Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach
1685–1750
17,063 works in the index
In the opening years of the 18th century, Dietrich Buxtehude, Bachâs crucial forerunner, held the coveted office of organist at St. Maryâs Church, in the city of Lübeck, a port city on the Baltic, not far from Hamburg.
Composition was not part of the job description of a Church organist, but as was the case with Buxtehude, and would be the case with Bach, it was by no means uncommon for the organistâs position to serve as a âday job,â and for the possessor thereof to use his musical talents both for ecclesiastical and for more secular compositions. In 1705, J.S. Bach walked roughly 250 miles to meet Buxtehude in Lübeck, to hear him play and âto comprehend one thing and another about his artâ as the younger man put it. He learned well. There exist marvelous recent recordings of Buxtehudeâs work, especially as performed by the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Coir. In these, the discerning listener can hear the characteristics of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach struggling to be born.
But of course it hadnât yet been born. Only the mature Bach could bring us what he brought us.
Catalogue