Johann Sebastian Bach Essentials
A godfather of counterpoint and harmony, Johann Sebastian Bach dates from the Baroque period, though his music seems unable to be contained by any particular era. You may have encountered the Goldberg Variations, the Brandenburg Concertos, or his two great Passions—the St Matthew and St John—but there is always more to discover in his vast output. There are always new interpretive approaches to cherish too, in the recordings of performers as diverse as cellist Yo-Yo Ma, harpsichordist Jean Rondeau, violinist Hilary Hahn and conductor Simon Rattle. When musicians tire of complexity for its own sake, they often go ‘back to Bach’ to seek inspiration in the composer’s every note and to wonder at the boundless beauty tied up in music of such intricacy.
