Bach's Greatest Works

[DavidW]

I think it's fine to list Art of the Fugue has an orchestral choice because so many like the work performed that way, that I feel it would be a disservice to them to deny them that as their tops just because it's a keyboard work.  Bach already has a catalog, this is not what this thread is really about.

[(poco) Sforzando]

You are absolutely correct. That is why I said my choice is a non-purist one. I listen to the orchestral version or the Simpson quartet version simply because I hear the voices more clearly.

Perhaps. But since Bach wrote hundreds of keyboard fugues, it's more than likely he did not expect all the voices to be heard clearly at all times. (There is a school of thought, wrong-headed IMO, that the goal of fugue playing should be always to bring out the subject and let the other voices fend as they may.) Fugue is rather a texture in which there is a fluid interplay of voices, where sometimes one voice is more prominent and sometimes voices disappear into the overall texture.

Oh, I am digressing? My bad. I don't really care.

[DavidW]

This is what we have so far (well more like as of 10 minutes ago), I've exluded large lists that broke the rules (only 3 per).  My evening update will clean this up to offer a uniform presentation with full names, and ordering by catalog #, for now this will have to suffice.

Cantatas

• Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4
• Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 62
• Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich, BWV 150
• BWV 54
• BWV 169
• BWV 170
• BWV 140

Vocal

• Magnificat in D, BWV 243
• Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist, BWV 454
• O Jesulein süss, o Jesulein mild, BWV 493
• Mass in B minor
• Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied BWV 225
• Jesu, meine Freude BWV 227
• St Matthew Passion BWV 244
• St John Passion BWV 245

Organ

• Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her canonic variations, BWV 769
• E Major Toccata, BWV 566
• C Minor Passacaglia, BWV 582
• Trio Sonata in E minor BWV 528
• Fugue in G minor BWV 578
• Leipzig Organ Chorales BWV 651-68

Keyboard

• Goldberg Vars, BWV 988
• Italian Concerto, BWV 971
• E Minor English Suite, BWV 510
• English Suite in D minor BWV 811
• Partita in E minor BWV 830
• Inventions BWV 772-86
• Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue

Solo/Chamber

• C Major cello solo suite, BWV 1009
• E Major violin solo partita, BWV 1006
• A Minor violin solo sonata, BWV 1003
• Violin Sonata in C major BWV 1005
• Cello Suite in C minor BWV 1011
• Musical Offering BWV 1079

Orchestral

• Brandenburg № 3 in G Major, BWV 1048
• Brandenburg № 4 in G Major, BWV 1049
• Brandenburg № 5 in D Major, BWV 1050
• Art of the Fugue
• Double Concerto in D minor BWV 1043
• Brandenburg No. 2 BWV 1047
• Concerto for Keyboard & Strings BWV 1052

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Cantata: the gorgeous Trauerode, BWV 198

Orchestral: violin concerto #1, BWV 1041, for that sublime slow movement

Vocal: Christmas Oratorio

Keyboard: WTC

Solo/chamber: Cello suite #4 in E flat, BWV 1010

[Marc]

Definitely not happy with the fact that one piece can only be mentioned once.

These works came up quickly (have they been mentioned?):
Cantatas BWV 106 (Actus tragicus), BWV 84 Ich bin vergnügt mit meinem Glücke & 125 Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin. And for organ the entire Clavier-Übung, dritter Theil.

The rest has been mentioned already, me thinks.

EDIT: not mentioned, though a personal favourite of mine is BWV 1001 (Sonata in G minor for violin solo). From the first bars a delight for the ears ..... and soul.

[Chaszz]

I would like to just list my all-time favorites in order of affection and no specific categories:

Musical Offering

Mass in B Minor

Violin Concerto in E Major

Chaconne from the Violin Partitia No. 2, in the Busoni piano adaptation

Concerto for Violin and Oboe (I believe this may be a modern adaptation of another concerto, but this is the way I know it), especially the spine-tingling slow movement

Magnificat in D

Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, the first movement with its incredibly beautiful keyboard cadenza

Orchelbuchlein

and of course many many more from the Bard of Harmony, but the above top my list.

[DavidW]

Concerto for Violin and Oboe (I believe this may be a modern adaptation of another concerto, but this is the way I know it), especially the spine-tingling slow movement

I think that the concertos for oboe, and for oboe d'amore are done by Bach himself and have their own bwv #.  I'd have to check...

[karlhenning]

Davey, YHM!

[Opus106]

I think that the concertos for oboe, and for oboe d'amore are done by Bach himself and have their own bwv #.  I'd have to check...

The original BWV 1060, which is thought to a be a concerto for oboe and violin is presumed lost, and it survives now as a concerto in C minor for two harpsichords. The index 1060(R) is sometimes assigned to the reconstruction in D minor of the original work.

[ChamberNut]

The Mozart thread is about ready to kick off the second phase, the more interesting one, and hopefully in a few days we'll be there too.  Like Karl, I will update to give lists to see where we stand and make further nominations easier.  Unlike Karl though I will abstain from listing, especially listing a huge #.

Huh?  What second phase? 

[DavidW]

The original BWV 1060, which is thought to a be a concerto for oboe and violin is presumed lost, and it survives now as a concerto in C minor for two harpsichords. The index 1060(R) is sometimes assigned to the reconstruction in D minor of the original work.

Oh I didn't know that!  Shuckins that's tricky!

[DavidW]

Huh?  What second phase? 

I thought Karl's plan was to start a separate thread to discuss the works on the list.

[ChamberNut]

The original BWV 1060, which is thought to a be a concerto for oboe and violin is presumed lost, and it survives now as a concerto in C minor for two harpsichords. The index 1060(R) is sometimes assigned to the reconstruction in D minor of the original work.

Interesting you mention this, Navneeth! 

On the Barry Lyndon soundtrack CD, the Adagio movement is played (version with 2 harpsichords), while the part played in the actual movie is the version for oboe (don't remember violin, but I guess it must be).

[ChamberNut]

Interesting you mention this, Navneeth! 

On the Barry Lyndon soundtrack CD, the Adagio movement is played (version with 2 harpsichords), while the part played in the actual movie is the version for oboe (don't remember violin, but I guess it must be).

On second thought, they might have even used a flute rather than an oboe in the movie, if memory serves me right.

[karlhenning]

I thought Karl's plan was to start a separate thread to discuss the works on the list.

Plan?  0:)

[karlhenning]

Gurn's on the thread. Davey, quick!  Specify J.S. Bach! J.S. Bach!

[DavidW]

Oh know!  He and Gabriel might quickly spam the thread with CPE Bach's Flute Sonatas!!

[Gurn Blanston]

Gurn's on the thread. Davey, quick!  Specify J.S. Bach! J.S. Bach!

Now, Karl, I'm not a total pedant.   I realize that you guys wouldn't be talking about the London Bach, or the Berlin Bach. Someday though....

[Gurn Blanston]

Oh know!  He and Gabriel might quickly spam the thread with CPE Bach's Flute Sonatas!!

Busted!  

(I was just looking up the Wq #'s. )

[DavidW]

Plan?  0:)

Karl wants to just bring a little anarchy to the forum.