The most sheerly beautiful moments in Bach's music?

[Guido]

The most achingly beautiful Bach please...

My suggestions:

Aus Liebe Will Mein Heiland Sterben (especially that introduction on flute and two oboes...) and Erbarme Dich from the St. Matthew's Passion.

Sarabande from the Second Cello Suite in D minor

[Opus106]

C# minor fugue, Book 1

[ChamberNut]

The most achingly beautiful Bach please...

Sarabande from the Second Cello Suite in D minor

Great one Guido!  I also really like the Sarabande from Cello Suite # 5.

[Guido]

Yes that one is astonishing - one of Bach's most amazing movements, and in its way as great and powerful as the solo violin Chaconne - it is it's polar opposite, though its effect is just as strong. I wouldn't say it was as obviously beautiful as the other movements I mentioned above though (its beauty is a very strange beauty).

[ChamberNut]

Yes that one is astonishing - one of Bach's most amazing movements, and in its way as great and powerful as the solo violin Chaconne - it is it's polar opposite, though its effect is just as strong. I wouldn't say it was as obviously beautiful as the other movements I mentioned above though (its beauty is a very strange beauty).

I agree with you.  I just love the strong sonorities and vibrato? of the 5th Cello Suite Sarabande.  On some performances, it may be overdone, but when it's done just right, it sends me shivers!!!

[Coopmv]

I think there are many beautiful moments in Bach's music.  From WTC to Italian Concerto to Sonatas for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord to St. Matthew Passion, this grand master of all composers of the western world has created such a large body of monumental works that it is impossible to just zero in on one or two works.

Indeed, I found the track "Arie: Können Tränen meiner Wangen" in St Matthew Passion very beautiful and touching.  My personal favorite for this track was conducted by none other than Karajan and the BPO with Christa Ludwig singing the Alto ...

[prémont]

Difficult question (or answer) because Bach´s music abunds in beautiful moments.

The two Sarabande´s mentioned above (from Cello suite no.2 and 5) may be good contenders.
Others might be the Sarabande from he First violin partita b-mnor, or the First movement (Siciliana) from the Fourth sonata for violin and harpsichord c-minor.

[Guido]

Is anyone with me on the selections from the Matthew Passion? About as beautiful as music gets...

[hornteacher]

The slow movement of the Concerto for Two Violins.  Gorgeous intertwining of the two solo lines.  Also Bach's musical tribute to his first wife who died around the same time if I'm not mistaken.

[Coopmv]

The slow movement of the Concerto for Two Violins.  Gorgeous intertwining of the two solo lines.  Also Bach's musical tribute to his first wife who died around the same time if I'm not mistaken.

BWV 1041-1043 are some of the best violin works ever composed.  Indeed, we can find beautiful movements in just about most works ever composed by JS Bach.  This put Bach in a league all by himself. 

[karlhenning]

Indeed, we can find beautiful movements in just about most works ever composed by JS Bach.  This put Bach in a league all by himself. 

Without wishing thereby, to seem to serve only as a damper (for why should Bach not have an enthusiast thread?), there is no paucity of composers of whom can say, we can find beautiful movements in just about most works [he] ever composed.  In this regard, no, I should not consider Bach in a league by himself.

Thread duty:

His harmonization of O Jesulein süß! O Jesulein mild!  One of my best-loved musical rituals at Christmastide.

[Norbeone]

So many:

-So ist mein Jesus.... from the St. Matthew
-The return of the minor section in the violin chaconne, and also the part that has the repeated 'A' alternations shortly after
-the da capo of the aria in the Goldberg Variations
-the coda of the slow movement of Brandenburg no.1
-first Kyrie, the Et Incarntus Est, Agnus Dei and Dona Nobis Pacem from the Mass in B Minor
-Adagio from the Sonata for Violin and Harpsichord no.5
-Ricercar a 6 from the Musical Offering
-Contrapunctus I and XIV from the Art of the Fugue
-opening movement of Cantata 54 (Widerstehe doch der Sunde)
-Sarabande from the English Suite no.3
-Prelude and Fugue in B minor, Prelude and Fugue in Bb Minor from WTC I, and various fugues from WTC II
-slow movement from Keyboard Concerto in F minor
-slow movement from Keyboard Concerto in D minor


there are many more astonishing moments, of course!

[Opus106]

I don't even know why I replied to this thread with a single answer in the first place. It must've been a moment of drowsiness.

-the da capo of the aria in the Goldberg Variations

Oh, yes! It's so special.

[The new erato]

The slow movement from the concerto for two violins in D minor.

[Guido]

So many:

-So ist mein Jesus.... from the St. Matthew
-The return of the minor section in the violin chaconne, and also the part that has the repeated 'A' alternations shortly after
-the da capo of the aria in the Goldberg Variations
-the coda of the slow movement of Brandenburg no.1
-first Kyrie, the Et Incarntus Est, Agnus Dei and Dona Nobis Pacem from the Mass in B Minor
-Adagio from the Sonata for Violin and Harpsichord no.5
-Ricercar a 6 from the Musical Offering
-Contrapunctus I and XIV from the Art of the Fugue
-opening movement of Cantata 54 (Widerstehe doch der Sunde)
-Sarabande from the English Suite no.3
-Prelude and Fugue in B minor, Prelude and Fugue in Bb Minor from WTC I, and various fugues from WTC II
-slow movement from Keyboard Concerto in F minor
-slow movement from Keyboard Concerto in D minor


there are many more astonishing moments, of course!

Thanks for these - I'll have to search many of them out.

[hornteacher]

The slow movement from the concerto for two violins in D minor.

Is there an echo in here?   

[Coopmv]

Is there an echo in here?   

You are in en echo chamber with time delay   

[Norbeone]

Is there an echo in here?   

Maybe some imitative counterpoint   

[Coopmv]

Gavrilov's playing of Concerto, BWV 1056 in f: II: Largo on this CD is just absolutely beautiful ...     

[The new erato]

Maybe some imitative counterpoint   

Aka a canon.