AH, BACH!

Fans who went to see a performance of J.S. Bach’s music in the 1960s spent more time in the concert hall than contemporary audiences. So says a study that coincides with the 333rd anniversary of Bach’s birth and the release of a behemoth box set.

Universal Music Group labels Deutsche Grammophon and Decca revealed findings of a study that shows that some pieces are now performed almost 30% quicker than a half century ago. It’s to drum up interest in Bach 333, a 222 CD set of performances of Bach’s music.

The collection includes a 1961 by David Oistrakh and Igor Oistrakh of the Double Violin Concerto that clocks in at 17 minutes. A recording from 1978 is just over 15 minutes, and another from 2016 is about 12 minutes.

“It’s a basic change in taste from the rather weighty concert style of previous years towards something that is more light, airy and flexible,” says music scholar Sir Nicholas Kenyon.

Fans of “Dark Star” are praying no one from The Dead sees this report.