Bach the Composer
Donald Macleod surveys Johann Sebastian Bach鈥檚 development as a composer whilst in Weimar.
Donald Macleod surveys Johann Sebastian Bach鈥檚 development as a composer whilst in Weimar.
Johann Sebastian Bach is often acknowledged as one of the greatest composers of all time and yet, during his lifetime, he was often more famous as an organist. Bach became very much in demand as a performer and a teacher. He was often asked to advise on the design and renovation of expensive church instruments. He composed a great deal of music for organ and was particularly productive during his twenties and early thirties when working at the court in Weimar. All this week Donald Macleod examines Bach鈥檚 life and music through the lens of his life-long fascination with the organ, focusing particularly on his time in Weimar and exploring his role as performer organist, teacher, servant, entrepreneur and composer
In this programme Donald Macleod looks at how Bach evolved as a composer during his years at the Weimar court where he had a rich array of instrumental forces at his disposal. As well as writing for his employer, Bach also composed a great deal of music for his family to perform at home. He also often turned to instruments that were archaic even at the time, like the viola da gamba, recorder and lute. One of his primary friendships during this period was with his cousin Walther, who was an organist at the town Church. Walther and Bach enjoyed exploring together the music that Prince Johann Ernst had brought back to Weimar from his Grand Tour in Italy. Bach and Walther drank in works by Albinoni, Corelli, Frescobaldi and, especially, Vivaldi. These Italian influences started to creep into Bach鈥檚 own music.
Lute Suite in E minor, BWV 996
Sean Shibe, guitar
Concerto in D minor, BWV 596 (Vivaldi Violin Concerto Op 3 No 11)
Christopher Herrick, organ
Mass in B minor, BWV 232 (Osanna in excelsis, Agnus Dei, Dona Nobis Pacem)
Robin Blaze, alto
Bach Collegium Japan Chorus and Orchestra
Masaaki Suzuki, director
Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532
Wolfgang Ruebsam, organ
Produced by Luke Whitlock, for 成人快手 Wales
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Lute Suite in E minor, BWV 996
Performer: Sean Shibe.- DELPHIAN : DCD-34233.
- DELPHIAN.
- 1.
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Concerto in D minor, BWV 596 (Vivaldi Violin Concerto, Op 3, No 11)
Performer: Christopher Herrick.- HYPERION : CDA-4412136.
- HYPERION.
- 7.
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Mass in B Minor, BWV 232 (Osanna in excelsis, Agnus Dei, Dona Nobis Pacem)
Ensemble: Bach Collegium Japan. Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki.- BIS : SACD 170102.
- BIS.
- 13.
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532
Performer: Wolfgang R眉bsam.- NAXOS : 8550-184.
- NAXOS.
- 5.
Broadcasts
- Fri 24 Jul 2020 12:00成人快手 Radio 3
- Christmas Day 2020 12:00成人快手 Radio 3
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