A bright start to this year’s music with an appreciation of the life and music of J S Bach - the composer of some of the most famous works of the classical repertoire, and who has influenced perhaps more composers than any other figure in music.
Better known during his lifetime primarily as an outstanding organ player and technician, the youngest of eight children born to musical parents, Johann Sebastian was destined to become a great musician.
Bach’s use of counterpoint was brilliant and innovative, and the immense complexities of his compositional style still amaze musicians today. Many consider him the greatest composer of all time.
Because of the vast number of compositions (1100 or so catalogued – goodness knows how many there are in total) time allowed only for a sampling of his musical output. Hence we named it “A Dégustation of Bach” and framed our selection of his music around the instruments he composed for and some choral work.
Our second programme in February saw us move down the years (just a little) from the “Baroque” period of Bach to the “Classical” era and the music of Mozart. Another prolific composer - but with only a little more than half the catalogued works of Bach - so again it was “smorgasbord” of Mozart music across the various genres he composed for, although with not quite the same volume of music to choose from, we were able to lengthen the time a little for our listening experience of the items presented.
Full programme notes of each of the two sessions together with links to the appropriate “Youtube” site for the music presented in February:
Better known during his lifetime primarily as an outstanding organ player and technician, the youngest of eight children born to musical parents, Johann Sebastian was destined to become a great musician.
Bach’s use of counterpoint was brilliant and innovative, and the immense complexities of his compositional style still amaze musicians today. Many consider him the greatest composer of all time.
Because of the vast number of compositions (1100 or so catalogued – goodness knows how many there are in total) time allowed only for a sampling of his musical output. Hence we named it “A Dégustation of Bach” and framed our selection of his music around the instruments he composed for and some choral work.
Our second programme in February saw us move down the years (just a little) from the “Baroque” period of Bach to the “Classical” era and the music of Mozart. Another prolific composer - but with only a little more than half the catalogued works of Bach - so again it was “smorgasbord” of Mozart music across the various genres he composed for, although with not quite the same volume of music to choose from, we were able to lengthen the time a little for our listening experience of the items presented.
Full programme notes of each of the two sessions together with links to the appropriate “Youtube” site for the music presented in February:
8th February 'Johann Sebastian Bach'
22nd February - Celebrating Mozart Week - 'Mozart'
Bill Squire
22nd February - Celebrating Mozart Week - 'Mozart'
Bill Squire
