Irish Mensa Lecture and Discussion: Bach's Invention: The Divine Trickery of J .S. Bach
- No group assigned
- July 21, 2025
Behind the sublime precision and expressive power of Bach's music lies a mischievous spirit. From puzzle canons (where the performer must solve a riddle to reach the score), melodies that run upside-down and backwards against themselves, hidden symbols, endless loops, to the embedding of numbers and names into the music, this lecture explores Bach's ingenious trickery. Unravelling this thread enhances an appreciation – and sense of humanity and playfulness – to his transcendent music.
Our Speaker: Professor Milton Mermikides is a composer, guitarist, technologist, academic and educator in a wide range of musical styles. He has collaborated with artists and scientists as diverse as Evelyn Glennie, Tim Minchin, Pat Martino, Peter Zinovieff, John Williams and Brian Eno. Son of a CERN nuclear physicist, he was raised with an enthusiasm for both the arts and sciences, an eclecticism which has been maintained throughout his teaching, research and creative career.
Mermikides is a Professor of Music at the University of Surrey, Professor of Guitar at the Royal College of Music and Deputy Director of the International Guitar Research Centre. He is a graduate of the London School of Economics (BSc), Berklee College of Music (BMus) and the University of Surrey (PhD).
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NOTE: This is a free virtual event, with no need to register. Simply click on the Zoom link to join the meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://tinyurl.com/bdbzpzvw
Meeting ID: 818 9691 7344
Passcode: 850078
For more information, contact Mary Reilly; mary@craftcottage.ie;
Our Speaker: Professor Milton Mermikides is a composer, guitarist, technologist, academic and educator in a wide range of musical styles. He has collaborated with artists and scientists as diverse as Evelyn Glennie, Tim Minchin, Pat Martino, Peter Zinovieff, John Williams and Brian Eno. Son of a CERN nuclear physicist, he was raised with an enthusiasm for both the arts and sciences, an eclecticism which has been maintained throughout his teaching, research and creative career.
Mermikides is a Professor of Music at the University of Surrey, Professor of Guitar at the Royal College of Music and Deputy Director of the International Guitar Research Centre. He is a graduate of the London School of Economics (BSc), Berklee College of Music (BMus) and the University of Surrey (PhD).
-------------------
NOTE: This is a free virtual event, with no need to register. Simply click on the Zoom link to join the meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://tinyurl.com/bdbzpzvw
Meeting ID: 818 9691 7344
Passcode: 850078
For more information, contact Mary Reilly; mary@craftcottage.ie;