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Portrait of the composer Bach in pencil and acrylic on canvas.
The artist met a well-known cellist named Greg Gotleib at a restaurant
counter on a Saturday morning in Long Beach in 1984. They got
to talking and made a deal on the spot that if Gotleib played
at Buerge's backyard barbecue that night, Buerge would design
a logo for his group called 'The Bach Players'. Gotleib showed
up in a tux accompanied by a violinist and flutist. They played
into the night outside around a big fire and, "it was the
most moving and tangible classical music experience I have ever
had", says Buerge. The artist got up in the morning and created
this piece that incorporates a cello, violin and flute and other
musical symbolism into the portrait. The artist printed a poster
using the artwork that was sold nationally and he gave a copy
to Marvin Swartz, the art director of the classical music division
(EMI) at Capitol Records. Swartz hung it up in his office and
called up a year later and asked if he could use the art on a
Bach album cover but he needed it in color. The Los Angeles Times
used it for a story on Bach's 400th anniversary and it was in
a classical music calendar. And, Gotleib used it as a logo for
years for his group, The Bach Players". So, suffice it to
say this painting has been around the bach a few times. |
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