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Welcome to the J. S. BACH COMPOSITION NOTES Page of aMUSIClassical Directory Our Classical Music website for good music lovers. ARTS NEWS resources ALMANACS ANNIVERSARIES MUSICIANS milestones notible deaths this year DISCUSSION LISTS join and post On the Internet: MP3Radio~MUSIClassical and MP3's TOP TEN Classical Music List Click to subscribe to MUSIClassical discussion list

Brief synopsis' of the most popular classical music compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach... German, Eisenach, c.21 MAR 1685 ~ Leipzig, 28 JUL 1750 Church Cantatas, Chorales, Organ Pieces, Chamber and Orchestral Works The German Bach family is the most famous family dynasty in musical history. From the 16th to the 18th century, members of this family were active in almost every area of music. In German to be a Bach was to be a musician. The father of Johann Sebastian, Johann Ambrosius , was a violinist and organist. Two of JS's sons, Carl Phillip Emmanuel and Johann Christian, were very prominent composers. Bach Air on the G-string Bach did not write this in its popular form. It was written for his Orchestral suite No 3. Over 100 year later German violinist August Wilhelm arranged the piece for violin and piano to be played on the G-string of the violin which he found more appealing. Bach Arioso The arioso is taken from the Cantata #156. This melody has become very widly known in the instrumental form. Bach Cantatas Compositions for voices and instruments. Popular in the Baroque period- 17th and early 18th centuries. Bach wrote hundreds of religious and non-religious (secular) cantatas. Most written while he was cantor at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig from 1723 until his death in 1750. Bach Brandenburg Concertos ... Were composed as a result of a commission by Christian Ludwig, the Margrave of Brandenburg. (The youngest son of the great elector, Frederick William who maintained a small orchestra in Berlin.)The six works were completed in March of 1721. The most modern sounding of the six is No 5,(BWV 1050) an early keyboard concerto one of the first for pianoforte and scored at a time when the flute was replacing the recorder in chamber groups of the period. Bach First in F, (BWV 1046) All were composed as the result of a commission by Christian Ludwig the margrave of Brandenburg and all were finished in 1721. Bach 'Brandenburg No 2' in F, (BWV 1047) Bach 'Brandenburg No 3' in G, (BWV 1048) Perhaps the most recorded of all baroque works, there must be over one hundred recordings of the 'Brandenburg Concertos' available. Commissioned by the Margrave of Brandenburg, Christian Ludwig. From the early 1700's. Bach 'Brandenburg No 4' (BWV 1049) The fourth Brandenburg Concerto was written by Bach specifically for violin, two recorders, strings and harpsichord. In all of the six Brandenburg Concertos he used the solo instruments either in unison or in contrast with the orchestra. The Italian composers also used the similar concerto grosso form. Bach 'Brandenberg concerto No 5' After Bach had played for a nobleman of Brandenburg, the dignitary promptly commissioned Bach to write some orginal music for the Brandenburg Court orchestra. Six concertos were presented to the Margarve of Brandenburg. The fifth, for harpsichord, is perhaps the most demanding of these works. Bach Brandenburg Concerto No 6 in B-flat, (BWV 1051) Scored for two violas. BACH CANTATAS-selected Christ Lag in Todesbanden (no. 4) (kreest lahg in TOH des bahn den) Der Himmel Lacht (no. 31) (dehr HIM mel lahcht Liebster Jesu (no. 32) (LEEB ster YAY zoo) Jauchzet Gott (no. 51) (YOW tset got) Widerstehe doch der Sunde (no. 54) (vee dehr STAY heh doch dehr ZUN deh) Ich will den Kreuzstab (no. 56) (ich vil dehn KROYTS stahb) Ich habe genug (no. 82) ich HAH beh GEH nuk) Herr, Gehe Nicht Nno. 105) (hair GAY heh nicht) Wachet auf (no. 140) (VAHCH et owf) Friede sei mit Dir (no. 158) (FREE deh zi mit dear) Meine Seele (no. 189) (MINE eh ZAYL eh) Bach Christmas Oratorio Composed in 1738, this is a variant of the popular violin concerto in E. BWV 1042. The original written around 1720. Bach Con in g, BWV 1056 Known as a violin concerto it is scored for oboe. However today, with it's songlike melody it is quite effective. Bach Con Violin & Orch in a (BWV 1041) Bach Con Violin & Orch in E (BWV 1042) Bach Con 2 Violins & Orch in d (BWV 1043) Bach Con Violin, Oboe & Orch in c(BWV 1060) Bach Concerto for Violin and Oboe in d Composed Around 1730 and reworked from the concerto for two claviers in c minor. Bach Concerto in a for Violin, Strings and continuo Composed around 1720, BWV 1041. Bach Concerto in E For Violin, Strings and Continuo bears the BWV number 1042. If you like Bach, you'll recognize this concerto which was composed between the years 1717 and 1723 when he was kapellmeister to Prince Leopold. Bach Con 2 violins, BWV 1043 The concerto for two violins and chamber orch was written by Bach during the period he was with Prince Leopold, 1717 through 1723. This work was the basis for a later composition, a concerto for two harpsichords in c minor. It is commonly referred to as the 'double concerto' in the concerto grosso form. One of the most popular of Bach's works. Bach French Suite No 4 BWV 815 A sequence of French dance tunes became popular in Germany following the Thirty Years War. (1618-48). French and Italian styles were becoming popular in Germany and Bach was familiar with the keyboard suites of composers such as Charles Diepart. Bach copied out many of these. Bach Magnificat in D, BWV 243 (mahg NEE fee kaht) FP on the evening of Christmas Day, by J S Bach at the Leipzig Germany, St. Thomas Church. BACH MOTETS-Selected Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied (no. 1) (ZING et daim hairn in NOY es leet) Jesu meine Freude (no. 3) (YAY zoo MY neh FROY deh) Bach Musical Offering Completed in May 1747 it is a collection of ricercars, canons and the fugue and sonata known as BWV 1079. Bach Orchestral Suites A succession of individual pieces or movements. In Bach's case these suites were based on old cortly dances such as the gavotte, gigue or minuet. They paved the way for the sonatas and symphonies of the future. He wrote four orchestral suites. Taken up after his post in 1723 as cantor of the Thomas School in Leipzig. Presented to rich patrons or in fashionable coffeehouses. Bach Orchestral Suite No 1 in C (BWV 1066) Bach Orchestral Suite No 2 in b minor (BWV 1067) Bach Orchestral Suite No 3 in D (BWV 1068) Dates from 1723. Most of it written while Bach served as cantor of the Thomasschule in Leipzig. Scored for two oboes, three trumpets, drums, strings and cembalo. (CHEM bal oh). It includes the popular 'Air on the G string', which was transcribed from the suite for violin and piano. Bach Orchestral Suite No 4 in D (BWV 1069) In addition to his many other amazing accomplishments, Dr. Albert Schweitzer wrote a famous biography of Johann Sebastian Bach. Dr. Schweitzer says "In the dance movements of the suites, a fragment of a vanished world of grace and elegance has been preserved for us. They are the ideal musical picture of the rococo period. Their charm resides in the perfection of their blending of strength and grace. BACH - Organ Works by P. Rodwell, Int'l Organ Found., Madrid, Spain Bach Overture and Suite No. 1 in C, BWV 1066. It is believed this work was composed during the winter of 1738-39, specifically for a concert which started the Colligium Musikiums winter concert season on October 2nd 1739. The occasion of the return of Bach to the position of Director, which he had relinquished in the mid 1730's. Bach Preludes and Fugues From the Well Tempered Klavier (KLA' feer) The first manuscript dates from 1722, but most of Bach's original has been lost. However another was structured in 1732 and it is believed to contain much of the first set. Bach Overture and Suite No 2 Bach Overture and Suite No 3 Bach Overture and Suite No 4 in D, BWV 1069 The early sketches of this suite date from around 1725, however the work as a whole was enlarged around 1730. Bach, Partitas Bach wrote six and were popular at the time around 1730. Bach Sheep May Safely Graze from (Cantata BMV 208) One of his most serene melodies from many selections in the Cantata about the heavenly Diana, the hunter Endymion and the pastoral gods Pan and Pales. This melody is the Pales aria for two recorders and soprano. Bach Sonata BWV 1003 Written in 1720 this sonata by Bach for violin has also been transcribed also for guitar. The second in a, BWV 1003. There isn also a version for harpsichord. Bach Suite for Solo Cello No. 4 The fourth suite for solo cello in E flat major was composed in 1720 and has the BVW number 1010. Bach St. Matthew Passion A musical setting of the crucifixion from the Gospels. A three hour mix of narration, chorus', arias and instrumental accompaniment. FP in Leipzig in 1720 BOOKS: Johann Sebastian Bach : The Learned Musician - - Christoph Wolff; Hardcover Bach : Essays on His Life and Music - - Christoph Wolff; Paperback COMPACT DISC AUDIO: Bach - Greatest Hits - - Johann Sebastian Bach(Composer), et al; Audio CD Bach: Mass in B minor Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists -- Johann Sebastian Bach(Composer), et al; Audio CD Bach, J. S.: Saint Matthew Passion Herreweghe, Bostridge, Selig, Collegium Vocale (Plus CD-Rom) - - Johann Sebastian Bach(Composer), et al; Audio CD For Books and Compact Disc Audio of Bach Just enter J S Bach in our search engine: Search Now: newCDnews.com our e-mail address is: comments@MUSIClassical.com use this link to: Selected Internet Search Engines

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