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)
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.
J.S. Bach | Introducing Masterpieces and Signature Works (41–50)
Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major, BWV 564J.S.Bach
A masterpiece crafted by the Baroque master Johann Sebastian Bach.
Its magnificent structure and performance techniques brilliantly showcase the organ’s full allure.
With the Toccata’s brilliance, the Adagio’s poignancy, and the Fugue’s lightness, each of the three movements presents a distinct character.
Composed around 1708 to 1714, this work overwhelms audiences in a performance lasting approximately 16 minutes and 30 seconds.
In the 20th century, it was arranged for piano and orchestra by Busoni and Stokowski, gaining broader performance opportunities.
Highly recommended for those who wish to savor the essence of organ music or delve into the depth of Baroque music.
Sinfonia No. 11 in G minor, BWV 797J.S.Bach
Bach’s representative work, the Inventions (Sinfonias).
This time, I’ll introduce the Sinfonia No.
11 in G minor, BWV 797.
Among the Sinfonias, this piece is performed relatively often, so many of you may find it familiar.
Because it is built on a somewhat long, eight-bar subject, it demands expressiveness; even so, in terms of sheer technical difficulty, it falls into the easier category.
As you can tell from the development that appears at bar 51, reminiscent of bar 6, this is a work in which pedal control is key.