Johann Sebastian Bach

Start Over
Composition Types
Most Popular Works
See all

Biography

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: Complete Orchestral Works / Helmuth Rilling
Bach: Complete Orchestral Works / Helmuth Rilling
Release Date: 04/30/2013   Label: Hänssler Classic  
Catalog: 98009   Number of Discs: 11
On sale! $49.99
CD: $42.49
In Stock
MP3 Available
BUY 
On sale!   $49.99   CD:  $42.49 Add CD to Cart

MP3:  $118.49 Add MP3 to Cart

Bach: Suites No 4, 5 & 6 / Hopkinson Smith
Bach: Suites No 4, 5 & 6 / Hopkinson Smith
Release Date: 02/26/2013   Label: Naive  
Catalog: 8938   Number of Discs: 1
On sale! $16.99
CD: $14.99
In Stock
BUY 
On sale!   $16.99   CD:  $14.99 Add CD to Cart

Bach: Violin Concertos, Concerto For 3 Violins / Mullejans, Von Der Goltz, Schreiber
Bach: Violin Concertos, Concerto For 3 Violins / Mullejans, Von Der Goltz, Schreiber
Release Date: 04/09/2013   Label: Harmonia Mundi  
Catalog: 902145   Number of Discs: 1
On sale! $21.98
CD: $17.99
In Stock
BUY 
On sale!   $21.98   CD:  $17.99 Add CD to Cart

Bach: The English Suites / Richard Egarr
Bach: The English Suites / Richard Egarr
Release Date: 02/12/2013   Label: Harmonia Mundi  
Catalog: 907591   Number of Discs: 2
On sale! $34.98
CD: $27.99
In Stock
BUY 
On sale!   $34.98   CD:  $27.99 Add CD to Cart

Bach: Cantatas Vol 28 / Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists
Bach: Cantatas Vol 28 / Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists
Release Date: 04/30/2013   Label: Soli Deo Gloria Records  
Catalog: 185   Number of Discs: 1
On sale! $18.99
CD: $16.99
In Stock
MP3 Available
BUY 
On sale!   $18.99   CD:  $16.99 Add CD to Cart

MP3:  $9.99 Add MP3 to Cart

Work: Brandenburg Concerto no 5

Browse 26-50 of 192 Available Recordings
1 2 3 ... 7 8
  • 26.
    Bach & Vivaldi / Rinaldo Alessandrini, Concerto Italiano [6-CD Set]
    Bach & Vivaldi / Rinaldo Alessandrini, Concerto Italiano [6-CD Set]
    Label: Naive   Catalog: 30530 Release Date: 11/15/2011   Number of Discs: 6
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Benedetto Marcello,  Antonio Vivaldi,  Alessandro Marcello
    Performer:  Rinaldo Alessandrini,  Riccardo Minasi,  Luca Peverini,  Antonio De Secondi  ... 
    Conductor:  Rinaldo Alessandrini
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Concerto Italiano
    Recommendation
    CD: $34.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $34.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 27.
    Bach - Earthly and Divine [6 CDs+Book]
    Bach - Earthly and Divine [6 CDs+Book]
    Label: Alpha Productions   Catalog: 889 Release Date: 11/08/2011   Number of Discs: 6
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Raphaël Imbert,  Ferruccio Busoni
    Performer:  Bruno Cocset,  Dmitry Badiarov,  Bertrand Cuiller,  Helene Schmitt  ... 
    Conductor:  Gustav Leonhardt,  Raphaël Imbert,  Françoise Lasserre,  Benoit Haller  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Café Zimmermann,  Akademia Ensemble,  La Chapelle Royale  ... 
    CD: $89.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $89.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 28.
    Bach: 6 Brandenburg Concertos, Oboe Concertos / Boyd, Chamber Orchestra Of Europe
    Bach: 6 Brandenburg Concertos, Oboe Concertos / Boyd, Chamber Orchestra Of Europe
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 4779559 Release Date: 10/18/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Conductor:  Douglas Boyd
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Chamber Orchestra of Europe
    Import CD
    $28.99
    3-4 Weeks
    BUY 
    CD:  $28.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 29.
    Baroque - Bach, Blow, Charpentier, Corelli, Handel, Monteverdi
    Baroque - Bach, Blow, Charpentier, Corelli, Handel, Monteverdi
    Label: Harmonia Mundi   Catalog: 2908510 Release Date: 10/11/2011   Number of Discs: 10
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Marc-Antoine Charpentier,  Jacques Philidor,  Claudio Monteverdi  ... 
    Performer:  Marie-Ange Petit,  Agnès Mellon,  Guillemette Laurens,  Gregory Reinhart  ... 
    Conductor:  William Christie,  Nicholas McGegan,  Philippe Herreweghe,  Chiara Banchini  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Academy for Ancient Music Berlin,  Les Arts Florissants,  Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra  ... 
    Recommendation
    On sale! $79.98
    CD: $68.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    On sale!   $79.98   CD:  $68.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 30.
    Bach: Orchestral Works Complete
    Bach: Orchestral Works Complete
    Label: Brilliant Classics   Catalog: 93578 Release Date: 08/30/2011   Number of Discs: 9
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Remy Baudet,  Theunis Van der Zwart,  Erwin Wieringa,  Pieter-Jan Belder  ... 
    Conductor:  Pieter-Jan Belder
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Musica Amphion,  La Stravaganza Cologne,  Camerata Antonio Lucio  ... 
    CD: $44.49
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $44.49 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 31.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos; Triple Concertos / Schreier, CPE Bach Chamber Orchestra
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos; Triple Concertos / Schreier, CPE Bach Chamber Orchestra
    Label: Newton Classics   Catalog: 8802075 Release Date: 07/26/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Maurice Bourgue,  Håkan Hardenberger,  Irena Grafenauer,  Simon Preston
    Conductor:  Peter Schreier
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  C.P.E. Bach Chamber Orchestra
    CD: $17.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $17.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 32.
    Murray Perahia Plays Bach Concertos
    Murray Perahia Plays Bach Concertos
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 782429 Release Date: 07/19/2011   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  David Miller,  Murray Perahia,  Jakob Lindberg,  Kenneth Sillito  ... 
    Conductor:  Murray Perahia
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
    Recommendation
    CD: $23.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $23.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 33.
    Il Giardino Armonico
    Il Giardino Armonico
    Label: Warner Classics   Catalog: 632642 Release Date: 05/31/2011   Number of Discs: 11
    Composer:  Claudio Monteverdi,  Dario Castello,  Ottavio Dantone,  Giovanni Battista Spadi  ... 
    Performer:  Ottavio Dantone,  Enrico Onofri,  Luca Pianca
    Conductor:  Giovanni Antonini
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Il Giardino Armonico,  Innsbruck Trumpet Consort
    Recommendation
    On sale! $44.99
    CD: $34.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    On sale!   $44.99   CD:  $34.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 34.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Paillard, Paillard Chamber Orchestra
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Paillard, Paillard Chamber Orchestra
    Label: Rca   Catalog: 49184 Release Date: 05/06/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Conductor:  Jean-François Paillard
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Paillard Chamber Orchestra
    On sale! $24.98
    ArkivCD $21.99
    Special Order
    BUY 
    On sale!   $24.98   ArkivCD:  $21.99 Add to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 35.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos, Orchestral Suites, Concertos / Pinnock [8-CD Collector's Edition]
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos, Orchestral Suites, Concertos / Pinnock [8-CD Collector's Edition]
    Label: Archiv Produktion (Dg)   Catalog: 001538502 Release Date: 04/19/2011   Number of Discs: 8
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Trevor Pinnock,  Lisa Beznosiuk,  Simon Standage,  Rachel Beckett  ... 
    Conductor:  Trevor Pinnock
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  English Concert
    Recommendation
    On sale! $49.98
    CD: $34.99
    Low Stock
    BUY 
    On sale!   $49.98   CD:  $34.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 36.
    Bach Highlights
    Bach Highlights
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 300202 Release Date: 04/12/2011   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Ferruccio Busoni
    Performer:  Christine Schornsheim,  Violetta Liebsch,  Armin Thalheim,  Mechtild Stark  ... 
    Conductor:  Helmut Koch,  Martin Flämig,  Burkhard Glaetzner,  Franz Konwitschny  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Neues Bachisches Collegium
    On sale! $18.98
    CD: $15.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    On sale!   $18.98   CD:  $15.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 37.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No 4-6 / Karl Richter, Munich Bach Orchestra
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No 4-6 / Karl Richter, Munich Bach Orchestra
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 463012 Release Date: 03/24/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Otto Büchner,  Edgar Shann
    Conductor:  Karl Richter
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Munich Bach Orchestra
    Recommendation
    ArkivCD $16.99
    Low Stock
    BUY 
    ArkivCD:  $16.99 Add to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 38.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos 1-6 / Abbado, Carmignola, Orchestra Mozart
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos 1-6 / Abbado, Carmignola, Orchestra Mozart
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 001530302 Release Date: 03/15/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Giuliano Carmignola
    Conductor:  Claudio Abbado
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Orchestra Mozart
    Recommendation
    CD: $24.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $24.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 39.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Guttler, Virtuosi Saxoniae
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Guttler, Virtuosi Saxoniae
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 300113 Release Date: 01/11/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Roland Straumer,  Friedrich Kircheis,  Eckart Haupt,  Susanne Ehrhardt  ... 
    Conductor:  Ludwig Güttler
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Virtuosi Saxoniae
    On sale! $27.98
    CD: $24.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    On sale!   $27.98   CD:  $24.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 40.
    Bach: Integrale Concerts Plusieurs / Cafe Zimmerman
    Bach: Integrale Concerts Plusieurs / Cafe Zimmerman
    Label: Alpha Productions   Catalog: 811 Release Date: 01/10/2011   Number of Discs: 6
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Café Zimmermann
    Recommendation
    On sale! $69.98
    CD: $64.49
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    On sale!   $69.98   CD:  $64.49 Add CD to Cart

    MP3:  $59.99 Add MP3 to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 41.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos 2, 3, 5, Suite No 3 / Karajan, Berlin Po
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos 2, 3, 5, Suite No 3 / Karajan, Berlin Po
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 423202 Release Date: 12/08/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Conductor:  Herbert von Karajan
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
    ArkivCD $16.99
    Special Order
    BUY 
    ArkivCD:  $16.99 Add to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 42.
    Bach: Concertos, Brandenburg Concertos / London Conchord Ensemble
    Bach: Concertos, Brandenburg Concertos / London Conchord Ensemble
    Label: Champs Hill Records   Catalog: 14 Release Date: 11/16/2010   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Florian Uhlig
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Conchord Ensemble
    Recommendation
    CD: $17.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $17.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 43.
    Bach: The Keyboard Concertos / Hewitt, Tognetti
    Bach: The Keyboard Concertos / Hewitt, Tognetti
    Label: Hyperion   Catalog: 30003 Release Date: 10/12/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Angela Hewitt,  Alison Mitchell,  Richard Tognetti
    Conductor:  Richard Tognetti
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Australian Chamber Orchestra
    Recommendation
    On sale! $13.98
    CD: $9.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    On sale!   $13.98   CD:  $9.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 44.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Sigiswald Kuijken, La Petite Bande
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Sigiswald Kuijken, La Petite Bande
    Label: Accent   Catalog: 24224 Release Date: 09/28/2010   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Conductor:  Sigiswald Kuijken
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  La Petite Bande
    Recommendation
    On sale! $55.98
    SuperAudio CD: $47.49
    In Stock
    BUY 
    On sale!   $55.98   SuperAudio CD:  $47.49 Add to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 45.
    Bach Edition - Complete Works Of J. S. Bach
    Bach Edition - Complete Works Of J. S. Bach
    Label: Brilliant Classics   Catalog: 94050 Release Date: 09/14/2010   Number of Discs: 157
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Christine Schornsheim,  Dmitri Sitkovetsky,  Menno Van Delft,  Mark Lubotsky  ... 
    Conductor:  Pieter-Jan Belder,  Robert Haydon Clark,  Burkhard Glaetzner,  Peter Schreier  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Musica Amphion,  Consort of London,  Leipzig New Bach Collegium Musicum  ... 
    CD: $168.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    CD:  $168.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 46.
    Icon - Edwin Fischer
    Icon - Edwin Fischer
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 29499 Release Date: 09/14/2010   Number of Discs: 12
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Franz Schubert,  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart  ... 
    Performer:  Edwin Fischer,  Ronald Smith,  Denis Matthews,  Raymond Clark  ... 
    Conductor:  Wilhelm Furtwängler,  Edwin Fischer,  Josef Krips,  Lawrence Collingwood  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra,  Philharmonia Orchestra,  London Philharmonic Orchestra  ... 
    Recommendation
    On sale! $83.98
    CD: $68.49
    Low Stock
    BUY 
    On sale!   $83.98   CD:  $68.49 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 47.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1- 6 / Sorrell, Apollo's Fire
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1- 6 / Sorrell, Apollo's Fire
    Label: Avie   Catalog: 2207 Release Date: 07/13/2010   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Conductor:  Jeannette Sorrell
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Apollo's Fire
    On sale! $27.96
    CD: $19.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    On sale!   $27.96   CD:  $19.99 Add CD to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 48.
    The Pachelbel Canon & Other Baroque Favorites
    The Pachelbel Canon & Other Baroque Favorites
    Label: Vox Allegretto   Catalog: 8098 Release Date: 07/13/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jeremiah Clarke,  Johann Pachelbel,  Antonio Vivaldi,  Tomaso Albinoni  ... 
    Performer:  Herbert Thal,  Heinz Zickler,  Douglas Haas
    Conductor:  Günter Kehr,  Jörg Faerber,  Frank Shipway
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Salzburg Soloists,  Mainz Chamber Orchestra,  Württemberg Chamber Orchestra  ... 
    ArkivCD $16.99
    Special Order
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    ArkivCD:  $16.99 Add to Cart

    MP3:  $9.99 Add MP3 to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 49.
    50 Best Bach
    50 Best Bach
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 57496 Release Date: 06/29/2010   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Richard Boothby,  Peter Kooy,  Christoph Prégardien,  Catherine Patriasz  ... 
    Conductor:  Sir Philip Ledger,  Wolfgang Gönnenwein,  Andrew Parrott,  Philippe Herreweghe  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Consortium Musicum,  Taverner Players,  La Petite Bande  ... 
    CD: $11.99
    In Stock
    MP3 Available
    BUY 
    CD:  $11.99 Add CD to Cart

    MP3:  $9.99 Add MP3 to Cart
    WISH LIST

  • 50.
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1- 6 / Savall, Le Concert Des Nations
    Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1- 6 / Savall, Le Concert Des Nations
    Label: Alia Vox   Catalog: 9871 Release Date: 06/08/2010   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Conductor:  Jordi Savall
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Le Concert des Nations
    Recommendation
    On sale! $23.98
    SuperAudio CD: $21.99
    In Stock
    BUY 
    On sale!   $23.98   SuperAudio CD:  $21.99 Add to Cart
    WISH LIST

1 2 3 ... 7 8