大象传媒

Donald Macleod explores Bach through the window of his business dealings.

Johann Sebastian Bach is often acknowledged as one of the greatest composers of all time and yet, during his lifetime, he was often more famous as an organist. Bach became very much in demand as a performer and a teacher. He was often asked to advise on the design and renovation of expensive church instruments. He composed a great deal of music for organ and was particularly productive during his twenties and early thirties when working at the court in Weimar. All this week Donald Macleod examines Bach鈥檚 life and music through the lens of his life-long fascination with the organ, focusing particularly on his time in Weimar and exploring his role as performer organist, teacher, servant, entrepreneur and composer

Much of what we know about Bach's early career has been preserved in the accounts and contracts written at the institutions where he worked. In this programme Donald Macleod explores what these sources can tell us about Bach and the world of business. Bach had already demonstrated his ambitious and determined nature from an early age; aged 20, he had undertaken a walk of 250 miles to hear the greatest organ virtuoso of the day, Buxtehude. Bach remained in L眉beck far longer than he should have, and was taken to task on his return for abandoning his duties. Bach argued that his visit to hear Buxtehude had greatly helped him develop as a musician. He quickly worked through appointments at Arnstadt, M眉hlhausen, and then Weimar. Each new job brought better prospects and an improved salary. Bach negotiating skills extended to using a job offer from Halle to bargain for in increase his salary and status from his current employer, the Duke of Saxe-Weimar.

Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542
Marie-Claire Alain, organ

Concerto for two violins and strings in D minor, BWV 1043
Simon Standage, violin & director
Micaela Comberti, violin
Collegium Musicum 90

Toccata and Fugue in D minor (Dorian), BWV 538
Carlo Curley, organ

St Matthew Passion, BWV 244
Nicholas Mulroy (Evangelist), tenor
Dunedin Consort and Players
John Butt, Director

Produced by Luke Whitlock, for 大象传媒 Wales