Introduction

It is an undeniable fact that Johann Sebastian Bach is one of the most famous composers of all time. So much of his music has been transcribed for guitar that it holds significant importance and weight in the classical guitar repertoire. Aspiring concert classical guitarists should know at least one cello suite in its entirety, and many of his other works for violin also enjoy great prestige in the classical guitar world. He was born into an extremely musical family in Eisenach, Germany in 1685 and lived in various places around Germany until his passing in 1750. He is widely regarded as perhaps the finest composer the world has ever known. Of course this is subjective, but what is not subjective is his the sheer depth, breadth, and musical output accomplished during his lifetime.

He was a prodigious composer that composed hundred of compositions for virtually all instruments in popular use at the time in all combinations with the sole exception being Opera.

Musical Style

His musical style was heavily affected by his religious views and relationship with God, and as such it is of little wonder that he incorporated religious content in the hundreds of non-secular works including hymns, chorales, arias and recitatives. He was known to push the boundaries of modulation, which at the time was severely restricted because most baroque instruments needed to be tuned to specific keys and as such were not very flexible when it came to key changes. In fact, his desire to modulate forced improvements to the instruments of the time, and his notable composition The Well-Tempered Clavier is a testament to this.

Bach was also known to be meticulous in writing out ornaments to be used in his music. Many ornaments at the time were improvised by the individual player, however Bach bucked this trend, preferring to indicate exactly how the ornament should be played. A good example of this can be found in the Goldberg Variations’ aria.

Counterpoint is perhaps one of the most salient features of some of Bach’s compositions. Essentially, each part in counterpoint has it’s own defined melody. In many instances this may be a repetition of the melody played in another part – think of Three Blind Mice as a very simple example of this musical idea. Bach is undeniably the greatest counterpoint composer of all time. I have played Bach’s Fugue in E minor since I was 17 years old and it still fascinates me when I hear the melody re-enter in another register on the guitar. I personally don’t know how he kept it all sounding so beautiful because it could easily turn into a jumbled mess!

Pieces in this Course

Air on a G String

Bourree in E Minor

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring

Prelude BWV 998

Prelude BWV 1007

Notable Pieces

Chaconne

Mass in C Minor

Tocatta in D Minor

The Well-Tempered Clavier

Goldberg Variations

Let your fingers fly!

Josh

Course Information

Categories: Baroque Guitar Music

Tags: Baroque, Johann Sebastian Bach

Course Instructor

Joshua Rogers Author

A teacher and lover of all things guitar!