Bach and Friends: A Remarkable Collaboration

The Entertainment Gathering (EG) was the catalyst for a collaboration between Michael Lawrence Films and Zenph®. Michael Lawrence and Dr. John Q. Walker were both EG presenters, and they developed a strong friendship that resulted in Zenph hosting venues for several segments of Michael's extraordinary new film Bach & Friends.

This documentary film explores how Bach's music influences lives in the 21st century. Bach & Friends is now released. Michael posted some of his initial edits in 4-minute segments on YouTube (but the final film is much better).

The following segments were filmed at Zenph facilities:

Glenn Gould and Zenph Studios 
Computer game designer Sid Meier discusses the Zenph re-performance®. of Glenn Gould's 1955 Goldberg Variations with Drs. Anatoly Larkin and John Q. Walker. Master piano technician Marc Wienert is interviewed in the midst of voicing the Yamaha Disklavier Pro concert grand at Zenph. Web site for this film segment

John Bayless and Dr. Anatoly Larkin on two pianos 
Improvisor John Bayless and Dr. Anatoly Larkin discuss the art of improvisation and perform in a dual-piano improvisation at Zenph. John Sunier, in his glowing review of the film, commented on this segment: "I think my favorite performance in the documentary was classical/pop improviser John Bayless in a two-piano improvisation on a Bach theme." 
Web site for this film segment

Michael Hawley 
Mike Hawley hosts the annual Entertainment Gathering (EG) conference. He has been a researcher at the MIT Media Lab. He is also a gifted pianist, a winner of the 2002 Van Cliburn piano competition in the amateur division. Here Mike discusses Bach and his music, and plays the Organ Fugue BWV 577 on a Steinway concert grand at Zenph. Web site for this film segment

Sid Meier 
Computer game innovator Sid Meier introduces his software program CPU Bach, discussing it with Drs. Anatoly Larkin and John Q. Walker. Web site for this film segment

John Bayless 
Acclaimed piano improvisor John Bayless discusses Bach's improvisation techniques and plays some his famous Beatles' improvs on a Steinway concert grand at Zenph. Web site for this film segment

Ward Swingle and The Swingle Singers 
Conductor and arranger Ward Swingle and The Swingle Singers perform at Zenph. Ward even mentions the Goldberg Variations (note the Gould album jacket in the background). Web site for this film segment

Hilary Hahn 
Violinist Hilary Hahn performs at Zenph, and discusses what it means to her to play Bach. Web site for this film segment

Teri Noel Towe 
Annotator, critic, and music writer Teri Noel Towe discusses the images of Bach and shows an original score. Filmed at Zenph's facilities in New York City. Web site for this film segment