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Johann Sebastian Bach
A famous German composer of the Baroque period, who lived from 1685-1750.
731 Questions
When was the Leipzig Chorale BWV 659 composed by Bach?
BWV 659a (the original version) was composed in weimar between 1711 and 1713. By the end of his life he reworked it (this version is known as BWV 659) so that must have been in the late 1740s.
What is an anthem in the baroque period?
Anything composed by J. S. Bach is Baroque (late Baroque period) Some other famous composer of the Baroque era are: Dietrich Buxtehude (his Magnificat in D Major for SSATB Choir, Soloists Strings and Continuo (Oxford has an edition edited by John Rutter or you can download a free score at cpdl.org (choral public domain library - free scores by most composers of the baroque period can be found at this website or at imslp.org)
J. P. Sweelinck, Claudio Monteverdi, G. Allegri, Heinrich Schütz (Passion of St. John is beautiful - for soloists and a Capella choir, occasional ATTB, which could be done AATB if needed), J. Pachelbel, Henry Purcell, Alessandro Scarlatti, G.F. Handel (Messiah (Handel's epic masterpiece, also Chandos Anthems are to die for), Antonio Vivaldi (Gloria in D major, a masterpiece and widely known, Beatus Vir - RV598 - Credo RV591 - Lætetus sum RV606 all great works), G. B. Pergolesi (O Sacrum Convivium - Stabat Mater for Chorus and Stings - Glory to God in the highest for Chorus and Organ), and G. Tartini (Tantum Ergo for SSA or TTB a Capella)
What was Johann Straus's nickname?
Johann Strauss was nicknamed "the king of the waltz," or "the waltz king."
Read more: Johann Strauss Biography - life, family, story, mother, son, information, born, time http://www.notablebiographies.com/St-Tr/Strauss-Johann.html#ixzz1ESuggIim
Johann Sebastian Bach was known mainly as a keyboardist during his own lifetime, not as as composer. A small group of his students (and their students) and other connoisseurs (mostly in Berlin, where his son CPE worked) kept his music in memory during the second half of the 18th century, for both aesthetic and pedagogical value. The greatest Classical composers, at least W. A. Mozart (later in his career) and also Beethoven, studied his music and were partially influenced by him, as were prominent early Romantic composers Felix Mendelssohn (who pedagogical lineage traces directly to Bach), Frederick Chopin, and Robert Schumann. All these composers' styles become more contrapuntal after studying Bach's music. But still J. S. Bach was not widely known, not until the mid 19th century.
Wikipedia says the next part best:
"Bach's reputation among the wider public was enhanced in part by Johann Nikolaus Forkel's 1802 biography of the composer.[62] Felix Mendelssohn significantly contributed to the revival of Bach's reputation with his 1829 Berlin performance of the St Matthew Passion.[63] In 1850, the Bach Gesellschaft (Bach Society) was founded to promote the works; in 1899 the Society published a comprehensive edition of the composer's works with little editorial intervention."
Bach's works became more widely performed. An example: Mendelssohn performed Bach's works almost exclusively when he gave organ performances. As musical scholarship grew in the 19th and then 20th centuries, the greatness and skill of Bach's compositions became better known and appreciated.
This is just a partial answer; many things work together towards J. S. Bach's current status.
What is the value of a canceled of Johann Sebastian Bach postage stamp?
Dozens of postage stamps honouring J.S.Bach have been issued by many countries. The most valuable is, probably, a set of two issued by West Germany in1950 to mark the bicentenary of the composer's death. The subject is Bach's seal. The 10 pfennig green stamp is currently valued at *£70.00 mint, *£50.00 used. The 20 pfenning red stamp is vauled at *£80,00 mint, *£60.00 used.
*Gibson catalogue (2009 edition).
How did J S Bach sign his works?
With the three letters "SDG" which roughly translate soli deo gloria, or all glory to God.
Why did Bach name this concert Brandenberg?
He didn't. Original title was "Concerts avec plusieurs instruments" but because of dedication to margrave (some kind of high-ranked feudal border guard) of Brandenburg and it's rediscovery in archives of Brandenburg, concertos known as "Brandenburg Concertos".
How did the air-pressure of the church organs in 1600 work?
Organs of the period had what is now known as low wind pressure, typically between 2 and 3 1/2 inches on a water column. Some a bit lower and some a bit higher. Wind was raised by a man or men working bellows much like a common fireplace bellows but quite a bit larger. They were either pumped with the hands or feet. Sometimes several men were used to operate an array of bellows on large organs. The wind was conducted in rectangular wooden pipes to a reservoir or several reservoirs in large organs. These reservoirs held a reserve of wind for when many stops were pulled and large chords were played thus using more wind. From the reservoir(s) the wind then entered the wind chests upon which the sets of pipes were placed (in racks). The windchests contained a valve for each note on the keyboard. Individual sets of pipes were brought into play by moving long, narrow, thin, wooden strips called sliders. Each set of pipes had it's own individual slider. These sliders had one hole for each note / pipe and were sandwiched between channels, which had a valve for each note on the bottom, and boards upon which the pipes rested on the top (toeboard). The toeboards had holes bored into them to admit wind into the base of each pipe. When the sliders were moved so that their holes lined up with the holes in the toeboard, that set of pipes played. When it was moved so that their holes did not line up with the holes in the toeboard that set of pipes would not play - it was stopped from playing, thus the term "stop." The sliders were connected via levers and linkages to knobs mounted on the case next to the keyboard(s). Some modern organs still use this arrangement.
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Who was Bachs favorite composer?
Bach's favourite composer was George Frideric Handel. He [Bach] once said, "If I were to be any composer but myself, I would be Handel."
Which of Bach's pieces was performed in 1829 spurring a world-wide interest in his work?
St. Matthew Passion
What is the correct pronunciation for Jesu in Bach's Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring?
Traditionally it is pronounced as in Latin (YEH-zoo), but as this text is not the original I see no problem with singing it however you see fit; I have even heard the first word changed to "Jesus," which does make more sense than using Latin. The original text is "Jesus bleibet meine Freude" and the movement is taken from Bach's cantata BWV 147 "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben."
When did Bach Compose Goldberg Variations?
Nobody knows exactly, but since the Goldberg Variations were published in 1741, we can conclude that Bach likely wrote them sometime around then
What instruments did Bach play?
He was a virtuoso organist, who appeared to be more famous as an organist than a composer when he was living. It wasn't until after he died that he was hailed as a genius, and I would say rightly so.
J.S. Bach was an organist, a violinist, and a harpsichordist.
Who where J.S. Bach's rivals during his life?
He really had too few to mention. As a composer, Bach was known only in his immediate circle, and considered as good as anybody else, better than most. As an organist, he was considered the best in Europe, only Handel being placed in his class - and while Bach wanted to meet Handel, they never did.
Is it true that Cavatina the theme from the film The Deer Hunter is based on a tune by J S Bach?
No, that's not true.
Word goes that it derives from the Cavatina by Enrique Granados (1867-1916)
I do notice strong similarities in note patterns, transitions, and structure with JS Bach's Prelude in C Major. I think the connection is there, but you be the judge.
