The most sheerly beautiful moments in Bach's music?

[Domenico]

The single most glorious and perfect work has to be the Benedictus from the Mass in B Minor. A voice, a cello, a flute and Bach has given us the purity and eloquence.

Only that aria, and the Ingemisco from the Verdi Requiem moves me to tears every time I hear it.

[Marc]

This is best summary I can find.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bach_works

Good choice!

[hector murrieta]

BWV 996 in e minor - just because I'm working on it, hehehe!!! 

[Bulldog]

So much beauty in Bach, some personal faves...

-Gratias agimus tibi/Dona nobis pacem from the B minor Mass
-Leipzig Organ Chorales BWV 654, BWV 659 & BWV 662

Totally agree.  For me, the most beautiful Leipzig Chorale is BWV 656.

[Marc]

BWV 996 in e minor - just because I'm working on it, hehehe!!! 

I was such a lousy pianist, but I remember when I played the Bourrée as a kid, my entire body was moving. Sweet memories!

[Marc]

Goosebumps:

http://www.youtube.com/v/HFd8VBV5eCg

[king ubu]

Just stumbled over one of the many: Aria (Duetto) for soprano and alto "Gottes Wort, das trüget nicht" in Cantata BWV 167 "Ihr Menschen, rühmet Gottes Liebe".

[Ken B]

The reprise at the end of the Goldbergs.

[jlaurson]

http://www.youtube.com/v/ONE0s528hl0

http://www.youtube.com/v/NU-P-ToqlZI

Gottes Zeit... (Actus Tragicus)





J.S. Bach,  Actus Tragicus
T.Koopman / ABO
Challenge
German link - UK link

[Justin Ignaz Franz Bieber]

http://www.youtube.com/v/0bxt6WrhNxc

http://www.youtube.com/v/ClvoBwsJ5KQ

this whole cantata is pretty amazing but I guess the highlights are the soprano/oboe duet at 6:15 & bass recitative at 12mins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8g-9zXv1O8

There's also the sarabande from violin partita #2, loure from partita #3, allemande from cello suite #6, gratias agimus tibi (or dona nobus pacem) and cum sancto spiritu from his b minor mass...

[Phrygian]

It's challenging naming just ONE magnificent section of Bach's music, but here's one I always find transcendent (not my fave performance, which is JEG/EBS/Monteverdi Choir):  Et in Terra Pax from the Mass in B Minor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9DLMhcYBBE