Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos and The Well-Tempered Clavier….

In our last Bach blog we discussed his life between age 23 and 38. It was during this time he wrote 2 of his most famous works. The 6 Brandenburg Concertos and The Well-Tempered Clavier. So what was it that made these 2 such iconic works….

The Brandenburg Concertos

This is a collection of 6 concertos, all for a different line up of instruments. A concerto is an instrumental work for one or more solo instruments accompanied by an orchestra. Throughout the 6 concertos Bach featured many solo instruments, including, trumpet, violin, recorder, harpsichord. All with difficult passages that required great technique. These concertos are so highly regarded due to the virtuoso style that is required, the different array of instruments, the use of solo and group texture and the emotion that can be felt in each movement….. they really were far ahead of their time!

The Well-Tempered Clavier

This is a book of 24 preludes and fugues, for keyboard instruments, in all the major and minor keys. Bach created this as an educational work, containing different styles and techniques to aid a students development. It is believed Mozart may even have studied from this book! It was a hugely influential work that is still used in piano lessons today…