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.
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J.S. Bach | Introducing Famous and Representative Works (31–40)
French Suite No. 4, BWV 815J.S.Bach
Performance by the Russian pianist Tatiana Nikolayeva.
These are works from Bach’s Köthen period, comprising up to No.
6.
No.
4 consists of seven movements: Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gavotte, Air, Minuet, and Gigue.
Motet “Jesu, Meine Freude” BWV 227J.S.Bach
A performance conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
Motets of this period were vocal works used in church, and Bach wrote a total of six.
In this motet, the chorale “Jesu, meine Freude” appears repeatedly in a variation-like form.
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, No. 4, BWV 849J.S.Bach
A performance by the Polish harpsichordist Wanda Landowska.
She was a pioneer who revived the harpsichord—a once-forgotten instrument—in the modern era.
The Well-Tempered Clavier consists of preludes and fugues written in all 24 keys.
Orchestral Suite No. 3, BWV 1068J.S.Bach
A performance by Reinhard Goebel with Musica Antiqua Köln.
It consists of an overture, aria, gavotte, bourrée, and gigue.
The second aria is a widely beloved piece that is often performed on its own under the title “Air on the G String.”
Nine Little Preludes in C major, BWV 927J.S.Bach
When it comes to Bach’s little preludes, the Six Little Preludes and the Nine Little Preludes are well known.
This time, I’d like to introduce the Nine Little Preludes in C major, BWV 927.
This piece is simply structured and short, and its difficulty places it around the middle of the beginner level.
The left hand from measure 9 might seem challenging, but since there are few leaps and it’s relatively easy overall, even beginners who feel less confident with the left hand should find it approachable to play.
Little Fugue in G minor, BWV 578J.S.Bach
The Little Fugue in G minor, BWV 578, is one of the most popular organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach, a leading composer of the Baroque era.
Believed to have been composed in the early 1700s, it captivates listeners across generations with its complex harmonies created through the fugue form, in which the subject is successively taken up by different voices.
The fugue is one of the musical styles frequently employed in Bach’s works.
As it is also a form emblematic of Baroque music, those interested in music of the Baroque period are encouraged to listen while paying attention to how the voices overlap.
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080J.S.Bach
A video featuring the Emerson String Quartet performing, with scrolling score.
This is a late work by Bach in which the subject is developed through various contrapuntal techniques.
There is no specific instrumentation, so it is performed on keyboard instruments and, as in this video, by ensembles.
The final fugue is unfinished.
Cantata “Be quiet, stop your chattering,” BWV 211J.S.Bach
It’s affectionately known as the Coffee Cantata.
The piece satirizes people who were obsessed with coffee at the time, and Bach himself seems to have believed it should be performed not in quiet places but in lively ones, so it was played in coffee houses.
There are two types of cantatas—church cantatas and secular cantatas—and this work falls into the secular category.
The Musical Offering, BWV 1079J.S.Bach
A piece that begins with a theme said to be the king’s theme—a melody that at first glance seems quite mysterious.
It’s astonishing that as many as sixteen works were composed from this theme.
The Musical Offering is the title of this collection of sixteen pieces.
There are various accounts of how this somewhat eerie work came to be, including the theory that Bach improvised on a theme specified by Frederick the Great on the spot and later compiled it.
Orchestral Suite No. 2J.S.Bach
The second piece is notable for its prominent flute part.
It demands a high level of technical skill and musicality from the flutist.
Among the movements, the Polonaise is especially famous—the word means “in the Polish style.” You’ve likely heard it at least once.
The seventh movement, Badinerie, is also well known, so I recommend listening to it as well.