MUSIC APPRECIATION WEEK 4
BAROQUE II: J.S. BACH (1685 - 1750)
In my opinion, Bach was the greatest composer of all time. The perfection of his music is undeniable and his genius is undisputed. If you take a music theory class, most of what you study will be based on what Bach would do. Spending time with his music would benefit anyone, musician or not. Although they were both born on the same year, Bach wasn't the international sensation that Handel was during his lifetime. Bach lived a humble life and worked hard and was not fully appreciated until long after his death when composers in the early 1800s began to appreciate and study his work. Beethoven knew enough to study his work, as you can hear in his fugues. Although not the celebrity that Handel was during his life, Bach left behind a legacy of work that has never been equaled by any composer. Just the sheer amount of music he wrote is staggering, not to mention that all we have of it is perfect and lovely in every way. Bach represents the pinnacle and perfection of the Baroque period.
Here is a brief biography on Bach:
Here is an excellent radio broadcast from a series called 13 Days When Music Changed Forver. This is the episode concerning Bach (of course).
Now you are ready for this week's Music Quiz:
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