BBC Great Composers: Bach

1997 BBC documentary: Great Composers - Bach

[tomarmstrong]

I am an old man who has led a whole and satisfying life. I have always been able to play the piano, but not well. Now, in old age, with time to spare and a decent piano at my disposal, I have determined to thoroughly learn and play at least one Bach keyboard piece to my satisfaction. I consider that to do so will not be a life entirely wasted.

[J.B]

39:22 Can you imagine going to church every week in Leipzig and getting an original Bach composition every week? Geez!

[orlovae]

Thanks. There was one moment in my life which I remember very well, when I realized that Bach is the greatest. I was at a musical school, waiting for my lesson and listening for an other student, playing Bach, looking through the window and thinking. I felt the calm, but striking beauty of the moment. I said to myself that the music of Bach is like contemplation. But I woud not be able to formulate, why is that, what is the difference to the other composers, why it feels so different. Here musicians make a good job to show the difference.

[smBACH]

Merci beaucoup pour ce très beau documentaire sur le plus grand humain!

[RuoshiSun]

All music examples are listed below:
00:49 Aria from Goldberg Variations, BWV 988
03:14 "Jesu, meine Freude" from Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227
05:00 Siciliano from Harpsichord Concerto in E major, BWV 1053
06:16 Aria di Postiglione from Capriccio on the departure of a beloved brother, BWV 992
07:49 "Credo in unum Deum" from Mass in B minor, BWV 232
11:30 Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich, BWV 719
15:22 Contrapunctus IX from Art of Fugue, BWV 1080
17:00 "Ach Herr, lehre uns bedenken" from Actus Tragicus, BWV 106
18:53 Fugue in A minor, BWV 889 from Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2
19:04 Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050
21:16 "Zion hört" from Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140
23:45 "Gloria in excelsis" from Mass in B minor, BWV 232 [Note: This movement is in D major, to illustrate Gardiner's earlier point.]
25:46 Prelude in C major, BWV 846 from Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1
27:40 Preludes in C major - C minor - C-sharp major, BWV 846-848 from Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1
29:06 Prelude in D major, BWV 850 from Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1
29:44 Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068
31:11 Fugue in D-sharp minor, BWV 853 from Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1
33:30 "Laudamus te" from Mass in B minor, BWV 232
35:30 Variation 5 from Goldberg Variations, BWV 988
39:34 "Gute Nacht, o Wesen" from Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227
42:17 "Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder" from St Matthew Passion, BWV 244
43:20 "O love divine" from Theodora, HWV 68
46:04 "Erbarme dich" from St Matthew Passion, BWV 244
51:22 "Cum Sancto Spiritu" from Mass in B minor, BWV 232
52:59 Contrapunctus XIV from Art of Fugue, BWV 1080
55:56 "Dona nobis pacem" from Mass in B minor, BWV 232

[zyrtec]

Thank you for posting this BEST EVER documentary about JSBach. Have seen many of them, but THIS is really the BEST.

[bernaldelcastillo]

One thing that amazes me is how Bach could find time and inspiration, peace and tranquility to compose his masterpieces when sorrounded by some of his twenty children

[renzo]

I was about 6 years old.
Sitting beside my uncle Bill as he drove.
My taste in music at that age was very basic:
Christmas carols.
The usual children’s songs…Home on the Range, Row Row Row your boat, etc,
Uncle Bill turned the radio on to his classical music station.
It was Bach, he told me.
I listened for a few seconds.
Then I was overcome with a feeling of nausea.
I wasn’t ready for it.
My ears couldn’t make sense of it.
That was my introduction to Bach.
Things have changed with time.
That’s how it is with all kinds of tastes.
Foods, colors.
We grow into them as we pass through life’s stages.

[timbruer]

So nice to see this again, what a gift Bach gave humanity.

[felixpizza]

Thanks for posting this, I enjoyed it a lot

[MiaFeigelsonGallery]

@SW I can't find the words to thank you enough !!! Best wishes

[Quim]

43:00 the comparison between one of the great composers of all time and the greatest, undoubtely the best and most complex composer of all time.

[oludotunjohnshowemimo]

Bach was indeed a very busy man, being the music director of Leipzig.

Having to prepare cantatas every week for Sunday services, back in his office on Monday to compose the canatata for the upcoming Sunday.

[bruceweaver]

He was the master of us all—indeed The Master of Masters.

[SteveK]

The first ime I got my 80's vintage PC play a MIDI song was Bach's Two Part Invention in A Minor. I was thrilled. Still am.

[richardsimms]

Fabulous educational program
RS. Canada

[JulianKeniryGreen]

"Bach, the Old Testament of music." Amen.

[mastertao]

at 15:22 Ton Koopman and Tini Mathot play Contrapunctus IX from Art of Fugue, BWV 1080, very aggressive and powerful

[ampzamp]

...Bach was the greatest Christian preacher, ever. And he did it all, without saying a word.

[SOULRELIEF]

Sounds from my nursery! Thank GOD for this beautiful music! He gave GOD all the GLORY! ✝️✝️✝️
Mama played classical music as I lay in my cradle!