Bach's organ works. Free classical music Bach favorite works

It remains to report on Anna Magdalena. She knew the bitterness of early old age. At first, the magistrate undoubtedly provided some assistance to Bach’s widow; receipts for her receipt have been preserved. sums of money. There is no reliable information about the relationship with the stepmother and mother of Bach’s sons after his death. Anna Magdalena, fifty-nine years old, died on Wednesday February 27, 1760 in Leipzig, on Heinenstrasse, apparently in a shelter for the poor.

For many years, the cantor's loving and caring wife so often hurriedly prepared the notes for her Sebastian's next Sunday cantata! In a handwriting similar to that of her husband, having completed the last line, she wrote in large letters on the page the words that meant “the end” in Italian.

Let this sign complete our story of life and a brief outline of the works of the great Bach:

A BRIEF LIST OF WORKS BY J. S. BACH

Vocal and instrumental works: about 300 sacred cantatas (199 preserved); 24 secular cantatas (including “Hunting”, “Coffee”, “Peasant”); motets, chorales; Christmas Oratorio; “John Passion”, “Matthew Passion”, “Magnificat”, Mass in B minor (“High Mass”), 4 short masses.

Arias and songs - from the second Notebook of Anna Magdalena Bach.

For orchestra and orchestra with solo instruments:

6 Brandenburg Concertos; 4 suites (“overtures”); 7 concertos for harpsichord (clavier) and orchestra; 3 concertos for two harpsichords and orchestra; 2 concertos for three harpsichords and orchestra; 1 concert for four harpsichords and orchestra; 3 concertos for violin and orchestra; concert for flute, violin and harpsichord.

Works for violin, cello, flute with clavier (harpsichord) and solo: 6 sonatas for violin and harpsichord; 6 sonatas for flute and harpsichord; 3 sonatas for viola da gamba (cello) and harpsichord; trio sonatas; 6 sonatas and partitas for solo violin; 6 suites (sonatas) for solo cello.

For clavier (harpsichord): 6 “English” suites; 6 “French” suites; 6 parts; Chromatic fantasy and fugue; Italian concert; Well-Tempered Clavier (2 volumes, 48 ​​preludes and fugues); Goldberg Variations; Inventions for two and three voices; fantasies, fugues, toccatas, overtures, capriccios, etc.

For organ: 18 preludes and fugues; 5 toccatas and fugues; 3 fantasies and fugues; fugues; 6 concerts; Passacaglia; pastoral; fantasies, sonatas, canzones, trios; 46 chorale preludes (from Wilhelm Friedemann Bach's Organ Book); "Schubler chorales"; 18 chorales (“Leipzig”); several cycles of chorale variations.

Musical offering. The art of fugue.

MAIN LIFE DATES

1685, March 21 (Gregorian calendar March 31) Johann Sebastian Bach, the son of the city musician Johann Ambrose Bach, was born in the Thuringian city of Eisenach.

1693-1695 - Studying at school.

1694 - Death of mother, Elisabeth, née Lemmerhirt. Father's remarriage.

1695 - Death of father; moving to his elder brother Johann Christoph in Ohrdruf.

1696 - early 1700- Studying at the Ordruf Lyceum; singing and music lessons.

1700, March 15- Moving to Lüneburg, enrollment as a scholarship student (chanter) at the school of St. Michael.

1703, April- Moving to Weimar, service in the chapel of the Red Castle. August- Moving to Arnstadt; Bach is an organist and singing teacher.

1705-1706, October - February- Trip to Lubeck, studying the organ art of Dietrich Buxtehude. Conflict with the consistory of Arnstadt.

1707, June 15- Confirmation as organist in Mühlhausen. 17 October- Marriage to Maria Barbara Bach.

1708, spring- Publication of the first work, “Elective Cantata”. July- Moving to Weimar to serve as court organist of the Ducal Chapel.

1710, November 22- Birth of the first son, Wilhelm Friedemann (the future “Gallic Bach”).

1714, March 8- Birth of the second son, Carl Philipp Emmanuel (the future “Hamburg Bach”). Trip to Kassel.

1717, July- Bach accepts the offer of Prince Leopold of Köthen to become conductor of the court chapel.

September- A trip to Dresden, his success as a virtuoso.

October- Return to Weimar; resignation letter, by order of the Duke, arrest from November 6 to December 2. Transfer to Keteya. Trip to Leipzig.

1720, May- A trip with Prince Leopold to Carlsbad. Early July- Death of wife Maria Barbara.

1723, February 7- Performance of cantata No. 22 in Leipzig as a test for the position of cantor of the Thomaskirche. 26 March- First performance of the St. John Passion. May- Taking office as cantor of St. Thomas and the school teacher.

1729, February- Performing the “Hunting Cantata” in Weissenfels, receiving the title of court Kapellmeister of Saxe-Weissenfels. April 15- First performance of the St. Matthew Passion in the Thomaskirche. Disagreements with the Thomasshule council and then with the magistrate over school practices. Bach leads the Telemann student circle, Collegium musicum.

1730, October 28- A letter to a former school friend G. Erdmann describing the unbearable circumstances of life in Leipzig.

1732 - Performance of “Coffee Cantata”. 21st of June- Birth of the son Johann Christoph Friedrich (the future “Bückeburg Bach”).

1734, end of December- Performance of the “Christmas Oratorio”.

1735, June- Bach with his son Gottfried Bernhard in Mühlhausen. The son passes the test for the position of organist. September 5 the last son, Johann Christian (the future “London Bach”) was born.

1736 - Beginning of a two-year “struggle for the prefect” with the rector Tomashule I. Ernesti. November 19 A decree was signed in Dresden conferring the title of royal court composer on Bach. Friendship with the Russian ambassador G. Keyserling. December 1- A two-hour concert in Dresden on the Silbermann organ.

1738, April 28- “Night music” in Leipzig. Bach completes the composition of the High Mass.

1740 - Bach ceases to lead the “Music Collegium”.

1741 - In the summer, Bach visited his son Emmanuel in Berlin. Trip to Dresden.

1742 - Publication of the last, fourth volume of “Exercises for the Clavier”. August 30- Performance of “Peasant Cantata”.

1745 - Testing of a new organ in Dresden.

1746 - Son Wilhelm Friedemann becomes director of urban music in Halle. Bach's trip to Zshortau and Naumberg.

1749, January 20- Engagement of daughter Elisabeth to Bach's student Altnikol. The beginning of the essay "The Art of Fugue". In summer- Illness, blindness. Johann Friedirch enters the Bückeburg Chapel.

1750, January- Unsuccessful eye surgeries, complete blindness. Composing counterpoints of “The Art of Fugue” and fugue on theme B-A-S-N. Completion of processing of chorales.

The German composer Johann Sebastian Bach created more than 1000 musical works. He lived in the Baroque era and in his work summarized everything that was characteristic of the music of his time. Bach wrote in all genres available in the 18th century, with the exception of opera. Today the works of this master of polyphony and virtuoso organist are listened to in the most different situations- they are so diverse. In his music one can find simple-minded humor and deep sorrow, philosophical reflections and acute drama.

Johann Sebastian Bach was born in 1685, he was the eighth and youngest child in the family. The great composer's father, Johann Ambrosius Bach, was also a musician: the Bach family has been known for its musicality since the beginning of the 16th century. At that time, music creators enjoyed special honor in Saxony and Thuringia, they were supported by the authorities, aristocrats and representatives of the church.

By the age of 10, Bach lost both his parents, and his older brother, who worked as an organist, took over his upbringing. Johann Sebastian studied at the gymnasium, and at the same time received from his brother the skills of playing the organ and clavier. At the age of 15, Bach entered a vocal school and began writing his first works. After leaving school, he briefly served as a court musician for the Duke of Weimar, and then became an organist in a church in the city of Arnstadt. It was then that the composer wrote a large number of organ works.

Soon, Bach began to have problems with the authorities: he expressed dissatisfaction with the level of training of the singers in the choir, and then went to another city for several months in order to get acquainted with the playing of the authoritative Danish-German organist Dietrich Buxtehude. Bach went to Mühlhausen, where he was invited to the same position - organist in the church. In 1707, the composer married his cousin, who bore him seven children, three of them died in infancy, and two later became famous composers.

Bach worked in Mühlhausen for only a year and moved to Weimar, where he became court organist and concert organizer. By this time he already enjoyed great recognition and received a high salary. It was in Weimar that the composer's talent reached its peak - for about 10 years he continuously composed works for clavier, organ and orchestra.

By 1717, Bach had achieved all possible heights in Weimar and began to look for another place of work. At first his old employer did not want to let him go, and even put him under arrest for a month. However, Bach soon left him and headed to the city of Köthen. If earlier his music was largely composed for religious services, here, due to the special requirements of the employer, the composer began to write mainly secular works.

In 1720, Bach's wife suddenly died, but a year and a half later he married the young singer again.

In 1723, Johann Sebastian Bach became cantor of the choir at the Church of St. Thomas in Leipzig, and then was appointed “musical director” of all churches working in the city. Bach continued to write music until his death - even after losing his sight, he dictated it to his son-in-law. The great composer died in 1750, now his remains rest in the very Church of St. Thomas in Leipzig, where he worked for 27 years.

He became famous as a skilled composer and virtuoso performer of organ music. In addition, the musician was also a talented teacher and led concert groups.

Briefly about the composer

During his lifetime, Johann Sebastian did not receive recognition, and only almost a century later did people begin to show interest in his works. Perhaps none of the music of the Baroque era is now as popular as the works of Bach. A list of these works by year should be compiled taking into account the main stages of the author’s work. Subsequently, the master’s works were included in the golden fund of eternal classics and are still popular, having firmly entered the repertoire of concert performances.

The beginning of creativity

Bach, whose list of works is the subject of an interesting review, was born into a musical family: his father, older brother and sister were musicians. Since childhood, the future composer showed an amazing talent for learning to play the violin. Even in his youth, he became seriously interested in works famous composers, never missed a chance to listen famous masters, constantly studied, expanding my knowledge.

Very soon he proved himself to be a talented organist. He mastered playing this instrument perfectly, so that musicians even began to turn to him for advice. Bach, whose list of works can be opened with the mention of works for organ, imitated his time, but at the same time supplemented the scores folk melodies, trying to give it a national sound.

The composer's first works were chorales, hymns and preludes for organ. These works are distinguished by their solemn, majestic character. However, Bach's works, the list of which was constantly replenished, were diverse in their treatment: his early toccatas and fugues have a colorful, dramatic sound.

Weimar period (1708–1717)

The flourishing of the composer's creative career began at his new place of work, when he received the court position of organist and musician under one of the German dukes. Here the author had optimal conditions for creativity: he was free to choose a topic and worked with a very good orchestra.

It was during this period that he created his famous cycle of fugues, which formed the first volume of his famous work “The Well-Tempered Clavier.” None of the musicians of that time was such a virtuoso of organ art as Bach was. The list of the composer's works was constantly expanding: he worked a lot, composing and rearranging concertos of Italian composers. After nine years, Johann leaves the place old job and goes in search of a new one.

In Köthen

The composer's patron was the prince, who loved music and appreciated the composer's talent. He gave him the position of bandmaster and gave him greater freedom of action. Bach's works, the list of which was replenished with works of a secular nature, received approval and recognition. He composed keyboard music, suites in French and English themes, more than two dozen preludes, as well as fugues. The creation of the famous Brandenburg Concertos dates back to this time. These days they are usually performed by chamber orchestras.

He also composed several concertos. Bach, whose list of works at this time often consisted of works of an entertaining nature, created sonatas and solo performances for violin and flute that resembled cheerful songs. Despite this, in his concerts each instrument received an independent sound.

Religious music

At this time, Johann Sebastian Bach had already become one of the most famous composers in Germany. Works, the list of which now included religious music, grew rapidly. The author wrote several masses based on Gospel stories, which are considered one of the best in the composer’s work. As music director of the city's churches, he created a cycle of cantatas for worship, which were based on Protestant chorales. Special mention should be made of the “Mass in B Minor”, ​​in which the author partially used excerpts from his best cantatas.

Secular melodies

However, compositions of a secular, entertaining nature continued to occupy a prominent place in his work: they were given special meaning Johann Sebastian Bach. The works, the list of which quickly increased due to melodies composed specifically for the author’s musical assembly, entered the treasury of the world repertoire. They are admired to this day. Bach, whose list of works was constantly replenished with a variety of works, at this time created his famous “Coffee Cantata”, as well as a number of concerts for cello and harpsichord.

At the end of the 1740s, the composer wrote a new cycle consisting of trios, ricercars and canons, which he presented as a gift to the king under the title “Musical Offering”. At the same time, he composed a number of fugues, in which his art of creating polyphony was especially clearly demonstrated. This work did not see the light of day during the author's lifetime and was published after his death by the composer's sons.

Features of essays

The most famous works Bach, the list of which was presented above, reflect the characteristic features of his melodies. The composer is deservedly recognized as a master of polyphony: his fugues and sonatas amaze with their richness of sound, drama, color and variety of sounds. Even during his lifetime he was considered unsurpassed master playing the organ. At that time, none of the composers could compare with him in this form of art.

Another feature is that it worked in all known musical genres XVIII century, with the exception of opera. However, its motifs are still present in a number of his choral works. The author skillfully combined the achievements of northern and southern composers in Western Europe. He was greatly influenced by the work of German, Italian and French musicians.

Bach skillfully combined their melodies, often reworking the works of other composers. He often edited his own works, which later became so-called covers, independent and original. He also successfully composed keyboard works. Many of them became a kind of guide for writing and performing polyphonic music: Bach’s experience introduced students to technique and more advanced techniques for working with musical instruments (keyboard exercises).

The significance of the composer's works

There is a fairly widespread point of view that Bach was forgotten after his death. However, this is not so: his organ music and chorales continued to be heard in churches and have not lost their significance to this day. But the fact is that classicism came to replace it, which focused not on polyphony, but on harmony. Therefore, indeed, many young composers began to consider the music of Johann Sebastian outdated.

But such famous authors, as Beethoven and Mozart often admired the work of their great predecessor. Both learned from his work, which had an impact big influence on their creativity. Nowadays, the composer’s works are an integral part of concert performances, and the same work can be performed in different options, since not all of Johann's scores contain complete information about the instrumentation. Bach's works, a list of which was presented in Russian in the article, represents only short list works of this outstanding composer and music teacher.

Johann Sebastian Bach is the greatest figure of world culture. The work of the universal musician who lived in the 18th century is genre-inclusive: German composer connected and generalized the traditions of the Protestant chorale with the traditions music schools Austria, Italy and France.

200 years after the death of the musician and composer, interest in his work and biography has not cooled, and contemporaries use Bach’s works in the twentieth century, finding relevance and depth in them. The composer's chorale prelude is heard in Solaris. The music of Johann Bach, as the best creation of mankind, was recorded on the Voyager Golden Record, attached to the spacecraft launched from Earth in 1977. According to the New York Times, Johann Sebastian Bach is the first in the top ten world composers who created masterpieces that stand above time.

Childhood and youth

Johann Sebastian Bach was born on March 31, 1685 in the Thuringian city of Eisenach, located between the hills of the Hainig national park and the Thuringian Forest. The boy became the youngest and eighth child in the family of professional musician Johann Ambrosius Bach.

There are five generations of musicians in the Bach family. Researchers counted fifty relatives of Johann Sebastian who connected their lives with music. Among them is the composer's great-great-grandfather, Faith Bach, a baker who carried a plucked zither everywhere. musical instrument in the form of a box.

The head of the family, Ambrosius Bach, played the violin in churches and organized social concerts, so the first music lessons youngest son he taught. Johann Bach sang in the choir from an early age and delighted his father with his abilities and greed for musical knowledge.

At the age of 9, Johann Sebastian’s mother, Elisabeth Lemmerhirt, died, and a year later the boy became an orphan. The younger brother was taken into the care of the elder, Johann Christoph, a church organist and music teacher in the neighboring town of Ohrdruf. Christophe sent Sebastian to the gymnasium, where he studied theology, Latin, and history.

The older brother taught the younger brother to play the clavier and organ, but these lessons were not enough for the inquisitive boy: secretly from Christophe, he took out from the closet a notebook with works of famous composers and on moonlit nights rewrote notes. But his brother discovered Sebastian doing something illegal and took away the notes.

At the age of 15, Johann Bach became independent: he got a job in Lüneburg and brilliantly graduated from the vocal gymnasium, opening his way to university. But poverty and the need to earn a living put an end to my studies.

In Lüneburg, curiosity pushed Bach to travel: he visited Hamburg, Celle and Lübeck, where he became acquainted with the work of famous musicians Reincken and Georg Böhm.

Music

In 1703, after graduating from the gymnasium in Lüneburg, Johann Bach got a job as a court musician in the chapel of the Weimar Duke Johann Ernst. Bach played the violin for six months and gained his first popularity as a performer. But soon Johann Sebastian got tired of pleasing the ears of gentlemen by playing the violin - he dreamed of developing and opening new horizons in art. Therefore, without hesitation, he agreed to take the vacant position of court organist in the Church of St. Boniface in Arnstadt, which is 200 kilometers from Weimar.

Johann Bach worked three days a week and received a high salary. The church body, set up according to the new system, expanded the possibilities young performer and composer: in Arnstadt, Bach wrote three dozen organ works, capriccios, cantatas and suites. But tense relations with the authorities pushed Johann Bach to leave the city after three years.

The last straw that outweighed the patience of the church authorities was the long excommunication of the musician from Arnstadt. The inert clergy, who already disliked the musician for his innovative approach to the performance of cult sacred works, gave Bach a humiliating trial for his trip to Lubeck.

The famous organist Dietrich Buxtehude lived and worked in the city, whose improvisations on the organ Bach dreamed of listening to since childhood. Without money for a carriage, Johann went to Lübeck on foot in the fall of 1705. The master's performance shocked the musician: instead of the allotted month, he stayed in the city for four.

After returning to Arnstadt and arguing with his superiors, Johann Bach left his “hometown” and went to the Thuringian city of Mühlhausen, where he found work as an organist in the Church of St. Blaise.

The city authorities and church authorities favored the talented musician; his earnings turned out to be higher than in Arnstadt. Johann Bach proposed an economical plan for the restoration of the old organ, approved by the authorities, and wrote a festive cantata, “The Lord is My King,” dedicated to the inauguration of the new consul.

But a year later, the wind of wanderings “removed” Johann Sebastian from his place and transferred him to the previously abandoned Weimar. In 1708, Bach took the place of court organist and settled in a house next to the ducal palace.

The “Weimar period” of Johann Bach’s biography turned out to be fruitful: the composer composed dozens of keyboard and orchestral works, became acquainted with the work of Corelli, and learned to use dynamic rhythms and harmonic patterns. Communication with his employer, Crown Duke Johann Ernst, a composer and musician, influenced Bach’s work. In 1713, the Duke brought from Italy sheet music of musical works by local composers, which opened new horizons in art for Johann Bach.

In Weimar, Johann Bach began work on the “Organ Book,” a collection of choral preludes for the organ, and composed the majestic organ “Toccata and Fugue in D minor,” “Passacaglia in C minor,” and 20 spiritual cantatas.

By the end of his service in Weimar, Johann Sebastian Bach had become a well-known harpsichordist and organist. In 1717, the famous French harpsichordist Louis Marchand arrived in Dresden. Concertmaster Volumier, having heard about Bach's talent, invited the musician to compete with Marchand. But on the day of the competition, Louis fled the city, afraid of failure.

The desire for change called Bach on the road in the fall of 1717. The Duke released his beloved musician “with disgrace.” The organist was hired as bandmaster by Prince Anhalt-Keten, who was well versed in music. But the prince’s commitment to Calvinism did not allow Bach to compose sophisticated music for worship, so Johann Sebastian wrote mainly secular works.

During the Köthen period, Johann Bach composed six suites for cello, the French and English keyboard suites, and three sonatas for violin solos. The famous “Brandenburg Concertos” and a cycle of works, including 48 preludes and fugues, called “The Well-Tempered Clavier” appeared in Köthen. At the same time, Bach wrote two- and three-voice inventions, which he called “symphonies.”

In 1723, Johann Bach took a job as cantor of the St. Thomas choir in the Leipzig church. In the same year, the public heard the composer’s work “St. John’s Passion.” Soon Bach took the position of “musical director” of all the city churches. During the 6 years of the “Leipzig period”, Johann Bach wrote 5 annual cycles of cantatas, two of which are lost.

The city council gave the composer 8 choral performers, but this number was extremely small, so Bach hired up to 20 musicians himself, which caused frequent clashes with the authorities.

In the 1720s, Johann Bach composed mainly cantatas for performance in the churches of Leipzig. Wanting to expand his repertoire, the composer wrote secular works. In the spring of 1729, the musician was appointed head of the College of Music, a secular ensemble founded by Bach's friend Georg Philipp Telemann. The ensemble performed two-hour concerts twice a week for a year at Zimmerman's Coffee House near the market square.

Most of the secular works composed by the composer from 1730 to 1750 were written by Johann Bach to be performed in coffee houses.

These include the humorous “Coffee Cantata”, the comic “Peasant Cantata”, keyboard pieces and concertos for cello and harpsichord. During these years, the famous “Mass in B minor” was written, which is called the best choral work of all time.

For spiritual performance, Bach created the High Mass in B minor and the St. Matthew Passion, receiving from the court the title of Royal Polish and Saxon court composer as a reward for his creativity.

In 1747, Johann Bach visited the court of King Frederick II of Prussia. The nobleman offered the composer a musical theme and asked him to write an improvisation. Bach, a master of improvisation, immediately composed a three-part fugue. He soon supplemented it with a cycle of variations on this theme, called it a “Musical Offering” and sent it as a gift to Frederick II.

Another large cycle, called “The Art of Fugue,” was not completed by Johann Bach. The sons published the series after their father's death.

IN last decade the composer's glory faded: classicism flourished, contemporaries considered Bach's style old-fashioned. But young composers, brought up on the works of Johann Bach, revered him. The work of the great organist was also loved.

A surge of interest in the music of Johann Bach and a revival of the composer's fame began in 1829. In March, pianist and composer Felix Mendelssohn organized a concert in Berlin, where the work “St. Matthew Passion” was performed. An unexpectedly loud response followed, and the performance attracted thousands of spectators. Mendelssohn went with concerts to Dresden, Koenigsberg and Frankfurt.

Johann Bach’s work “A Musical Joke” is still one of the favorites of thousands of performers around the world. Playful, melodic, gentle music sounds in different variations, adapted for playing modern instruments.

Western and Russian musicians popularize Bach's music. The vocal ensemble The Swingle Singers released their debut album Jazz Sebastian Bach, which brought the group of eight vocalists world fame and a Grammy Award.

Processed the music of Johann Bach and jazz musicians Jacques Lussier and Joel Spiegelman. I tried to pay tribute to the genius Russian performer.

Personal life

In October 1707, Johann Sebastian Bach married his young cousin from Arnstadt, Maria Barbara. The couple had seven children, but three died in infancy. Three sons - Wilhelm Friedemann, Carl Philipp Emmanuel and Johann Christian - followed in their father's footsteps and became famous musicians and composers.

In the summer of 1720, when Johann Bach and the Prince of Anhalt-Köthen were abroad, Maria Barbara died, leaving four children.

The composer’s personal life improved a year later: at the Duke’s court, Bach met a young beauty and talented singer Anna Magdalena Wilke. Johann married Anna in December 1721. They had 13 children, but 9 outlived their father.

In his old age, family turned out to be the only consolation for the composer. Johann Bach composed for his wife and children vocal ensembles, organized chamber concerts, enjoying the songs of his wife (Anna Bach had a beautiful soprano) and the playing of her grown-up sons.

The fate of Johann Bach's wife and youngest daughter was sad. Anna Magdalena died ten years later in a house of contempt for the poor, and the youngest daughter Regina eked out a semi-beggarly existence. In the last years of her life, Ludwig van Beethoven helped the woman.

Death

In the last 5 years, Johann Bach's vision was rapidly deteriorating, but the composer composed music, dictating works to his son-in-law.

In 1750, British ophthalmologist John Taylor arrived in Leipzig. The doctor’s reputation can hardly be called impeccable, but Bach grasped at straws and took a chance. After the operation, the musician’s vision did not return. Taylor operated on the composer a second time, but after a short-term return of vision, deterioration occurred. On July 18, 1750, there was a stroke, and on July 28, 65-year-old Johann Bach died.

The composer was buried in Leipzig on church cemetery. The lost grave and remains were found in 1894 and reburied in a stone sarcophagus in the Church of St. John, where the musician served for 27 years. The temple was destroyed by bombing during World War II, but the ashes of Johann Bach were found and transferred in 1949, buried at the altar of the Church of St. Thomas.

In 1907, a museum was opened in Eisenach, where the composer was born, and in 1985 a museum appeared in Leipzig.

• Johann Bach's favorite pastime was visiting provincial churches dressed as a poor teacher.
• Thanks to the composer, both men and women sing in church choirs. Johann Bach's wife became the first church choir member.
• Johann Bach did not take money for private lessons.
• The surname Bach is translated from German as “stream”.

• Johann Bach spent a month in prison for constantly asking for resignation.
• George Frideric Handel is a contemporary of Bach, but the composers did not meet. The fates of the two musicians are similar: both went blind as a result of an unsuccessful operation performed by the quack doctor Taylor.
• A complete catalog of Johann Bach's works was published 200 years after his death.
• A German nobleman ordered the composer to write a piece, after listening to which he would be able to fall into a deep sleep. Johann Bach fulfilled the request: the famous Goldberg Variations are still a good “sleeping pill”.

Aphorisms of Bach

• “To get a good night's sleep, you should go to bed on a different day than you need to wake up.”
• “Playing the keyboard is easy: you just need to know which keys to press.”
• “The purpose of music is to touch hearts.”

Discography

• "Ave Maria"
• "English Suite N3"
• "Brandenburg Concert N3"
• "Italian Influence"
• "Concert N5 F-Minor"
• "Concert N1"
• "Concerto for cello and orchestra D-Minor"
• "Concerto for flute, cello and harp"
• "Sonata N2"
• "Sonata N4"
• "Sonata N1"
• "Suite N2 B-Minor"
• "Suite N2"
• "Suite for Orchestra N3 D-Major"
• "Toccata and Fugue D-Minor"

INSTRUMENTAL WORKS

For organ

Preludes and fugues: C-dur, D-dur, e-moll, f-moll, g-moll, A-dur, d-moll, G-dur, a-moll, h-moll, C-dur, c- moll, C-dur, e-rnoll, c-moll, G-dur, a-moll, Es-dur.
Fantasies and fugues: g-moll, c-moll, a-moll.
Toccatas with fugues: F-dur, E-dur, d-moll (Dorian), C-dur, d-moll.
Eight small preludes and fugues: C-dur, d-moll, e-moll, F-dur, G-dur, g-moll, a-moll, B-dur.
Preludes: C major, G major, A minor.
Fugues: c-moll, c-moll, G-dur, G-dur, g-moll, h-moll (on a Corelli theme).
Fantasies: C-dur, G-dur, G-dur, h-moll, C-dur (unfinished).
Pastoral F major. Trio.
Passacaglia in C minor.
Concertos by Vivaldi (a minor, C major, d minor) and other authors. Konzertsatz C-dur.
Sonatas: Es-dur, c-moll, d-moll, e-moll, C-dur, G-dur.
Orgelbuchlein - 46 short chorale preludes.
Chorale variations: “Christ, der du bist der helle Tag (“You are all like a bright, clear day”); “O Gott, du frommer Gott” (“O you, sweetest one”); “Sei gegriisset, jesu gutig” (“I send greetings to you, my beloved one”) and others.
Canonical variations “Vom Himmel hoch, da Komm" ich her (“From the heights of heaven”).
Six chorales (“Schubler’s”).
13 chorales (the so-called “large”; the last of them is the dying one: “Vor deinen Thron tret"ich (“At the throne”).
Chorale arrangements “Preludes to the Catechism and other chants” (12 large and 9 small). Entered Part III"Klavieriibung".
Chorale arrangements (mainly from the youth period), not included in these collections.
24 chorale arrangements (Kirnberger collection).

For harpsichord

Small preludes (parts I, II) and fugues.
15 two-voice inventions and 15 three-voice symphonies.
"Das Wohltemperierte Klavier" ("The Well-Tempered Clavier")
I part 24 preludes and fugues. Part II 24 preludes and fugues. Fantasies and fugues (fuguettes): a-moll, d-moll, c-moll, B-dur, D-dur. Chromatic fantasy and fugue in d minor. The Art of Fugue (Die Kunst der Fuge).
Separate preludes and fugues.
Toccatas: fis-moll, c-moll, D-dur, d-moll, e-moll, g-moll, G-dur.
Fantasies: g-moll, c-moll, g-moll.
Fantasia Rondo in C minor.
Preludes (fantasies) c-moll, a-moll.
Suites: 6 French suites: d-moll, c-moll, h-moll, Es-dur, G-dur, E-dur.
6 English suites: A-dur, a-moll, g-moll, F-dur, e-moll, d-moll.

Klavierubung ("Klavier School"):
Part I. Partitas: B-dur, c-moll, a-moll, D-dur, G-dur, e-moll.
Part II. Italian Concerto and Partita (French Overture) B minor.
Part III. 21 Choral Prelude (also for organ), Prelude and triple fugue Es-dur, 4 duets: e-moll, F-dur, G-dur, a-moll.
Part IV. Aria with 30 variations (“Goldberg Variations”). “Capriccio on the Departure of a Beloved Brother” B major. Capriccio E major. (in honor of J. C. Bach). Aria variata alia maniera italiana (Aria varied in Italian
manner) a-minor. Minuets: G-dur, G-moll, G-dur (from the keyboard book of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach). Sonatas. Scherzo d-moll (variant e-moll).

HARVISIOR ARRANGEMENTS OF OWN WORKS

Sonata in d minor (arrangement of the 2nd violin sonata in a minor).

Suite in E major (arrangement of the 3rd violin partita). Adagio G major (from the 3rd violin sonata).

TREATMENTS FOR THE CLAVIER OF WORKS BY OTHER AUTHORS

Sonata in a minor (from “Hortus musicus” - “The Musical Garden” by I. A. Reinken).
Sonata in C major (from the same place).
Fugue B-dur (from the same place).
Fugue B major (arrangement of fugues by Erzelius).
16 concerts by Vivaldi, Marcello, Telemann, Johann Ernest of Weimar.

ORCHESTRA WORKS

Overtures (suites).
No. 1, C major; No. 2, h-moll; No. 3, D major; No. 4, D major; No. 5, g-moll. Symphony in F major.

6 “Brandenburg” concerts: No. 1, F-dur; No. 2, F-dur; No. 3, G major;
No. 4, G major; No. 5, D major; No. 6, B major.

Concertos for harpsichord with orchestral accompaniment: No. 1, d-moll; No. 2, E-dur; No. 3, D major; No. 4, A major; No. 5, f-moll; No. 6, F-dur; N° 7, g-molL

Concertos for two harpsichords with orchestral accompaniment: No. 1, c-moll; No. 2, C major; No. 3, c-moll.
Concertos for three harpsichords with orchestral accompaniment: No. 1, d-moll; No. 2, C major.
Concertos for violin with orchestra accompaniment: No. 1, a-moll; No. 2, E-dur; No. 3, d-moll.
Concerto for two violins with orchestral accompaniment in d minor.
Triple concerto for harpsichord, flute and violin with orchestral accompaniment in A-moll.
Concerto for violin and orchestra in D major (excerpt).

CHAMBER WORKS FOR STRINGS, WIND INSTRUMENTS AND ENSEMBLES

Sonatas and partitas for solo violin: g-moll, h-moll, a-moll, d-moll, C-dur,
E-dur. Suites (sonatas) for cello: G-dur, d-moll, C-dur, Es-dur, c-moll,
D major.
Sonata for two violins with numbers, bass C major. Four sonatas (“inventions”) for violin and cymbal: g-moll, G-dur, F-dur, c-moll.
Trio for two violins and cymbal, d minor. Sonatas for harpsichord and violin: H-moll, A-dur, E-dur, C-moll, F-moll, G-dur.
Suite for harpsichord and violin A major.
Sonatas for harpsichord and viola da gamba: G-dur, D-dur, g-moll. For lute (arranged for harpsichord): 3 partitas: g-moll, e-moll, c-moll. A little prelude in C minor. Prelude, Fugue and Allegro Es major. Fugue g-moll Sonatas for flute: solo - a-moll; for flute with numbers, bass: C-dur,
e-moll, E-major.
Sonata for flute and violin with numbers, bass G-dur. Sonata for two flutes with numbers, bass G-dur. Sonatas for harpsichord and flute: H-moll, Es-dur, A-dur. "Musical Offering"

SECULAR VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL GENRES

“Musical dramas” (“Dramma per musica”) and cantatas:

“Glide, playfully, the waves” (“Schleicht, spielende Wellen”).

“Discord defeated by changeable strings” (“Vereinigte Zwietrachb”).

“Arise, thundering sounds!” (“Auf, schmetternde Tone!”).

“Sound, timpani, and trumpets, blow!” (“Tonet, ihr Pauken, erschallet, Trompeten!”).
“Cupid the Traitor” (“Amore traditore”). For bass.

“The Contest of Phoebus with Pan” (“Der Streit zwischen Phobus und Pan”).
“About a life of contentment” (“Von der Vergnugsamkeit”).
“Aeolus the Peaceful” (“Der zufriedengestellte Aeolus”).
“The Choice of Hercules” (“Die Wahl des Herkules”).
“We have a new boss” (“Meg hahn en neue Oberkeet”) - Peasant cantata.
“Crowded with the glory of the heavenly century” (“Mil Gnaden bekronet”).
“Not knowing the sorrows of life” (“Non sa che sia dolore”).
“Let us watch in our cares” (“Lasst uns sorgen”).
“Oh wonderful song!” (“O angenehme Melodei”).
“Oh wonderful day, desired age” (“O holder Tag, erwunschte Zeit”).
“Hail, Saxony, blessed” (“Preise dein Glticke, gesegnetes
Sachsen").

“Let the chatter be silent” (“Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht”) - Coffee cantata.

“Everything is forward in a rush” (“Schwingt freudig euch empor!”).

“Hunting alone invigorates me” (“Was mir behagt”).

“Scatter you, shadows of grief!” (“Weichet nur, betrubte Schatten”).

“Dig up the grave, destroy that crypt!” (“Zerreisset, zersprenget, zerstoret
die Gruft!").

“Most Serene Leopold” (“Durchlauchster Leopold”).

SPIRITUAL WORKS

Masses: h-moll (High Mass); F-dur, A-dur, g-moll, G-dur (short).
“Magnificat” (“Magnifies my soul”), D-dur.
“Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus” (“Holy, holy, holy”): C-dur, D-dur, d-moll,
G-dur, D-dur.
Passion according to Matthew, according to John, according to Luke, according to Mark. Oratorios: “Rozhdestvenskaya” (in 6 parts); “Easter” (“Kommt, eilet und laufet” - “Hurry, oh people!”); “On the Ascension” (cantata no. 11). Motets: “Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied” (“ New song sing to him"), for 8 voices, B-dur. “Der Geist hilft unsrer Schwachheit auf” (“The high spirit will strengthen us”), for
8 voices, B major.
“Furchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir” (“Don’t be afraid, I’m with you!”), for 8 voices.
"Komm, Jesu, Komm!" “Come, Jesus!”, for 8 voices. “Jesu, meine Freude” (“My joy”), for 5 voices, e-moll. “Lobet den Herrri” (“Praise the Lord”), for 4 voices, C major. Spiritual cantatas (199 in total).
185 chorales for four voices from the collection of C. F. E. Bach. Spiritual songs and arias from the “Gesangbuch Schemellis” - “Book of Songs” by G. Schemelli (21) and from the 2nd “Notebook” (Notenbuch) by Anna Magdalene Bach (10).