Life and Works of Johann Sebastian Bach
6/7/2011 - 7/26/2011
Tuesday 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
This course will explore the hallmark of Bach’s achievement: the unique marriage of consummate craftsmanship and intense spirituality. We will examine the depth and complexity of the preludes, fugues, and suites for keyboard, the Brandenburg concerti, and his sacred masterpieces, the Mass in B Minor and the St. Matthew Passion. We will discuss his phenomenal virtuosity, the sometimes surprising duties of a Kapellmeister, and his often contentious relationship with his contemporaries among the nobility and clergy. Finally, we will consider the impact of his tremendous legacy on subsequent composers in the classical and Romantic eras.