RAG MusicClassic
Lovely classics

J.S. Bach | Introducing Famous and Representative Works

The songs that are popular today—across not only classical music but also pop and jazz—are deeply influenced by past composers.

Among them, classical music is often called the foundation of music, and it’s no exaggeration to say that Johann Sebastian Bach, known as the “Father of Music,” was one of the figures who laid that very groundwork.

Bach’s music, while carrying a religious hue, is characterized by philosophical depth and intricately refined structure down to the finest details, with melodies of exceptional beauty.

Please take a look into the world of Johann Sebastian Bach, one of the greatest composers in history.

J.S. Bach | Introducing Famous and Representative Works (61–70)

Brandenburg Concerto No. 3J.S.Bach

J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 BWV 1048 / J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3J.S.Bach

This is a signature work by Bach, one of the foremost musicians of 18th-century Germany, notable for its brilliant string timbres and rich expressiveness.

The joyous melodies woven by three groups of strings are perfect for a refreshing study break.

Its intricate counterpoint and lush harmonies are pleasing to the ear and help enhance concentration.

Presented in March 1721 to the Margrave of Brandenburg, this piece—scored solely for strings—conveys a noble, almost celestial quality.

Recommended as a quiet companion for long hours of study or reading, when you want to calm and center the mind.

Symphonia No. 1 in C majorJ.S.Bach

Bach / Sinfonia No. 1 in C Major (J.S. Bach – Sinfonia No. 1 in C Major, BWV 787, from Three-Part Invention)
Symphonia No. 1 in C majorJ.S.Bach

This delightful miniature features a bright, lively three-voice piano melody and was composed in 1720 for the education of the composer’s son.

From the very opening, the flowing main theme is elegantly handed from the upper voice to the middle and then the lower, showcasing the intricate counterpoint characteristic of Baroque music.

Its unbroken melodic lines and pleasing harmonic progressions are full of charm that captivates listeners.

The passages speak clearly, the phrasing connects naturally, and it is an ideal performance piece for upper-elementary students.

With its sparkling layers of sound and rich expressiveness, it will lend a brilliant flourish to any recital stage.

English Suite No. 2, BWV 807J.S.Bach

Performance by Russian pianist Grigory Sokolov.

The English Suites are a collection of six pieces said to have been written for a certain noble Englishman.

Suite No.

2 consists of a Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Bourrée I & II, and Gigue.

Cantata No. 147 “Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life,” BWV 147J.S.Bach

J.S. Bach: Cantata No. 147 “Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life” (J.S. Bach: Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147)
Cantata No. 147 “Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life,” BWV 147J.S.Bach

Performed by the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra conducted by Ton Koopman.

This is a cantata for the Feast of the Visitation of Mary, consisting of two parts.

It features the chorale widely known in Japan as “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”

Fugue in D minorJ.S.Bach

Little Fugue in G minor, BWV 578 (Bach)
Fugue in D minorJ.S.Bach

This piece, affectionately known as the “Little Fugue in G Minor,” is surely one of the most popular works by Bach, the father of music.

Structured as a four-voice fugue, it is meticulously crafted using counterpoint.

With its strong role as music dedicated to God in church, its solemn and majestic sonority becomes ever more magnificent the more you listen, and it never grows tiresome.

Air on the G StringJ.S.Bach

J.S. Bach / Orchestral Suite No. 3, BWV 1068 “Air on the G String”
Air on the G StringJ.S.Bach

A Baroque masterpiece woven from gentle melodies and graceful harmonies.

Composed by J.S.

Bach in the 1720s, this piece grew out of secular music that was performed in churches and palaces.

The delicate resonance of the strings and the deeply reverberant bass blend beautifully, guiding listeners into a state of calm.

In the 19th century, it was arranged by the German violinist August Wilhelmj, which helped it spread in a more accessible form.

The work has also gained renewed attention after being featured in the TBS drama “G-senjou no Anata to Watashi” (You and I on the G String).

It’s a recommended track when you want to focus in a tranquil setting or soothe the mind.

Concerto for Two Violins, BWV 903J.S.Bach

J.S. Bach – Concerto d-moll for two violins and strings, BWV 1043 – I, II
Concerto for Two Violins, BWV 903J.S.Bach

Beginning violinists generally play this piece.

Centered on two solo violins, it possesses a contrapuntal beauty in which the two melodies intertwine and seem to dissolve into the accompaniment.

It’s a piece that rewards close, attentive listening.