Bach and the Organ

Donald Macleod journeys through Bach’s early career as an organist, which took him from Eisenach to Weimar.

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’s 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.

In this first programme Donald Macleod takes us from Bach's first childhood encounters with the organ, through to his move to Weimar and a visit to Dresden where he was asked to take part in a musical play-off against the French keyboard player Louis Marchand, a musical competition that had a surprising result.

Brandenburg Concerto No 3, BWV 1048 (ohne Satzbezeichnung)
The English Concert
Trevor Pinnock, director

Sonata No 2 in C minor, BWV 526
Peter Hurford, organ

Prelude and Fugue in G major, BWV 550
Simon Preston, organ

Christen, ätzet diesen Tag, BWV 63
Claron McFadden, soprano
Sally Bruce-Payne, alto
James Gilchrist, tenor
Peter Harvey, bass
The Monteverdi Choir
The English Baroque Soloists
John Elliot Gardiner, conductor

Produced by Luke Whitlock, for BBC Wales