Music. Learn, enjoy, appreciate.

As the composer of some of the most famous works of the classical repertoire, Johann Sebastian Bach has influenced perhaps more composers than any other figure in classical music. Yet he lived a quiet life, surrounded by the family he loved, and little-known in greater musical circles.

During this course, we will examines Bach’s life and music, illustrated by portraits, readings from his letters, and examples of his music.

Outcomes

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• identify some aspects of Bach’s musical style
• describe how Bach’s music is related to the Baroque period
• identify some of the genres of music composed by Bach
• list some of Bach’s major works, and describe their place in his musical output
• describe the main periods of Bach’s career
• list some significant events in the life of Bach.

Content

Topics we explore

• What do we think of when we think about Bach?
• Bach’s place in music history
• Bach’s musical style: what makes Bach sound like Bach
• The Baroque period: Music in Bach’s time
• Major events in the life of Bach
• The early years (1685-1708)
• St Michael’s School
• Bach in Arnstadt
• Lubeck and Buxtehude’s daughter
• Mühlhausen
• Bach and Maria Barbara
• Weimar (1708-1717)
• Bach’s earliest compositions
• Cöthen (1717-1723)
• The Well-Tempered Clavier
• Maria Barbara’s death
• The Cello Su