Bach's Greatest Works

[Gurn Blanston]

Of course, it's not difficult to just own everything by Beethoven.

Well, actually it is, if you define everything as everything... Believe me, I tried...

[Opus106]

I'm starting to get the feeling that he's a bleeding chunks composer to some and an all consuming passion for others.

Ugh...that sounds like a description of Wagner. *With a condescending tone* Bach is no Reekhard.

Oh, and no list from me, sorry. I barely know Bach's works to contribute. Moreover, the thread's title includes the G word from which I'd prefer to stay far away. 

[DavidW]

Of course, it's not difficult to just own everything by Beethoven.

This must be a criticism of the outrageous pricing on the recent Bach Cantata cycles by Suzuki and Kuijken.  And let's not forget Hewitt's recordings of they keyboard works.  Yes it bothers us all Dave.

[Gurn Blanston]

David,
I am not fully up to date on what's been listed so far.

So here is my puny contribution:

Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue

Cello Suite #5

Concerto for 2 Violins

[DavidW]

Ugh...that sounds like a description of Wagner. *With a condescending tone* Bach is no Reekhard.

Oh, and no list from me, sorry. I barely know Bach's works to contribute. Moreover, the thread's title includes the G word from which I'd prefer to stay far away. 

What if I said "Bach's Greatest Works as a subjective opinion in case you are constantly trying to differentiate opinion from fact"?  Would that work?  Or do I need to make it "Favorite Bach Works por favor"?

Well Bach and Wagner both seem to polarize listeners.

[DavidW]

David,
I am not fully up to date on what's been listed so far.

So here is my puny contribution:

Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue

Cello Suite #5

Concerto for 2 Violins

My page 2 list hasn't changed much and those are all on there.

[Franco]

Well Bach and Wagner both seem to polarize listeners.

I'd say there many more who are repulsed by Wagner than Bach.  At least there should be.

[Gurn Blanston]

Well Bach and Wagner both seem to polarize listeners.

Well, I'm not exactly polarized on either of them, more like in the Northern Trade Winds on one and in the Antarctic Circle on the other...

[Dr. Dread]

Corrected 

Hmph.  

[Dr. Dread]

Well, actually it is, if you define everything as everything... Believe me, I tried...

Oh, you know what I meant.

[Gurn Blanston]

My page 2 list hasn't changed much and those are all on there.

Doesn't change the fact that I like them.

[Gurn Blanston]

Oh, you know what I meant.

Well, because it's you (even without an avatar I know thee), I'll let you slide.

[Opus106]

What if I said "Bach's Greatest Works as a subjective opinion in case you are constantly trying to differentiate opinion from fact"?  Would that work?

It might.

Or do I need to make it "Favorite Bach Works por favor"?

That's how they usually end up.

[karlhenning]

Hmph.  

Two days in a row of not pleasing MN Dave!  Argh! 

[Dr. Dread]

Two days in a row of not pleasing MN Dave!  Argh! 

[DavidW]

That's how they usually end up.

I think that would be pretty easy considering how much time and effort went into Art of the Fugue and WTC.  We can also judge how valuable Bach himself considered a work based on if he kept a pretty final draft or not.  Brandenburg Concertos and the Orchestral Suites for example he had carefully written up, and delicately added corrections to if anything happened to the paper.  Most of his works did not receive that kind of treatment.

[ChamberNut]

BWV 1044, perhaps? It's the concerto for harpsichord, flute and violin.

No, it was most definitely the BWV 1060

[(poco) Sforzando]

Oui.  Otherwise, we specify (e.g.) the Piscataway Bach

Who may be a very great composer, for all we know.
If you search http://msn.whitepages.com/ for Bach, Piscataway, NJ, there is indeed a Piscataway Bach.

[DavidW]

This is what we have so far.

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
• BWV 106 (Actus tragicus)
• BWV 84 Ich bin vergnügt mit meinem Glücke
• BWV 125 Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin
• the ever so gorgeous Trauerode, BWV 198 and don't you forget it!

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
• Christmas Oratorio

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
• Orchelbuchlein

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
• WTC

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
• Cello suite #4 in E flat, BWV 1010
• BWV 1001 (Sonata in G minor for violin solo)
• Violin Partitia No. 2 (*cough* it's BWV 1004)

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
• violin concerto #1, BWV 1041
• Musical Offering
• Violin Concerto in E Major (*cough* it's BWV 1042)
• Concerto for Violin and Oboe (*cough* BWV 1060R)

[DavidW]

I still need to compensate for Karl listing 15 freaking items on the Mozart thread, so I'll just list one per, excepting chamber.

Cantatas: bwv 147 duh, is Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring too popular?  The arias (and not just that one choral) are the most interesting and compelling parts though and the entire work as a cohesive whole is a magnificent masterpiece.

Vocal: Easter Oratorio because I love it, played by big band romanticized treatments, or lean HIP it's just swell music.

Organ: well I actually I need to listen more, and it's been awhile, so I'll pass

Keyboard: French Overture, and yes I did not put the entire Clavier-Ubung on the list (which French Overture is a part of right?) that's cheating, I forgot who did that now!!  Anyway French overture is delightful, charming music.

Solo/Chamber: sonata for viola da gamba bwv 1027 early Bach right? but excellent, love the sound of the instrument, it's beautiful even if not highly compelling drama like his later works I randomly chose 1027, I like them all.  I wanted to talk about flute sonatas or lute suites but I'll not be greedy.

Orchestral: Suite #2 I love it, enough said.