A History of Western Music: W. W. Norton Studyspace: Johann Sebastian Bach
A History of Western Music: W. W. Norton Studyspace: Johann Sebastian Bach
A History of Western Music: W. W. Norton Studyspace: Johann Sebastian Bach
Norton StudySpace
Chapter 19 German Composers of the Late Baroque Composer Biographies
church music. Because of the demands of his various employers, Bach was able to create works in a wide variety of genres, providing a breadth of expression not often seen. A second quality we find in Bach is that of a student or an emulator. The composer constantly surrounded himself with the music of his contemporaries, and his study of these pieces (often involving re-arranging pieces for different combinations of instruments) provided him an insight into a wide variety of national and personal styles. Throughout his life, he integrated these ideas into his own unique style. Bach was also a deeply religious man. His personal Bible is filled with annotations and comments, and this depth of feeling finds its way into his sacred music, which often strikes the listener as an intensely personal statement of faith. Finally, Bach had a passion for completeness. Many of his works seem to be exercises in exploring every conceivable possibility. An example of this is his two collections of preludes and fugues, the Well-Tempered Clavier . In them, Bach explores every possible major and minor key. But it is in his final works that this encyclopedic quality stands out. His Musical Offering is a tour de force of variations and contrapuntal inventions on a theme suggested to him by Frederick the Great. His Mass in B minor is not a liturgical work, but a summation of his sacred style, much of it reworked from earlier pieces. And his Art of Fugue (unfinished at his death) is a compendium of contrapuntal techniques unequaled before or since. None of these qualities, by themselves, explain Bach's genius. In some aspects, he has no equal, and in all aspects, his music is unique. Taken together, however, they constitute the human elements of that genius. They help us to understand why and how Bach created what he did, and perhaps that is as close as we can come. Works Sacred vocal works, including over 200 church cantatas; 7 motets; Magnificat (1723), St. John Passion (1724), St. Matthew Passion (1727), C hristmas Oratorio (1734), Mass in B minor (1749) Secular vocal works, including over 20 cantatas Orchestral music, including 4 orchestral suites, 6 Brandenburg Concertos, concertos for 1 and 2 violins, and for 1, 2, 3, and 4 harpsichords Chamber music, including 6 sonatas and partitas for unaccompanied violin, 6 sonatas for violin and harpsichord, 6 suites for cello, Musical Offering (1747), flute sonatas, and viola da gamba sonatas Keyboard music, including 2 volumes of Das wohltemperirte Clavier ( The WellTempered Clavier , 1722, 1742), 6 English Suites (c. 1722), 6 French Suites (c. 1722), Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue (c. 1720), Italian Concerto (1735), Goldberg Variations (1741?1742), and Die Kunst der Fuge ( The Art of Fugue , c. 1745?1750); suites, fugues, capriccios, concertos, inventions, sinfonias Organ music, including over 150 chorale preludes, toccatas, fantasias, preludes, fugues, and passacaglias Back to top
Musical Examples
Cantata No. 80, First movement 04:51 Listening Guide [pdf file - 603 KB] Cantata No. 80, Second movement 03:37 Listening Guide [pdf file - 603 KB] Cantata No. 80, Fifth movement 03:36 Listening Guide [pdf file - 603 KB] Cantata No. 80, Last movement 01:41 Listening Guide [pdf file - 603 KB] Contrapunctus I, Art of the Fugue 04:25 Listening Guide [pdf file - 353 KB] Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, First movement 04:29 Listening Guide [pdf file - 263 KB] Brandenburg Concerto No. 4, 3rd mvmt 04:37 Rejouissance, from Orchestral Suite No. 4 02:30 Toccata and Fugue in D minor 02:57 Orchestral Suite no. 3, Air 05:23 Mass in B minor, BWV 232 - Symbolum Niceum: Credo in unum Deum 01:49 Mass in B minor, BWV 232 - Sanctus 05:17 Prelude and Fugue No. 24 in B minor, BWV 869 11:36 Prelude and Fugue No. 2 in C minor, BWV 847 02:57 Prelude and Fugue No. 8 in E flat minor / D sharp minor, BWV 853 08:25 Prelude and Fugue No. 21 in B flat major, BWV 866 03:14 Back to top Links A General Biography Biographical article extracted from the Grove Concise Dictionary of Music. Includes discussions of works and some portraits. The Bach Family J.S. Bach was part of an incredible musical family that stretched from the sixteenth century to the nineteenth. This site traces the family tree. Part of Timothy Smith's Bach site at Northern Arizona University. The J. S. Bach Homepage A great place to go for further exploration. Contains a biographical section that includes a tourist guide to the cities Bach lived in over the course of his life. There is also an extensive index of Bach's works (cross-indexed by title, BWV number, key, year of composition, category, and instrument), and recommended recordings (also cross-indexed). Want Even More? Try Bach Central Station Links to over 300 different Bach sites from detailed analyses of his music to Bach on the electric guitar. Also links to other classical sites.
perform (he was a brilliant organist). Indeed, it was at the end of a performance of Messiah that he collapsed, dying three days later. Works Operas (over 40), including Almira (1705), Rinaldo (1711), Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar, 1724), and Orlando (1733) Oratorios, including Esther (1718), Alexander's Feast (1736), Israel in Egypt (1739), Messiah (1742), Sampson (1743), Belshazzar (1745), Judas Maccabaeus (1747), Solomon (1749), and Jephta (1752); other sacred vocal music, including Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne (c. 1713), Acis and Galatea (masque, 1718), Ode for St. Cecilia's Day (1739), Utrech Te Deum (1713), anthems and Latin church music Secular vocal music, including solo and duo cantatas; arias Orchestral music, including Water Music (1717) and Music for the Royal Fireworks (1749); concertos for oboe, organ, horn Chamber music, including solo and trio sonatas Keyboard music, including harpsichord suites, fugues, preludes, airs, and dances. Back to top Musical Examples
Messiah, No. I, Overture 03:12 Listening Guide [pdf file - 497 KB] Messiah, Nos. 14-16, There were shepherds 01:20 Listening Guide [pdf file - 497 KB] Messiah, No. 17, Glory to God 02:06 Listening Guide [pdf file - 497 KB] Messiah, No. 18, Rejoice Greatly! 04:57 Listening Guide [pdf file - 497 KB] Messiah, No. 44, Hallelujah Chorus 03:48 Listening Guide [pdf file - 497 KB] Mvmt 1, Allegro, from Water Music 02:18 Listening Guide [pdf file - 507 KB] Alla hornpipe, from Water Music 03:00 Listening Guide [pdf file - 507 KB] I know that my Redeemer liveth, from Messiah 06:07 Aria, Molto voglio from Rinaldo 02:57 Listening Guide [pdf file - 415 KB] Back to top Links A General Biography Biographical article extracted from the Grove Concise Dictionary of Music. Includes a small portrait gallery, a bibliography, detailed list of works, and an outline and text for Messiah (with audio clips).
A Basic Recording Library From the ClassicalNet site. A listing of recommended recordings of the basic Handel repertoire. Handel's House in London Handel lived in the same house from 1723 until his death (interestingly, two centuries later (in 1969) Jimi Hendrix lived in the house next door for a short period of time). An online guide to the museum.