MTC: J.S. Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach wasn’t just a composer—he was a musical architect, building intricate, perfectly balanced pieces that still amaze musicians today. While he spent most of his life working in churches and small German towns, his music has had an enormous impact on nearly every genre of music that followed. Whether it’s a beautifully simple melody or a mind-bending fugue, Bach’s music is timeless, complex, and deeply expressive.
A Life Devoted to Music
Born in 1685 in Germany, Bach came from a long line of musicians. Orphaned at the age of 10, he was raised by his older brother, who taught him music. From an early age, Bach was obsessed with learning—copying out manuscripts by candlelight, studying the works of composers before him, and constantly pushing himself to improve.
Throughout his career, he worked as an organist, composer, and choir director in various towns and churches. His music wasn’t widely celebrated in his lifetime—he was considered a skilled but old-fashioned composer. He spent most of his life writing music for church services, teaching students, and raising a large family (he had 20 children, though only 10 survived to adulthood). It wasn’t until decades after his death in 1750 that his genius was fully recognized, thanks in part to composers like Mendelssohn, who helped revive his work.
Why Bach’s Music is So Extraordinary
Bach had an unmatched ability to weave multiple musical lines together into something that feels both complex and natural. His music is built on counterpoint—the art of combining independent melodies in a way that sounds harmonious. Whether it’s a solo piece for keyboard, a grand choral work, or a violin sonata, his music has a structure and emotional depth that keeps listeners engaged.
He also mastered the art of variation, taking a simple theme and transforming it in ways that feel endlessly creative. His pieces challenge performers and reward listeners, offering new discoveries with every listen.
Listening Guide: Where to Start with Bach
1. Start Here: The Well-Tempered Clavier
Bach wrote this collection of preludes and fugues in every major and minor key to demonstrate the possibilities of the newly developed "well-tempered" tuning system. These pieces are both technical exercises and breathtaking musical expressions.
What to listen for:
The contrast between the freely expressive preludes and the structured, intricate fugues.
How the different voices in a fugue enter and weave together.
Recommended recording: Glenn Gould’s famous interpretation or András Schiff’s more lyrical approach.
2. Go Deeper: Brandenburg Concertos
These six concertos showcase Bach’s ability to create lively, intricate instrumental music. Each one is different, featuring unique combinations of instruments, from solo violin to harpsichord to horns.
What to listen for:
The playful, energetic dialogues between instruments.
How Bach balances complexity with beauty—intricate but never overwhelming.
Recommended recording: Trevor Pinnock & The English Concert (on period instruments).
3. Explore His Sacred Works: Mass in B Minor
Bach’s choral works are some of the most powerful ever written. The Mass in B Minor is one of his most ambitious pieces, blending grandeur with deeply personal expression.
What to listen for:
The emotional intensity in the choral sections.
How he combines voices and instruments to create rich, layered harmonies.
Recommended recording: John Eliot Gardiner conducting the Monteverdi Choir.
4. A Hidden Gem: Goldberg Variations
Originally written to help a nobleman with insomnia, this set of variations takes a simple theme and transforms it into something astonishingly complex and beautiful.
What to listen for:
The way each variation develops the theme in a new and surprising way.
The emotional journey from the serene opening aria to the final return.
Recommended recording: Glenn Gould’s 1955 recording for a lively approach, or his 1981 version for a more introspective take.
Why Bach Still Inspires Us
Bach’s music isn’t just impressive—it’s deeply human. His compositions balance intellect and emotion, structure and freedom, discipline and creativity. Whether you're a musician or just someone who loves listening, his music has a way of revealing something new each time you hear it.
Bach’s influence is everywhere—his compositions were admired by Mozart and Beethoven, and even in modern jazz and electronic music, his counterpoint techniques still shape the way musicians think about harmony and structure.
If you’ve never truly listened to Bach, now is the perfect time to start. His music may be centuries old, but it still speaks to us today.