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Life and Works: BACH, J.S. (Siepmann)
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Life and Works
J.S. Bach
Author and Narrator: Jeremy Siepmann
John Shrapnel as Bach
Other parts taken by Trevor Nichols, Ruth Sillers and David Timson
4 CDs
116-page booklet
Naxos 8.558051-54
ISBN: 1-84379-022-X
Although now beloved and revered by millions as the greatest composer who ever lived, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was best known in his lifetime as an organist, and was eclipsed in fame as a composer by two of his 20 children. For the last 27 years of his life he was a schoolteacher and choir director whose duties extended to meal supervision and dormitory inspection. Yet throughout his career he composed a vast body of music, which is amongst the most joyful, dancing and enrapturing ever written. This portrait-in-sound includes many examples of the music that made him immortal.
With compelling narration by Jeremy Siepmann, character portrayals by acclaimed actors, and the interpolation of over 25 substantial musical extracts reflecting the development of one of music's most enduringly awe-inspiring composers, we are transported back three centuries straight into the life of Johann Sebastian Bach. This innovative sense of immediacy is at the heart of this comprehensive audio-biography, depicting the life of a composer whose music is universally admired.
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Disc
1
Bach, Johann Sebastian

Life and Works
1.
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Family background and early years
00:08:39
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2.
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Music: Capriccio on the Departure of His Beloved Brother
00:03:32
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3.
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Bach and the organ
00:02:02
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4.
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Music: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565
00:10:04
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5.
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Bach in trouble
00:10:17
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6.
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Music: Trio Sonata in E flat, BWV 525
00:04:54
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7.
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Bach the husband and father
00:04:11
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8.
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Music: Vivaldi / Bach: Concerto in A Minor for Four Harpsichords
00:03:58
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9.
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Bach the young composer
00:02:12
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10.
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Music: Prelude and Fugue in A Minor, BWV 543
00:12:52
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11.
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Bach in Weimar (and in jail)
00:03:46
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12.
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Music: Prelude in E - Flat Minor (The Well - Tempered Clavier, Book I)
00:03:19
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13.
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Bach leaves Weimar
00:00:28
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14.
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Music: Violin Concerto in E Major (Finale)
00:02:39
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Disc
2
Bach, Johann Sebastian

Life and Works
1.
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Bach at Cothen
00:02:56
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2.
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Music: Concerto for Two Violins (Largo ma non tanto)
00:06:47
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3.
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Bach and the Brandenburgs
00:02:35
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4.
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Music: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D (first movement)
00:09:20
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5.
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From grief to joy though faith
00:01:27
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6.
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Music: 'Et Resurrexit' (B Minor Mass)
00:04:38
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7.
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New beginnings: Bach remarries and his family grows
00:02:09
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8.
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Music: Aria in G
00:03:46
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9.
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Goldberg Variations and Anna Magdalena's Notebook
00:00:51
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10.
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Music: Stolzel: Bist du bei mir
00:02:25
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11.
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Domestic happiness and the move to Leipzig
00:04:16
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12.
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Music: Magnificat
00:03:15
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13.
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Bach's duties at Leipzig
00:04:48
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14.
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Music: Canata No. 80 (Duetto)
00:03:44
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15.
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Bach the teacher
00:07:00
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16.
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Music: Sinfonia (Three - Part Invention) in E flat
00:02:46
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17.
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The great keyboard works with an educational agenda
00:00:16
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18.
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Music: Italian Concerto (last movement)
00:03:28
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19.
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A letter to the King
00:02:26
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20.
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Music: Cantata No. 147 (opening chorus)
00:04:25
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Disc
3
Bach, Johann Sebastian

Life and Works
1.
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Bach takes up the poet's pen
00:02:45
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2.
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Music: Partita No. 1 in B flat, BWV 825 (Courante)
00:03:01
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3.
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Bach's frustration at Leipzig
00:04:01
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4.
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Music: Singet dem Herrn, BWV 225
00:04:50
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5.
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Frustrations intensify
00:03:25
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6.
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Music: St John Passion (opening chorus)
00:08:30
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7.
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Bach's efforts to leave Leipzig
00:06:12
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8.
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Music: Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 (first movement)
00:03:52
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9.
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The King of Poland's jubilee
00:02:07
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10.
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Music: Suite No. 3 in D, BWV 1068
00:06:18
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11.
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The Ernesti affair
00:09:05
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12.
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Music: Prelude in D Major, BWV 532
00:05:30
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13.
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Adolf Scheibe's scathing views on Bach
00:03:05
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14.
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Music: Concerto in C for Three Harpsichords (Finale)
00:04:26
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Disc
4
Bach, Johann Sebastian

Life and Works
1.
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Bach and opera
00:02:29
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2.
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'Coffee' Cantata (excerpts)
00:07:40
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3.
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'Peasant' Cantata (excerpts)
00:15:42
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4.
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The twilight years
00:04:57
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5.
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Music: The Art of Fugue
00:03:00
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6.
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Bach's visit to Frederick the Great
00:10:33
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7.
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Music: The Musical Offering
00:06:07
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8.
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Decline and death
00:08:04
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9.
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Music: Mass in B Minor
00:02:21
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Total Playing Time:
04:34:11
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