BACH: Man of Passion
Documentary. Johann Sebastian Bach is considered to be one of the greatest composers of all time. But who was the man behind the music? John Butt explores Bach's life and work.
Johann Sebastian Bach has long been called "the fifth evangelist", his music displaying a sense of fervent devotion to the biblical texts he set. His ambition to compose vast cycles of sacred music for every feast in the church year, has left us with over 200 cantatas as well as magnificent choral works including the St. John and St. Matthew Passion, Christmas Oratorio and B Minor Mass. He is heralded as one of the greatest composers of all time, his music finding a place within the hearts and souls of all those who experience it.
But who was the man behind the music? What did he think, feel and believe? What inspired him and what drove him to write such ground-breaking compositions?
Professor John Butt, Bach scholar and director of the Dunedin Consort explores Bach's life and work. He considers the composer's motivation and his character speaking to composers and musicians in order to delve into Bach's personality and purpose. Gathering together the evidence available to us today, he attempts to reconstruct something of this musical great in all his complexity; this man who revolutionised the music of his time but, all the while, looked beyond, dedicating each composition "to the glory of God alone".
Producer: Katharine Longworth
MUSIC:
Ei! wie schmeckt der Coffee sΓΌΓe
JS Bach: Coffee Cantata, BWV 211
Christopher Hogwood
The Academy of Ancient Music
Soprano: Emma Kirkby
C Major Prelude
JS Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1
Badinerie
JS Bach: Suite No.2 in B Minor
Sir Neville Marriner
Academy Of St Martin-in-the-Fields
Aus Liebe
JS Bach: St Matthew Passion, BWV 244
Jeffrey Thomas
American Bach Soloists
Soprano: Catherine Bott
Erbarme dich mein Gott
JS Bach: St Matthew Passion, BWV 244
Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Concentus musicus Wien
Alto: Bernarda Fink
Das Wort sie sollen lassen stahn
JS Bach: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott, BWV 80
Masaaki Suzuki
Bach Collegium Japan
Herr, dein Mitleid, dein Erbarmen
JS Bach: Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
Stephen Layton
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Trinity College Choir Cambridge
Soprano: Katherine Watson
Bass: Matthew Brook
Bereite dich, Zion, mit zΓ€rtlichen Trieben
JS Bach: Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
Stephen Layton
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Trinity College Choir Cambridge
Countertenor: Iestyn Davies
Prelude
JS Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007
Oeffne dich
JS Bach: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 61
City Bach Collective
Soprano: Nicola Corbishley
Organ: Simon Lloyd
Herr, unser Herrscher,dessen Ruhm
JS Bach: St. John Passion BWV 245
Masaaki Suzuki
Bach Collegium Japan
Kyrie Eleison
JS Bach: Mass in B Minor, BWV 232
John Butt
Dunedin Consort and Players
Wir setzen uns mit TrΓ€nen nieder
JS Bach: St Matthew Passion, BWV 244
John Butt
Dunedin Consort & Players
Badinerie
JS Bach: Suite No. 2 in B Minor
The Swingle Singers.
Last on
Clip
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Nicola Corbishley sings Bach's "Γffne dich, mein ganzes Herze"
Duration: 03:46
Broadcasts
- Mon 10 Apr 2017 16:00ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
- Tue 6 Feb 2018 11:30ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4