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Johann Sebastian Bach
March 21, 1685 - July 28, 1750
born in Eisenach, Germany, composed during the Baroque period
born in Eisenach, Germany, composed during the Baroque period
Johann Sebastian Bach was better known as a virtuoso organist than as a composer in his day. His sacred music, organ and choral works, and other instrumental music had an enthusiasm and seeming freedom that concealed immense rigor. Bach's use of counterpoint was brilliant and innovative, and the immense complexities of his compositional style -- which often included religious and numerological symbols that seem to fit perfectly together in a profound puzzle of special codes -- still amaze musicians today. Many consider him the greatest composer of all time.
Bach was born in Eisenach in 1685. He was taught to play the violin and harpsichord by his father, Johann Ambrosius, a court trumpeter in the service of the Duke of Eisenach. Young Johann was not yet ten when his father died, leaving him orphaned. He was taken in by his recently married oldest brother, Johann Christoph, who lived in Ohrdruf. Because of his excellent singing voice, Bach attained a position at the Michaelis monastery at Lüneberg in 1700. His voice changed a short while later, but he stayed on as an instrumentalist. After taking a short-lived post in Weimar in 1703 as a violinist, Bach became organist at the Neue Kirche in Arnstadt (1703-1707). His relationship with the church council was tenuous as the young musician often shirked his responsibilities, preferring to practice the organ. One account describes a four-month leave granted Bach, to travel to Lubeck where he would familiarize himself with the music of Dietrich Buxtehude. He returned to Arnstadt long after was expected and much to the dismay of the council. He then briefly served at St. Blasius in Mühlhausen as organist, beginning in June 1707, and married his cousin, Maria Barbara Bach, that fall. Bach composed his famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor (BWV 565) and his first cantatas while in Mühlhausen, but quickly outgrew the musical resources of the town. He next took a post for the Duke of Sachsen-Weimar in 1708, serving as court organist and playing in the orchestra, eventually becoming its leader in 1714. He wrote many organ compositions during this period, including his Orgel-Büchlein. Owing to politics between the Duke and his officials, Bach left Weimar and secured a post in December 1717 as Kapellmeister at Cöthen. In 1720, Bach's wife suddenly died, leaving him with four children (three others had died in infancy). A short while later, he met his second wife, soprano Anna Magdalena Wilcke, whom he married in December 1721. She would bear 13 children, though only five would survive childhood. The six Brandenburg Concertos (BWV 1046-51), among many other secular works, date from his Cöthen years. Bach became Kantor of the Thomas School in Leipzig in May 1723 and held the post until his death. It was in Leipzig that he composed the bulk of his religious and secular cantatas. Bach eventually became dissatisfied with this post, not only because of its meager financial rewards, but also because of onerous duties and inadequate facilities. Thus, he took on other projects, chief among which was the directorship of the city's Collegium Musicum, an ensemble of professional and amateur musicians who gave weekly concerts, in 1729. He also became music director at the Dresden Court in 1736, in the service of Frederick Augustus II; though his duties were vague and apparently few, they allowed him freedom to compose what he wanted. Bach began making trips to Berlin in the 1740s, not least because his son Carl Philipp Emanuel served as a court musician there. In May 1747, the composer was warmly received by King Frederick II of Prussia, for whom he wrote the gloriously abstruse Musical Offering (BWV 1079). Among Bach's last works was his 1749 Mass in B minor. Besieged by diabetes, he died on July 28, 1750. ~ Robert Cummings, Rovi
Bach was born in Eisenach in 1685. He was taught to play the violin and harpsichord by his father, Johann Ambrosius, a court trumpeter in the service of the Duke of Eisenach. Young Johann was not yet ten when his father died, leaving him orphaned. He was taken in by his recently married oldest brother, Johann Christoph, who lived in Ohrdruf. Because of his excellent singing voice, Bach attained a position at the Michaelis monastery at Lüneberg in 1700. His voice changed a short while later, but he stayed on as an instrumentalist. After taking a short-lived post in Weimar in 1703 as a violinist, Bach became organist at the Neue Kirche in Arnstadt (1703-1707). His relationship with the church council was tenuous as the young musician often shirked his responsibilities, preferring to practice the organ. One account describes a four-month leave granted Bach, to travel to Lubeck where he would familiarize himself with the music of Dietrich Buxtehude. He returned to Arnstadt long after was expected and much to the dismay of the council. He then briefly served at St. Blasius in Mühlhausen as organist, beginning in June 1707, and married his cousin, Maria Barbara Bach, that fall. Bach composed his famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor (BWV 565) and his first cantatas while in Mühlhausen, but quickly outgrew the musical resources of the town. He next took a post for the Duke of Sachsen-Weimar in 1708, serving as court organist and playing in the orchestra, eventually becoming its leader in 1714. He wrote many organ compositions during this period, including his Orgel-Büchlein. Owing to politics between the Duke and his officials, Bach left Weimar and secured a post in December 1717 as Kapellmeister at Cöthen. In 1720, Bach's wife suddenly died, leaving him with four children (three others had died in infancy). A short while later, he met his second wife, soprano Anna Magdalena Wilcke, whom he married in December 1721. She would bear 13 children, though only five would survive childhood. The six Brandenburg Concertos (BWV 1046-51), among many other secular works, date from his Cöthen years. Bach became Kantor of the Thomas School in Leipzig in May 1723 and held the post until his death. It was in Leipzig that he composed the bulk of his religious and secular cantatas. Bach eventually became dissatisfied with this post, not only because of its meager financial rewards, but also because of onerous duties and inadequate facilities. Thus, he took on other projects, chief among which was the directorship of the city's Collegium Musicum, an ensemble of professional and amateur musicians who gave weekly concerts, in 1729. He also became music director at the Dresden Court in 1736, in the service of Frederick Augustus II; though his duties were vague and apparently few, they allowed him freedom to compose what he wanted. Bach began making trips to Berlin in the 1740s, not least because his son Carl Philipp Emanuel served as a court musician there. In May 1747, the composer was warmly received by King Frederick II of Prussia, for whom he wrote the gloriously abstruse Musical Offering (BWV 1079). Among Bach's last works was his 1749 Mass in B minor. Besieged by diabetes, he died on July 28, 1750. ~ Robert Cummings, Rovi
Selected Discography
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Track List: Goldberg Variations / Variations
Title: Goldberg Variations, For Keyboard (Clavier-übung IV), Bwv 988 (Bc L9)
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Track List: Bach: English Suites Nos. 2, 4 & 5 / Perahia
Title: English Suite, For Keyboard No. 2 In A Minor, Bwv 807 (Bc L14)
Title: English Suite, For Keyboard No. 4 In F Major, Bwv 809 (Bc L16)
Title: English Suite, For Keyboard No. 5 In E Minor, Bwv 810 (Bc L17)
x
Track List: 4 Violin Concerti
Title: Concerto For Oboe & Violin (or 2 Violins), Strings & Continuo (reconstruction), BWV 1060R
Title: Concerto For Flute, Violin, Harpsichord, Strings & Continuo In A Minor ("Triple"), BWV 1044
Title: Concerto For 2 Violins, Strings & Continuo In D Minor ("Double"), Bwv 1043
Title: Concerto For 3 Harpsichords, Strings & Continuo In C Major, BWV 1064
x
Track List: Adagio: J.S. Bach
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Track List: Andras Schiff Plays Bach
Title: Italian Concerto, For Solo Keyboard In F Major (Clavier-übung Ii/1), Bwv 971 (Bc L7)
Title: French Suite, For Keyboard No. 5 In G Major, Bwv 816 (Bc L23)
Title: Overture In The French Manner, Partita For Keyboard In B Minor (Clavier-Übung II/2), BWV 831
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Track List: Bach
Title: Concerto For Violin, Strings & Continuo In D Minor (Reconstruction), Bwv 1052r
Title: Concerto For Oboe (Or Violin), Strings & Continuo In G Minor (Reconstruction), Bwv 1056r
Title: Concerto For Violin, Strings & Continuo No. 1 In A Minor, Bwv 1041
Title: Sonata For Flute & Continuo In E Minor, Bwv 1034
x
Track List: Bach Cello Suites
Disc 1
Title: Suite For Solo Cello No. 1 In G Major, Bwv 1007
Title: Suite For Solo Cello No. 3 In C Major, Bwv 1009
Title: Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011
Disc 2
Title: Suite for solo cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008
Title: Suite for solo cello No. 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010
Title: Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012
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Track List: Bach Concertos & Partitas
Title: Italian Concerto, For Solo Keyboard In F Major (Clavier-übung Ii/1), Bwv 971 (Bc L7)
Title: Partita For Keyboard No. 1 In B Flat Major, Bwv 825 (Bc L1)
Title: Partita For Keyboard No. 2 In C Minor, Bwv 826 (Bc L2)
Title: Italian Concerto, For Solo Keyboard In F Major (Clavier-übung Ii/1), Bwv 971 (Bc L7)
Title: Concerto For Solo Keyboard No. 3 In D Minor (After Alessandro Marcello), Bwv 974 (Bc L194)
Title: Chromatic Fantasia And Fugue, For Keyboard In D Minor ("Rust" Version), BWV 903a
x
Track List: Bach Das Wohltemperierte Clavier
Disc 1
Title: The Well-tempered Clavier (24), Collection Of Preludes & Fugues, Book I, Bwv 846-869 (Bc L80-103)
Disc 2
Disc 3
Title: The Well-tempered Clavier (24), Collection Of Preludes & Fugues, Book II, Bwv 870-893 (Bc L104-127)
Disc 4
x
Track List: Bach Edition: Art Of Fugue (Part 2)
Title: Die Kunst Der Fuge (The Art Of The Fugue), For Keyboard (Or Other Instruments), Bwv 1080
x
Track List: Bach Edition: Art of Fugue (Part 1)
x
Track List: Bach Edition: Cantatas, BWV 140, 88, 79
Title: Cantata No. 140, "Wachet Auf, Ruft Uns Die Stimme," BWV 140 (BC A166)
Title: Cantata No. 88, "Siehe, Ich Will Viel Fischer Aussenden," BWV 88 (BC A105)
Title: Cantata No. 79, "Gott Der Herr Ist Sonn Und Schild," BWV 79 (BCA184)
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Track List: Bach Edition: Cantatas, BWV 195, 1, 63
Title: Cantata No. 195, "Dem Gerechten Muss Das Licht," BWV 195 (BC B14)
Title: Cantata No. 1, "Wie Schön Leuchtet Der Morgenstern," BWV 1 (BC A173)
Title: Cantata No. 63, "Christen, Ätzet Diesen Tag," BWV 63 (BC A8)
x
Track List: Bach Edition: Cantatas, BWV 80, 82, 61
Title: Cantata No. 80, "Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott," Bwv 80 (Bc A183)
Title: Cantata No. 82, "Ich Habe Genug," Bwv 82 (Bc A169)
Title: Cantata No. 61, "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland," BWV 61 (BC A1)
x
Track List: Bach Edition: Chorales
Title: Cantata No. 2, "Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein," BWV 2 (BC A98)
Title: Cantata No. 153, "Schau, lieber Gott, wie meine Feind," BWV 153 (BC A25)
Title: Als Jesus Christus in der Nacht, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 265 (BC F14)
Title: An Wasserflüssen Babylon, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 267 (BC F17)
Title: Christ ist erstanden, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 276 (BC F25)
Title: Cantata No. 66, "Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen," BWV 66 (BC A56)
Title: Christ lag in Todes Banden (I), chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 277 (BC F26.1)
Title: Christ lag in Todes Banden (II), chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 278 (BC F26.2)
Title: Christ lag in Todes Banden (III), chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 279 (BC A61/4)
Title: Cantata No. 4, "Christ Lag In Todes Banden," Bwv 4 (Bca 54)
Title: Christus, der uns selig macht, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 283 (BC F31)
Title: St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2)
Title: Christus ist erstanden, hat überwunden, chorale setting for 4 voices , BWV 284 (BC F32)
Title: Da der Herr Christ zu Tische sass, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 285 (BC F34)
Title: Des heil'gen Geistes reiche Gnad', chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 295 (BC F178)
Title: Du grosser Schmerzensmann, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 300 (BC F51)
Title: Cantata No. 43, "Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen," BWV 43 (BC A77)
Title: Cantata No. 67, "Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ," BWV 67 (BC A62)
Title: Cantata No. 145, "Ich lebe, mein Herze, zu deinem Ergötzen," BWV 145 (BC A60)
Title: Erstanden ist der heil'ge Christ, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 306 (BC F58)
Title: Cantata No. 9, "Es ist das Heil uns kommen her," BWV 9 (BC A107)
Title: Cantata No. 155, "Mein Gott, wie lang, ach lange," BWV 155 (BC A32)
Title: Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeiet, chorale setting for 4 voices , BWV 322 (BC F76)
Title: St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2)
Title: St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), BWV 244 (BC D3b)
Title: St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2)
Title: Heut ist, o Mensch, ein grosser Trauertag, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 341 (BC F94.1a)
Title: Heut' triumphieret Gottes Sohn, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 342 (BC F95)
Title: St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2)
Title: Cantata No. 159, "Sehet, Wir Gehn Hinauf Gen Jerusalem," Bwv 159 (Bc A50)
Title: Jesus Christus, unser Heiland (I), chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 363 (BC F121.1)
Title: Jesus Christus, unser Heiland (III), chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 364 (BC V99)
Title: Cantata No. 145, "Ich lebe, mein Herze, zu deinem Ergötzen," BWV 145 (BC A60)
Title: St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), BWV 244 (BC D3b)
Title: St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2)
Title: St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), BWV 244 (BC D3b)
Title: O Herzensangst, o Bangigkeit, und Zagen!, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 400 (BC F160)
Title: O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 401 (BC F162)
Title: O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde gross, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 402 (BC F61)
Title: O Mensch, schau Jesum Christum an, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 403 (BC F163)
Title: O Traurigkeit, o Herzeleid, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 404 (BC F165)
Title: O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben (II), chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 394 (BC F166.5)
Title: St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), BWV 244 (BC D3b)
Title: St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2)
Title: St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), BWV 244 (BC D3b)
Title: O wir armen Sünder, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 407 (BC F168)
Title: Schaut, ihr Sünder!, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 408 (BC F94.1b)
Title: Sei gegrüsset, Jesu gütig, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 410 (BC F174)
Title: So giebst du nun, mein Jesu, gute Nacht, chorale setting for 4 voices, BWV 412 (BC F177)
Title: St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2)
Title: St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), BWV 244 (BC D3b)
x
Track List: Bach Edition: English Suites BWV 806-808
Title: English Suite, for keyboard No. 1 in A major, BWV 806 (BC L13)
Title: English Suite, For Keyboard No. 2 In A Minor, Bwv 807 (Bc L14)
Title: English Suite, For Keyboard No. 3 In G Minor, Bwv 808 (Bc L15)
x
Track List: Bach Edition: English Suites BWV 809-811
Title: English Suite, For Keyboard No. 4 In F Major, Bwv 809 (Bc L16)
Title: English Suite, For Keyboard No. 5 In E Minor, Bwv 810 (Bc L17)
Title: English Suite, for keyboard No. 6 in D minor, BWV 811 (BC L18)
x
Track List: Bach Edition: French Suites BWV 812-814
Title: French Suite, For Keyboard No. 1 In D Minor, Bwv 812 (Bc L19)
Title: French Suite, For Keyboard No. 2 In C Minor, Bwv 813 (Bc L20)
Title: French Suite, For Keyboard No. 3 In B Minor, Bwv 814 (Bc L21)
x
Track List: Bach Edition: French Suites BWV 815-817
Title: French Suite, For Keyboard No. 4 In E Flat Major, Bwv 815 (Bc L22)
Title: French Suite, For Keyboard No. 5 In G Major, Bwv 816 (Bc L23)
Title: French Suite, For Keyboard No. 6 In E Major, Bwv 817 (Bc L24)
x
Track List: Bach Edition: Goldberg Variations BWV 988
Title: Goldberg Variations, For Keyboard (Clavier-übung IV), Bwv 988 (Bc L9)
x
Track List: Bach Edition: Inventionen & Sinfonias
x
Track List: Bach Edition: Italian Concerto BWV 971; French Overture BWV 831; Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue BWV 903
Title: Italian Concerto, For Solo Keyboard In F Major (Clavier-übung Ii/1), Bwv 971 (Bc L7)
Title: Overture In The French Manner, Partita For Keyboard In B Minor (Clavier-Übung II/2), BWV 831
Title: Chromatic Fantasia And Fugue, For Keyboard In D Minor, Bwv 903 (Bc L34)
x
Track List: Bach Edition: Keyboard Works 1700-1710 (Part 1)
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Track List: Bach Edition: Keyboard Works 1700-1710 (Part 2)
x
Track List: Bach Edition: Keyboard Works 1700-1710 (Part 3)
x
Track List: Bach Edition: Six Partitas (Part 1)
Title: Partita For Keyboard No. 1 In B Flat Major, Bwv 825 (Bc L1)
Title: Partita For Keyboard No. 2 In C Minor, Bwv 826 (Bc L2)
Title: Partita For Keyboard No. 6 In E Minor, Bwv 830 (Bc L6)
x
Track List: Bach Edition: Six Partitas (Part 2)
Title: Partita For Keyboard No. 3 In A Minor, Bwv 827 (Bc L3)
Title: Partita For Keyboard No. 4 In D Major, Bwv 828 (Bc L4)
Title: Partita For Keyboard No. 5 In G Major, Bwv 829 (Bc L5)
x
Track List: Bach Edition: Sonatas, Suites, Fantasias
Title: Sonata arranged for keyboard in D minor (after BWV 1003, possibly by J.G. Müthel), BWV 964 (BC L184)
Title: Prelude for keyboard in C major (Six Little Preludes No. 1), BWV 933 (BC L64)
Title: Prelude for keyboard in C minor (Six Little Preludes No. 2), BWV 934 (BC L65)
Title: Prelude for keyboard in D minor (Six Little Preludes No. 3), BWV 935 (BC L66)
Title: Prelude for keyboard in D major (Six Little Preludes No. 4), BWV 936 (BC L67)
Title: Prelude for keyboard in E major (Six Little Preludes No. 5), BWV 937 (BC L68)
Title: Prelude for keyboard in E minor (Six Little Preludes No. 6), BWV 938 (BC L69)
Title: Fantasia and Fugue, for keyboard in A minor, BWV 904 (BC L136)
Title: Adagio, for keyboard in G major, BWV 968 (BC L185)
Title: Prelude and Fughetta, for keyboard in G major, BWV 902 (BC L79)
Title: Suite For Keyboard In A Minor, Bwv 818a
x
Track List: Bach Edition: St. John Passion BWV 245 Part 1
Title: St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2)
x
Track List: Bach Edition: St. John Passion BWV 245 Part 2
x
Track List: Bach Edition: St. Matthew Passion BWV 244 Part 1
Title: St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), BWV 244 (BC D3b)
x
Track List: Bach Edition: St. Matthew Passion BWV 244 Part 2
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