Bach - Man Of Passion

Johann Sebastian Bach has long been called 'the fifth evangelist', his music displaying a sense of fervent devotion to the biblical texts he set. His ambition to compose vast cycles of sacred music for every feast in the church year, has left us with over 200 cantatas as well as magnificent choral works including the St. John and St. Matthew Passion, Christmas Oratorio and B Minor Mass. He is heralded as one of the greatest composers of all time, his music finding a place within the hearts and souls of all those who experience it.

But who was the man behind the music? What did he think, feel and believe? What inspired him and what drove him to write such ground-breaking compositions?

Professor John Butt, Bach scholar and director of the Dunedin Consort explores Bach's life and work. He considers the composer's motivation and his character speaking to composers and musicians in order to delve into Bach's personality and purpose. Gathering together the evidence available to us today, he attempts to reconstruct something of this musical great in all his complexity; this man who revolutionised the music of his time but, all the while, looked beyond, dedicating each composition 'to the glory of God alone'.

Producer: Katharine Longworth

MUSIC:

Ei! wie schmeckt der Coffee sü߀e

JS Bach: Coffee Cantata, BWV 211

Christopher Hogwood

The Academy of Ancient Music

Soprano: Emma Kirkby

C Major Prelude

JS Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1

Badinerie

JS Bach: Suite No.2 in B Minor

Sir Neville Marriner

Academy Of St Martin-in-the-Fields

Aus Liebe

JS Bach: St Matthew Passion, BWV 244

Jeffrey Thomas

American Bach Soloists

Soprano: Catherine Bott

Erbarme dich mein Gott

Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Concentus musicus Wien

Alto: Bernarda Fink

Das Wort sie sollen lassen stahn

JS Bach: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott, BWV 80

Masaaki Suzuki

Bach Collegium Japan

Herr, dein Mitleid, dein Erbarmen

JS Bach: Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248

Stephen Layton

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Trinity College Choir Cambridge

Soprano: Katherine Watson

Bass: Matthew Brook

Bereite dich, Zion, mit z䀀rtlichen Trieben

Countertenor: Iestyn Davies

JS Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007

Oeffne dich

JS Bach: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 61

City Bach Collective

Soprano: Nicola Corbishley

Organ: Simon Lloyd

Herr, unser Herrscher,dessen Ruhm

JS Bach: St. John Passion BWV 245

Kyrie Eleison

JS Bach: Mass in B Minor, BWV 232

Dunedin Consort and Players

Wir setzen uns mit Tr䀀nen nieder

Dunedin Consort & Players

JS Bach: Suite No. 2 in B Minor

The Swingle Singers.

Professor John Butt explores the life and work of Johann Sebastian Bach.