Johann Sebastian Bach
Born into a gifted family, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) was trained in music from childhood by his father, Johann Ambrosia, and later by his brother Johann Christoph. He held a variety of posts, serving as organist in Arnstadt (1703–07), Mühlhausen (1707–08), and Weimar (1708–17) before becoming musical director for Prince Leopold at Cöthen. After the death of his first wife, Maria Barbara Bach, he married Anna Magdalena Wülken. He had in all 20 children, several of whom became noted as musicians. In 1723, Bach became cantor and music director of St. Thomas Church, Leipzig, a distinguished post that he held until his death. In his instrumental and choral works, Bach perfected the art of polyphony and brought the era of Baroque music to its culmination.
During his lifetime Bach was better known as a virtuoso organist than as a composer, but since the 19th century his genius has been recognized, and his reputation has grown steadily. In his early years as organist, he composed a series of works for organ that culminated in the great preludes and fugues written at Weimar. At Cöthen he focused on instrumental compositions, such as the Brandenburg Concertos, and keyboard works, such as Book I of the celebrated Well-Tempered Clavier. His superb religious compositions from the Leipzig period include the St. John Passion and the Mass in B Minor, and some 300 sacred cantatas, of which nearly 200 are extant. His last notable pieces are the Musical Offering, composed for Frederick the Great, and the Art of the Fugue.
Vocal Works Performed by the San Francisco Bach Choir
Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 33
Aus der Aus der Tiefe, rufe ich, Herr, zu dir, BWV 131
Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot, BWV 39 (excerpt)
Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 (excerpts)
Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf, BWV 226
Der Herr denket an uns, BWV 196
Die Elenden sollen essen, BWV 75 (excerpts)
Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes, BWV 76 (excerpt)
Du Hirte Israel, höre, BWV 104
Du sollt Gott deinen Herren lieben, BWV 77
Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott, BWV 80
Ein Herz, das seinen Jesum lebend weiß, BWV 134 (excerpt)
Es erhub sich ein Streit, BWV 19 (excerpt)
Freue dich, erlöste Schar, BWV 30 (excerpt)
Fürchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir, BWV 228
Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit, BWV 106
Gott ist mein König, BWV 71 (excerpts)
Herr, deine Augen sehen nach dem Glauben, BWV 102
Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir, BWV 130 (excerpt)
Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147 (excerpts)
Ich habe Genug, BWV 82 (excerpt)
Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, BWV 21 (excerpts)
Ich lasse dich nicht, BWV Anhang 159
Ich steh mit einem Fuss im Grabe, BWV 156
Ich will dich nicht hören, from Cantata 213
Jauchzet dem Herrn, BWV Anhang 160
Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51 (excerpt)
Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227
Jesu, der du meine Seele, BWV 78 (excerpt)
Komm Jesu, komm, BWV 229
Kyrie – Christe, du Lamm Gottes, BWV 233a
Liebster Gott, wann werd’ ich sterben, BWV 8 (excerpt)
Lobe den Herren, BWV 137 (excerpts)
Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden, BWV 230
Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen, BWV 11 (excerpt)
Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243
Man singet mit Freuden vom Sieg, BWV 149 (excerpt)
Mass in b minor, BWV 232
Mass in G Major, BWV 236
Mass in g minor, BWV 235
Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut, BWV 199 (excerpts)
Nur jedem das Seine, BWV 163 (excerpt)
O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe, BWV 34
O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht, BWV 118b
O Jesulein süß, BWV 493
Passion According to Saint John, BWV 245
Passion According to Saint Matthew, BWV 244
Sanctus in D Major, BWV 238
Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV 36
Sei lob und Preis mit Ehren, BWV 231
Siehe zu, daß deine Gottesfurcht nicht Heuchelei sei, BWV 179 (excerpt)
Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 225
Tönet, ihr Pauken! Erschallet, Trompeten!, BWV 214 (excerpt)
Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV 110 (excerpt)
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140
Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan, BWV 98
Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, BWV 12 (excerpt)
Wer Dank opfert, der preiset mich, BWV 17 (excerpt)
Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten, BWV 93
Wer sich selbst erhöhet, BWV 47 (excerpt)
Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende, BWV 27
Wie müssen durch viel Trübsal, BWV 146 (excerpt)
Wo Gott, derr Herr, nicht bei uns hält, BWV 178
For more information about Johann Sebastian Bach, see these websites:
