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: 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Work: Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude

Browse 26-50 of 105 Available Recordings
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  • 26.
    George Walker - Great American Orchestral Music Vol 2
    George Walker - Great American Orchestral Music Vol 2
    Label: Albany Records   Catalog: 1178 Release Date: 03/09/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  George Walker
    Performer:  Andrzej Krzyzanowski,  Gregory Walker
    Conductor:  Ian Hobson
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Sinfonia Varsovia
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  • 27.
    Bach / Christophe Rousset
    Bach / Christophe Rousset
    Label: Naive   Catalog: 196 Release Date: 02/23/2010   Number of Discs: 6
    Composer:  Johann Christoph Richter,  Georg Philipp Telemann,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Gottfried H. Stölzel
    Performer:  Christophe Rousset
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  • 28.
    Essential Bach
    Essential Bach
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 95424 Release Date: 02/23/2010   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Philip Pickett,  Catherine Latham,  Iona Brown,  William Bennett  ... 
    Conductor:  Eugen Jochum,  Sir Neville Marriner,  Yehudi Menuhin,  Wolfgang Gönnenwein  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
    CD: $13.99
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  • 29.
    Essential Baroque
    Essential Baroque
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 95429 Release Date: 02/23/2010   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Antonio Vivaldi,  Johann Pachelbel,  George Frideric Handel,  Tomaso Albinoni  ... 
    Performer:  Yehudi Menuhin,  Wayne Marshall,  Gerald Finley,  William Bennett  ... 
    Conductor:  Sir Neville Marriner,  Sir Charles Mackerras,  Stephen Cleobury,  Sir David Willcocks  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Camerata Lysy,  Academy of St. Martin in the Fields,  Early Music Consort of London  ... 
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  • 30.
    Classic Baby: J.s. Bach
    Label: Fisher-price   Catalog: 2328 Release Date: 01/12/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Christian Pezold,  Johann Sebastian Bach
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  • 31.
    State Of The Art - The Story Of Deutsche Grammophon
    State Of The Art - The Story Of Deutsche Grammophon
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 001341102 Release Date: 12/15/2009   Number of Discs: 6
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Frédéric Chopin  ... 
    Performer:  Martha Argerich,  Cecilia Bartoli,  Rafal Blechacz,  Jean Soldan  ... 
    Conductor:  Claudio Abbado,  Géza Anda,  Daniel Barenboim,  Rudolf Baumgartner  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Gabrieli Consort,  Andalucian Dogs
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  • 32.
    Bach Adagios
    Bach Adagios
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 001313002 Release Date: 08/11/2009   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Pepe Romero,  Heinz Holliger,  György Sebok,  János Starker  ... 
    Conductor:  Heinz Holliger,  Sir Neville Marriner,  Iona Brown,  Arpád Gerecz  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Academy of St. Martin in the Fields,  Les Solistes Romands,  English Chamber Orchestra  ... 
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  • 33.
    J.s. Bach: 4 Harpsichord Suites
    J.s. Bach: 4 Harpsichord Suites
    Label: Erato   Catalog: 4689674 Release Date: 07/20/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Olivier Baumont
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  • 34.
    50 Classics For Relaxation / Ingman, Gerhardt, Gamley, Et Al
    50 Classics For Relaxation / Ingman, Gerhardt, Gamley, Et Al
    Label: Time/Life Music   Catalog: 24742 Release Date: 06/30/2009   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Jules Massenet,  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky,  Johann Paul A. Martini  ... 
    Performer:  Keith Harvey,  José Luis Garcia,  Larry Dalton,  Skaila Kanga  ... 
    Conductor:  David Firman,  Franck Pourcel,  Charles Gerhardt,  Eric Hammerstein  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  National Philharmonic Orchestra,  Franck Pourcel Orchestra,  London Philharmonic Orchestra  ... 
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  • 35.
    Intimate Classics
    Intimate Classics
    Label: Avalon Records   Catalog: 2020 Release Date: 06/01/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Claude Debussy,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Donald Quan,  Ludwig van Beethoven  ... 
    Performer:  Rob Piltch,  Donald Quan
    CD: $21.99
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  • 36.
    The Number One Bach Album
    The Number One Bach Album
    Label: Eloquence   Catalog: 4765888 Release Date: 03/20/2009   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Marisa Robles,  András Schiff,  Salvatore Accardo,  Pepe Romero  ... 
    Conductor:  Raymond Leppard
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Symphony Orchestra,  Academy of St. Martin in the Fields,  New Symphony Orchestra of London  ... 
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  • 37.
    Eternal Bach
    Eternal Bach
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8578024 Release Date: 01/27/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Marianne Beate Kielland,  János Sebestyén,  Christine Pichlmeier,  Lisa Stewart  ... 
    Conductor:  Helmut Müller-Brühl,  Mátyás Antal,  Jeremy Summerly
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cologne Chamber Orchestra,  Hungarian Radio Chorus,  Failoni Chamber Orchestra  ... 
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  • 38.
    Martin Stadtfeld Uber Bedeutet Eigentlich
    Martin Stadtfeld Uber Bedeutet Eigentlich "wohltemperiert"
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 737574 Release Date: 10/28/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Spoken Word
    Performer:  Martin Stadtfeld
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  • 39.
    The Classical Lounge [zyx]
    The Classical Lounge [zyx]
    Label: Zyx Records   Catalog: 7832 Release Date: 10/14/2008   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Edvard Grieg,  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Frédéric Chopin,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart  ... 
    Performer:  Sylvia Cápová,  Peter Schmalfuss,  Rena Kyriakou,  Dubravka Tomsic  ... 
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  • 40.
    Bach: Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook / Gauvin, Beausejour, Istomin
    Bach: Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook / Gauvin, Beausejour, Istomin
    Label: Analekta   Catalog: 22012 Release Date: 09/16/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Christian Pezold,  Gottfried H. Stölzel,  Georg Böhm
    Performer:  Luc Beauséjour,  Karina Gauvin,  Sergei Istomin
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  • 41.
    World Of Harp
    World Of Harp
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 433869 Release Date: 08/26/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Alphonse Hasselmans,  Frédéric Chopin,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Johannes Brahms  ... 
    Performer:  Marisa Robles
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  • 42.
    Adagios - Albinoni, Bach, Beethoven
    Adagios - Albinoni, Bach, Beethoven
    Label: Warner Classics   Catalog: 4695495 Release Date: 08/18/2008   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Tomaso Albinoni,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer:  Alison Bury,  Monica Huggett,  Jos Konings,  Paul Dombrecht  ... 
    Conductor:  Claudio Scimone,  Jean-François Paillard,  Ton Koopman,  Michel Corboz  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  I Solisti Veneti,  Paillard Chamber Orchestra,  Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra  ... 
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  • 43.
    The Art Of The Harp / Giles, McGuire
    The Art Of The Harp / Giles, McGuire
    Label: Abc Classics   Catalog: 4766808 Release Date: 07/15/2008   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Henry Purcell,  Christian Pezold,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Thomas Campion  ... 
    Performer:  Marshall McGuire,  Alice Giles
    CD: $23.99
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  • 44.
    Beautiful Wedding: Classical Music For The Wedding Dinner
    Beautiful Wedding: Classical Music For The Wedding Dinner
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80718 Release Date: 05/20/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Ottorino Respighi,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Antonio Vivaldi  ... 
    Performer:  Peabo Bryson,  Paquito D'Rivera,  Michael Camilo,  Kenny Blake  ... 
    Conductor:  Sir Charles Mackerras,  Jesús Lopez-Cobos,  Martin Pearlman,  Keith Clark  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Prague Chamber Orchestra,  Lausanne Chamber Orchestra,  Boston Baroque  ... 
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  • 45.
    Classic Hits, Vol. 1
    Classic Hits, Vol. 1
    Label: Bell'art   Catalog: BLR89750 Release Date: 03/25/2008   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Antonio Vivaldi,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Bedrich Smetana,  Pietro Mascagni  ... 
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  • 46.
    Ultimate Classical Relaxation - The Essential Masterpieces
    Ultimate Classical Relaxation - The Essential Masterpieces
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 001079002 Release Date: 03/11/2008   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky,  Tomaso Albinoni  ... 
    Performer:  Alicia De Larrocha,  Neil Black,  Tess Miller,  Carmel Kaine  ... 
    Conductor:  Karl Münchinger,  Sir Neville Marriner,  András Schiff,  Thurston Dart  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra,  Academy of St. Martin in the Fields,  Chamber Orchestra of Europe  ... 
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  • 47.
    Elections Classiques, 2007
    Elections Classiques, 2007
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 507538 Release Date: 01/13/2008   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Samuel Barber,  Edvard Grieg  ... 
    Performer:  Patrice Fontanarosa,  Jan Talich,  Sesto Bruscantini,  Lambert Wilson  ... 
    Conductor:  Riccardo Muti,  Leonard Slatkin,  Paavo Järvi,  Vittorio Gui  ... 
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  • 48.
    Breathe - The Relaxing Baroque
    Breathe - The Relaxing Baroque
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80713 Release Date: 11/13/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  John O'Conor
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  • 49.
    Piano Moods - A Collection Of Romantic Melodies
    Piano Moods - A Collection Of Romantic Melodies
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 000872602 Release Date: 05/08/2007   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Frédéric Chopin,  Edvard Grieg,  Franz Liszt,  Sergei Rachmaninov  ... 
    Performer:  Martha Argerich,  Mikhail Pletnev,  Daniel Barenboim,  Lazar Berman  ... 
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  • 50.
    The Best Bach
    The Best Bach
    Label: Vanguard   Catalog: 2015 Release Date: 02/13/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Mieczyslaw Horszowski,  Feliz Elias,  Joseph Brezina,  André Lardrot  ... 
    Conductor:  Felix Prohaska,  Antonio Janigro,  Johannes Somary,  Miltiades Caridis
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Chamber Orchestra,  Camerata Romana,  I Solisti di Zagreb  ... 
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