Johann Sebastian Bach (31 March [O.S. 21 March] 1685 – 28 July 1750) was a … Read Full Bio ↴Johann Sebastian Bach (31 March [O.S. 21 March] 1685 – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the Baroque period. He is known for instrumental compositions such as the Brandenburg Concertos and the Goldberg Variations, and vocal music such as the St Matthew Passion and the Mass in B minor. Since the 19th-century Bach Revival he has been generally regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time.
The Bach family already counted several composers when Johann Sebastian was born as the last child of a city musician in Eisenach. Having become an orphan at age 10, he lived for five years with his eldest brother, after which he continued his musical formation in Lüneburg. From 1703 he was back in Thuringia, working as a musician for Protestant churches in Arnstadt and Mühlhausen and, for longer stretches of time, at courts in Weimar—where he expanded his repertoire for the organ—and Köthen—where he was mostly engaged with chamber music. From 1723 he was employed as Thomaskantor (cantor at St. Thomas) in Leipzig. He composed music for the principal Lutheran churches of the city, and for its university's student ensemble Collegium Musicum. From 1726 he published some of his keyboard and organ music. In Leipzig, as had happened in some of his earlier positions, he had a difficult relation with his employer, a situation that was little remedied when he was granted the title of court composer by the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland in 1736. In the last decades of his life he reworked and extended many of his earlier compositions. He died of complications after eye surgery in 1750.
Bach enriched established German styles through his mastery of counterpoint, harmonic and motivic organisation, and his adaptation of rhythms, forms, and textures from abroad, particularly from Italy and France. Bach's compositions include hundreds of cantatas, both sacred and secular. He composed Latin church music, Passions, oratorios and motets. He often adopted Lutheran hymns, not only in his larger vocal works, but for instance also in his four-part chorales and his sacred songs. He wrote extensively for organ and for other keyboard instruments. He composed concertos, for instance for violin and for harpsichord, and suites, as chamber music as well as for orchestra. Many of his works employ the genres of canon and fugue.
Throughout the 18th century Bach was primarily valued as an organist, while his keyboard music, such as The Well-Tempered Clavier, was appreciated for its didactic qualities. The 19th century saw the publication of some major Bach biographies, and by the end of that century all of his known music had been printed. Dissemination of scholarship on the composer continued through periodicals and websites exclusively devoted to him, and other publications such as the Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (BWV, a numbered catalogue of his works) and new critical editions of his compositions. His music was further popularised through a multitude of arrangements, including for instance the Air on the G String, and of recordings, for instance three different box sets with complete performances of the composer's oeuvre marking the 250th anniversary of his death.
The Bach family already counted several composers when Johann Sebastian was born as the last child of a city musician in Eisenach. Having become an orphan at age 10, he lived for five years with his eldest brother, after which he continued his musical formation in Lüneburg. From 1703 he was back in Thuringia, working as a musician for Protestant churches in Arnstadt and Mühlhausen and, for longer stretches of time, at courts in Weimar—where he expanded his repertoire for the organ—and Köthen—where he was mostly engaged with chamber music. From 1723 he was employed as Thomaskantor (cantor at St. Thomas) in Leipzig. He composed music for the principal Lutheran churches of the city, and for its university's student ensemble Collegium Musicum. From 1726 he published some of his keyboard and organ music. In Leipzig, as had happened in some of his earlier positions, he had a difficult relation with his employer, a situation that was little remedied when he was granted the title of court composer by the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland in 1736. In the last decades of his life he reworked and extended many of his earlier compositions. He died of complications after eye surgery in 1750.
Bach enriched established German styles through his mastery of counterpoint, harmonic and motivic organisation, and his adaptation of rhythms, forms, and textures from abroad, particularly from Italy and France. Bach's compositions include hundreds of cantatas, both sacred and secular. He composed Latin church music, Passions, oratorios and motets. He often adopted Lutheran hymns, not only in his larger vocal works, but for instance also in his four-part chorales and his sacred songs. He wrote extensively for organ and for other keyboard instruments. He composed concertos, for instance for violin and for harpsichord, and suites, as chamber music as well as for orchestra. Many of his works employ the genres of canon and fugue.
Throughout the 18th century Bach was primarily valued as an organist, while his keyboard music, such as The Well-Tempered Clavier, was appreciated for its didactic qualities. The 19th century saw the publication of some major Bach biographies, and by the end of that century all of his known music had been printed. Dissemination of scholarship on the composer continued through periodicals and websites exclusively devoted to him, and other publications such as the Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (BWV, a numbered catalogue of his works) and new critical editions of his compositions. His music was further popularised through a multitude of arrangements, including for instance the Air on the G String, and of recordings, for instance three different box sets with complete performances of the composer's oeuvre marking the 250th anniversary of his death.
Duet No.4 in A minor BWV 805
Johann Sebastian Bach Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Johann Sebastian Bach:
Air Erbarme dich, mein Gott, um meiner Zähren willen! Schaue h…
Air on a G String C21 Miscellaneous Hanging on a String I can't sleep I'm inco…
Ave Maria Ave Maria (De Bach e Gounod) Ave Maria Gratia plena Domin…
Cantata "Christ lag in Todesbanden" BWV 4: 6. Versus 5: "Hier ist das rechte Osterlamm" Стой! Пока ещё не выключен свет Я хочу услышать ответ Скажи,…
Cantata "Du Hirte Israel höre" BWV 104: 1. Chor: Du Hirte Israel höre Стой! Пока ещё не выключен свет Я хочу услышать ответ Скажи,…
Cantata "Du Hirte Israel höre" BWV 104: 5. Arie: Beglückte Herde Jesu Schafe Стой! Пока ещё не выключен свет Я хочу услышать ответ Скажи,…
Cantata 147: Jesus bleibet meine Freude Jesus bleibet meine Freude Meines Herzens Trost und Saft Ju…
Choral: Herzliebster Jesu was hast du verbrochen I and II Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen, Daß man …
Choral: Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen I and II Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen, Daß man …
Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben Muss von Christo Zeugnis…
Jesu bleibet meine Freude Jesus bleibet meine Freude Meines Herzens Trost und Saft Ju…
Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiring Jesus, joy of man's desiring Holy wisdom, love most bright D…
Jesu meine Freude Jesus bleibet meine Freude Meines Herzens Trost und Saft Ju…
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring Jesus, joy of man's desiring Holy wisdom, love most bright D…
Jesus bleibet meine freud Jesus bleibet meine Freude Meines Herzens Trost und Saft Ju…
Jesus bleibet meine Freude Jesus bleibet meine Freude Meines Herzens Trost und Saft J…
Largo BWV 1056 Hope, can be misleading Just like the boy who falls in…
Mass in B minor BWV 232: I. Kyrie: Kyrie eleison Kyrie Eleison Kyrie Eleison Kyrie Eleison Kyrie Eleison Kyri…
主よ、人の望みの喜びよ (教会カンタータより) イエスこそ私たちが望む喜びの根源 聖なる知恵、もっとも輝かしい愛 あなたに引き寄せられた私たちの魂は 始原の光へ導かれる…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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D. Boudewijn Aussems
This tempo was perhaps considered "right" in Bach's time... it's quite refreshing, and makes you really listen.
Georg Moritz
One of the best interpretations I have ever heard. Sounded too slow after hearing the first few tones, but listening through was a real ear-opener: it's cantabile! and only at that pace the poetry and harmonic richness of e.g. bars 57-72 (3:04-3:53) can be fully understood and appreciated. Thank you for putting this gem online.
Jose Velasquez
Me and my girlfriend played this for UTA solo/ensemble competition. I played the top part on my violin and she played the bottom part on her cello. I thought the combination of instruments was phenomenal!!
C Wang
I think this is an amazing interpretation of the piece, but I have to say that I really would prefer a faster tempo
Carl Bowlby
Ok, this is my favorite Bach piece...of the day! It comes from the Third Part of his Clavier-Ubung, which was his version of the German Mass...normally it was Latin of course. So it’s quite conceivable that Bach wanted the poetry of this very modal piece to stand out. I’m not sure what part of the Mass this would be played (only Bach knows?), but regardless I agree with many of the comments below about the tempo. At first it may seem too slow, but once the eighth notes dominate the piece it no longer sounds slow. I also agree with commentators below that Bach today is played much, much too fast. Like a sewing machine one said! And while this is played obviously on the piano it was meant for the organ, but that doesn’t diminish what can be brought out of the piano in richness of tone and harmony.
Josh Cortez Music
Fantastic piece, I'm so glad I came across it. 😁
BachScholar
No, I never said I don't like Korloliov's playing. I like his sound and voicing and refinement. This duet is excellent although it's at HALF speed. I agree with you about Koopman. I generally don't like his playing at all and think he is terribly misguided in his tempo choices (too fast, like you say).
TriMatch-King
People is used to listen/play Bach like a sewing machine. This is music.
Family Du
Thanks for your help! Because now I've finished the piece! nice
MrFarnese
This is the RIGHT Tempo, most Pianist play it pretty much to fast! Its a melody for the inner Mind, not a presto ......................