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BACH: Man of Passion

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10/04/2017

BBC Radio 4 - BACH: Man of Passion

Professor John Butt explores the life and work of Johann Sebastian Bach.

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 süße
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 zärtlichen 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 Tränen 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.

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