Instrument Composer Editor Instrumentation Resources

Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach was a German Baroque composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist. During his lifetime he created a tremendous body of sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments. J.S. Bach is well known not only for introducing new musical forms to the era, but also enriched the prevailing German style with a robust contrapuntal technique, an unrivalled control of harmonic and motivic organisation, and the adaptation of rhythms, forms, and textures from abroad, particularly from Italy and France.

Bach's musical talents as a well-rounded musician were quite formidable. However, he was most well-known and highly-respected throughout Europe in his capacity as an organist. Ironically, it was not until well after his death that he was widely-recognized as a great composer. Today he is considered one of greatest composers of the Baroque period.

Revered for their intellectual depth, technical command and artistic beauty, Bach's works include the Brandenburg Concertos, the Goldberg Variations, the Partitas, The Well-Tempered Clavier, the Mass in B minor, the St Matthew Passion, the St John Passion, the Magnificat, the Musical Offering, The Art of Fugue, the English and French Suites, the Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin, the Cello Suites, more than 200 surviving cantatas, and a similar number of organ works, including the famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor and Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, and the Great Eighteen Chorale Preludes and Organ Mass.

Exclusive Bach Scores for Strings from Ovation Press