top two or three that have ever lived by most measures. Even knowing that, I was not prepared for the awesomeness you are about to see.

This is the first canon from Bach’s Musical Offering, known as the “crab canon”. The first level of awesome is when you find out that it was designed to be played backwards and forwards. But lots of people have done that … big deal, right?

Then you find out that it was written to be played backwards and forwards at the same time. That’s pretty amazing, but again, since it’s not that long I wouldn’t classify it as an Earth-shattering epiphany.

BUT THEN … graphic artist Jos Leys (who made the video), show how this Bach piece is basically the musical version of a Möbius strip.

Mind. Blown.

(Read more at Open Culture)