Johann Sebastian Bach

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Born: 1685   Died: 1750   Country: Germany   Period: Baroque
Johann Sebastian Bach was better known as a virtuoso organist than as a composer in his day. His sacred music, organ and choral works, and other instrumental music had an enthusiasm and seeming freedom that concealed immense rigor. Bach's use of counterpoint was brilliant and innovative, and the immense complexities of his compositional style -- which often included religious and numerological symbols that seem to fit perfectly together in a Read more profound puzzle of special codes -- still amaze musicians today. Many consider him the greatest composer of all time.

Bach was born in Eisenach in 1685. He was taught to play the violin and harpsichord by his father, Johann Ambrosius, a court trumpeter in the service of the Duke of Eisenach. Young Johann was not yet ten when his father died, leaving him orphaned. He was taken in by his recently married oldest brother, Johann Christoph, who lived in Ohrdruf. Because of his excellent singing voice, Bach attained a position at the Michaelis monastery at Lüneberg in 1700. His voice changed a short while later, but he stayed on as an instrumentalist. After taking a short-lived post in Weimar in 1703 as a violinist, Bach became organist at the Neue Kirche in Arnstadt (1703-1707). His relationship with the church council was tenuous as the young musician often shirked his responsibilities, preferring to practice the organ. One account describes a four-month leave granted Bach, to travel to Lubeck where he would familiarize himself with the music of Dietrich Buxtehude. He returned to Arnstadt long after was expected and much to the dismay of the council. He then briefly served at St. Blasius in Mühlhausen as organist, beginning in June 1707, and married his cousin, Maria Barbara Bach, that fall. Bach composed his famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor (BWV 565) and his first cantatas while in Mühlhausen, but quickly outgrew the musical resources of the town. He next took a post for the Duke of Sachsen-Weimar in 1708, serving as court organist and playing in the orchestra, eventually becoming its leader in 1714. He wrote many organ compositions during this period, including his Orgel-Büchlein. Owing to politics between the Duke and his officials, Bach left Weimar and secured a post in December 1717 as Kapellmeister at Cöthen. In 1720, Bach's wife suddenly died, leaving him with four children (three others had died in infancy). A short while later, he met his second wife, soprano Anna Magdalena Wilcke, whom he married in December 1721. She would bear 13 children, though only five would survive childhood. The six Brandenburg Concertos (BWV 1046-51), among many other secular works, date from his Cöthen years. Bach became Kantor of the Thomas School in Leipzig in May 1723 and held the post until his death. It was in Leipzig that he composed the bulk of his religious and secular cantatas. Bach eventually became dissatisfied with this post, not only because of its meager financial rewards, but also because of onerous duties and inadequate facilities. Thus, he took on other projects, chief among which was the directorship of the city's Collegium Musicum, an ensemble of professional and amateur musicians who gave weekly concerts, in 1729. He also became music director at the Dresden Court in 1736, in the service of Frederick Augustus II; though his duties were vague and apparently few, they allowed him freedom to compose what he wanted. Bach began making trips to Berlin in the 1740s, not least because his son Carl Philipp Emanuel served as a court musician there. In May 1747, the composer was warmly received by King Frederick II of Prussia, for whom he wrote the gloriously abstruse Musical Offering (BWV 1079). Among Bach's last works was his 1749 Mass in B minor. Besieged by diabetes, he died on July 28, 1750. Read less

Featured Johann Sebastian Bach CDs & DVDs:

Bach: Concertos / Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante
Bach: Concertos / Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante
Release Date: 01/11/2000   Label: Virgin Classics Veritas  
Catalog: 45361   Number of Discs: 1
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Bach: Cantatas & Arias / Bostridge, Biondi, Europa Galante
Bach: Cantatas & Arias / Bostridge, Biondi, Europa Galante
Release Date: 01/09/2001   Label: Virgin Classics Veritas  
Catalog: 45420   Number of Discs: 1
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Baroque - Albinoni, Bach, Vivaldi, Lotti, Loeillet / Eroica Trio
Baroque - Albinoni, Bach, Vivaldi, Lotti, Loeillet / Eroica Trio
Release Date: 11/16/1999   Label: Emi Classics  
Catalog: 56873   Number of Discs: 1
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The Perlman Edition - Bach: Violin Concertos/ Perlman, Et Al
The Perlman Edition - Bach: Violin Concertos/ Perlman, Et Al
Release Date: 10/21/2003   Label: Emi Classics  
Catalog: 62602   Number of Discs: 1
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Bach: Sonatas For Unaccompanied Violin / Nathan Milstein
Bach: Sonatas For Unaccompanied Violin / Nathan Milstein
Release Date: 02/13/2001   Label: Emi Classics  
Catalog: 66869   Number of Discs: 1
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Work: Brandenburg Concerto no 3

Browse 76-100 of 182 Available Recordings
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  • 76.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos; Orchestral Suites; Double Concertos; Organ Works [box Set]
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos; Orchestral Suites; Double Concertos; Organ Works [box Set]
    Label: Zyx Records   Catalog: 10316 Release Date: 07/22/2008   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Johann Christian Bach
    Performer:  Franz Lehrndorfer,  Miklós Spányi,  Hans-Christoph Becker-Foss,  Christiane Jaccottet  ... 
    Conductor:  Eugen Duvier,  Henry Adolph,  Hans Swarowsky,  Francesco Macci  ... 
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  • 77.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos 1-3, Suite 4 / Koch, Berlin Co
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos 1-3, Suite 4 / Koch, Berlin Co
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 1420 Release Date: 07/08/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Conductor:  Helmut Koch
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin Chamber Orchestra
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  • 78.
    Basics 25-cd Boxset
    Basics 25-cd Boxset
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 186002 Release Date: 07/08/2008   Number of Discs: 25
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Hector Berlioz,  Georges Bizet  ... 
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  • 79.
    Beethoven: Symphony No. 7; Bach: Brandenburg Coincerto No. 3; Ravel: Le Tombeau De Couperin
    Beethoven: Symphony No. 7; Bach: Brandenburg Coincerto No. 3; Ravel: Le Tombeau De Couperin
    Label: Archipel   Catalog: ARPCD0399 Release Date: 06/03/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Maurice Ravel,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Ludwig van Beethoven
    Conductor:  Sergiu Celibidache
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  • 80.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Stryncl, Musica Florea
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Stryncl, Musica Florea
    Label: Supraphon   Catalog: 3942 Release Date: 05/27/2008   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Conductor:  Marek Stryncl
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Musica Florea
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  • 81.
    Bach: Brandenberg Concertos / Amsterdam Guitar Trio
    Bach: Brandenberg Concertos / Amsterdam Guitar Trio
    Label: Rca Victor Red Seal   Catalog: 6546 Release Date: 03/12/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Amsterdam Guitar Trio
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  • 82.
    Pfitzner: Violin Concerto, Etc / Taschner, Kempe, Et Al
    Pfitzner: Violin Concerto, Etc / Taschner, Kempe, Et Al
    Label: Archipel   Catalog: 400 Release Date: 02/26/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Conductor:  Rudolf Kempe
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  • 83.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos; The 1953 Aldburgh Festival Opening Concert / Britten
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos; The 1953 Aldburgh Festival Opening Concert / Britten
    Label: Eloquence   Catalog: 4429521 Release Date: 02/11/2008   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Various,  Thomas Augustine Arne
    Performer:  Anthony Randall,  Peter Graeme,  Ifor James,  Emanuel Hurwitz  ... 
    Conductor:  Benjamin Britten,  Imogen Holst
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  English Chamber Orchestra,  Aldeburgh Festival Orchestra,  Aldeburgh Festival Chorus
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  • 84.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No 1 - 6 / Il Giardino Armonico
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No 1 - 6 / Il Giardino Armonico
    Label: Elatus   Catalog: 2564617732 Release Date: 12/25/2007   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Conductor:  Giovanni Antonini
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Il Giardino Armonico
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  • 85.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Pinnock, European Brandenburg Ensemble
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Pinnock, European Brandenburg Ensemble
    Label: Avie   Catalog: 2119 Release Date: 12/18/2007   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Catherine Finnis,  Trevor Pinnock,  Catherine Jones,  Jonathan Manson  ... 
    Conductor:  Trevor Pinnock
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  European Brandenburg Ensemble
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  • 86.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concerti, Orchestral Suites / Busch, Busch Chamber Players
    Bach: Brandenburg Concerti, Orchestral Suites / Busch, Busch Chamber Players
    Label: Emi Classics Références   Catalog: 64047 Release Date: 12/10/2007   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Marcel Moyse,  Rudolf Serkin,  Adolf Busch,  Aubrey Brain
    Conductor:  Adolf Busch
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Busch Chamber Players
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  • 87.
    The Essential Bach
    The Essential Bach
    Label: Euroarts   Catalog: 2056768 Release Date: 11/20/2007   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Joanna MacGregor,  Andrei Gavrilov,  Ruth Holton,  Matthias Rexhorth  ... 
    Conductor:  Georg Christoph Biller,  Gottfried Von der Goltz
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Leipzig Thomaner Choir,  Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra,  Freiburg Baroque Orchestra  ... 
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  • 88.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos, Nos. 1-6
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos, Nos. 1-6
    Label: Teldec   Catalog: 4698123 Release Date: 11/12/2007   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Conductor:  Giovanni Antonini
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Il Giardino Armonico
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  • 89.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No 1-6, Etc / Marriner, Et Al
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No 1-6, Etc / Marriner, Et Al
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 00955 Release Date: 10/02/2007   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Conductor:  Sir Neville Marriner
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
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  • 90.
    Bach: Die Brandenburgischen Konzerte, Etc. / Schreier
    Bach: Die Brandenburgischen Konzerte, Etc. / Schreier
    Label: Philips   Catalog: 434918 Release Date: 09/17/2007   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Simon Preston,  Irena Grafenauer,  Hĺkan Hardenberger,  Maurice Bourgue
    Conductor:  Peter Schreier
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  C.P.E. Bach Chamber Orchestra
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  • 91.
    Orchestra! / Georg Solti, Dudley Moore
    Orchestra! / Georg Solti, Dudley Moore
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 433208 Release Date: 08/20/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Witold Lutoslawski,  Igor Stravinsky,  Béla Bartók  ... 
    Performer:  Dudley Moore,  Sir Georg Solti
    Conductor:  Sir Georg Solti
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra
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  • 92.
    Bach: Works For Orchestra / Ristenpart, Saar Chamber Orchestra
    Bach: Works For Orchestra / Ristenpart, Saar Chamber Orchestra
    Label: Accord   Catalog: 459203 Release Date: 07/26/2007   Number of Discs: 6
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Conductor:  Karl Ristenpart
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Saar Chamber Orchestra
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  • 93.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos 1-4 / Baumgartner
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos 1-4 / Baumgartner
    Label: Rca Silver Seal   Catalog: 60475 Release Date: 07/09/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Conductor:  Rudolf Baumgartner
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Lucerne Festival Strings
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  • 94.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Chamber Orch Of Europe
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Chamber Orch Of Europe
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 431660 Release Date: 04/24/2007   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Chamber Orchestra of Europe
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  • 95.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No 1-4 / Diego Fasolis, Et Al
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No 1-4 / Diego Fasolis, Et Al
    Label: Arts Music   Catalog: 47715 Release Date: 03/13/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Diego Fasolis
    Conductor:  Diego Fasolis
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  I Barocchisti
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  • 96.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos 1-6 / Belder, Musica Amphion
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos 1-6 / Belder, Musica Amphion
    Label: Brilliant Classics   Catalog: 93125 Release Date: 02/27/2007   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Irmgard Schaller,  Sayuri Yamagata,  Albert Brüggen,  Pieter-Jan Belder  ... 
    Conductor:  Pieter-Jan Belder
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Musica Amphion
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  • 97.
    Basics - Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No 1-3, Etc / Koch
    Basics - Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No 1-3, Etc / Koch
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 8530 Release Date: 02/13/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Conductor:  Helmut Koch
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin Chamber Orchestra
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  • 98.
    Best Bach 100
    Best Bach 100
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 83765 Release Date: 02/06/2007   Number of Discs: 6
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  J. F. Ludwig Thiele
    Performer:  Lionel Rogg,  Monica Huggett,  Gustav Leonhardt,  Alison Bury  ... 
    Conductor:  Sir Philip Ledger,  Wolfgang Gönnenwein,  Philippe Herreweghe,  Andrew Parrott  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment,  English Chamber Orchestra,  South German Madrigal Choir Stuttgart  ... 
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  • 99.
    Ultimate Bach - The Essential Masterpieces
    Ultimate Bach - The Essential Masterpieces
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 000765902 Release Date: 11/14/2006   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  András Schiff,  Arthur Grumiaux,  Carlo Curley
    Conductor:  Sir Neville Marriner
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
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  • 100.
    Best Of Bach
    Best Of Bach
    Label: Warner Classics   Catalog: 4636712 Release Date: 11/06/2006  
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Juan Pablo Izquierdo
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