The J. S. Bach Files Podcast

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Ever wanted to take a closer look at the music of J. S. Bach? The J. S. Bach Flies might make that a little easier.

Terence J. O'Grady


    • Mar 14, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 56m AVG DURATION
    • 50 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The J. S. Bach Files Podcast

    Episode 50: Bach's “Art of Fugue,” BWV 1080

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2022 51:20


    We'll look at some of the fugues from Bach's “Art of Fugue,” BWV 1080.

    art bach fugue bwv art of fugue
    Episode 49: Bach's “Musical Offering,” BWV 1079

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2022 55:31


    We'll look at the ricercars, trio sonata and canons of the “Musical Offering.”

    Episode 48: Bach's “Organ Mass” (Clavier-Ubung III)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2022 57:47


    We'll look at Bach's “Organ Mass” (Clavier-Ubung or “Keyboard Practice” III) including the Trinity Prelude and Fugue and a sampling of the chorale preludes contained in the collection.

    Episode 47: Bach‘s Cantatas for Alto Soloist

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2021 54:19


    We'll focus on BWV 35, “Spirit and Soul Become Confused,” and BWV 170, “Contented Peace.”

    Episode 46: Bach's Partitas, BWV 825-830

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2021 58:42


    We'll focus on Bach's Partita No. 4 in D major, BWV 828, but also take a look at the opening movements of the other five partitas.  

    Episode 45: Bach's Cantatas for Bass Soloist

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2021 55:59


    We'll look at “Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen,” BWV 56 (“Gladly I will carry the Cross-Staff”), and “Ich Habe Genung,” BWV 82 (“I have enough”).

    Episode 44: Bach's Music for Lute

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2021 47:30


    We'll focus on the Suite in E Minor, BWV 996, and the Suite in C Minor, BWV 997.

    Episode 43: Bach's Trio Sonatas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2021 45:42


    We'll look at two of Bach's trio sonatas: the Sonata in G major for Two Flutes, BWV 1039; and Bach's Sonata in Eb for organ, BWV 525, in both the original and a trio sonata version.

    Bach's Cantatas for Soprano: BWV 199 & BWV 52

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2021 52:14


    We'll look at two of Bach's cantatas for soprano soloist: BWV 199, “My Heart Swims in Blood,” and BWV 52, “False World, I Do Not trust you.”

    Episode 41: Bach's Toccatas for Keyboard

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2021 48:57


    We’ll focus on the Toccata in D major, BWV 912, and the Toccata in C minor, BWV 911.

    Episode 40: Bach's St. Matthew Passion, part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2021 67:20


    We'll look at part 2 of the St. Matthew Passion.

    bach's st matthew passion
    Episode 39: Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2021 67:07


    We’ll look at part 1 of the St. Matthew Passion.

    Episode 38: Bach's Italian Concerto, BWV 971; French Overture, BWV 831; & Fantasie, BWV 906

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2021 44:17


    We’ll look at the Italian Concerto, BWV 971; the French Overture, BWV 831; and the Fantasie, BWV 906.

    Episode 37: Bach's Motets, BWV 225-231

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2020 66:36


    We’re going to focus on Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied (“Sing onto the Lord a New Song”), BWV 225; Lobet den Herrn (“Praise the Lord”), BWV 230; and Jesu meine Freund  (“Jesus, my Joy”), BWV 227. 

    Episode 36: Bach's Two- and Three-Part Inventions

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2020 44:34


    We’ll look at a sampling of the two-part inventions—Invention No. 1 in C major, No. 2 in C Minor, No 4 in D minor, No, 6 in E major, and No. 8 in F major. We’ll also look at two of the three-part inventions (or Sinfonia)—No. 3 in D major, and No. 9 in F minor.

    Episode 35: Bach's Sonatas for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord, BWV 1028-1029

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2020 53:49


    We’ll look at the Sonata in D major, BWV 1028, and the Sonata in G minor, BWV 1029.

    Episode 34: Bach's English Suites, BWV 806-811

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2020 50:06


    We’ll look at the English Suites, BWV 806-811, with a focus on Suite No. 2 in A Minor.

    Episode 33: Bach's Contemporaries--G. F. Handel. part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2020 62:48


    We’ll look at Handel’s instrumental music, including his keyboard sonata in A Major; his Sonata in G minor for Violin and Continuo, Op. 1, No. 6; his Concerto in Bb major, Op 3, No. 1; his Organ Concerto in F major , Op. 4, No. 4; and brief excerpts from the Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks.

    Episode 32: Bach's Contemporaries--G. F. Handel, part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2020 66:52


    We’re going to look at the Chandos Anthem No. 2, “In the Lord Put I My Trust”; the Coronation Anthem, “Zadok the Priest”; and parts of the opera “Julius Caesar in Egypt” and the oratorio “Jephtha.”

    Episode 31: Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2020 53:06


    We’ll look at Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003, and Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004.

    Episode 30: Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2020 58:09


    We’ll look at Sonata No.1 in F Minor, BWV 1001, and Partita No, 1 in B Minor, BWV 1002.

    Episode 29: Bach's Cantatas for Quasimodo Geniti Sunday

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2020 63:48


    We’ll look at two cantatas from Quasimodo Geniti Sunday, the first Sunday after Easter: Cantata BWV 67, titled in English Translation “Hold in Remembrance Jesus Christ,” and BWV 42, in English Translation "On the Evening of the Same Sabbath.”

    Episode 28: Bach's Early Works for Organ

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2020 70:18


    We’re going to look at various early organ works by Bach including Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 531; Prelude and Fugue in E Minor, BWV 533; “Little” G Minor Fugue, BWV 578; Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565; and Chorale Prelude BWV 599 from “Das Orgel-Buchlein.”

    Episode 27: Bach's Goldberg Variations, BWV 988

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2020 52:11


    We’re going to look at Bach’s famous Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, perhaps the most remarkable set of variations composed in the Baroque period.

    Episode 26: Bach's Contemporaries--G. P. Telemann, part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2020 83:03


    We’re going to surveyTelemann’s instrumental music, from unaccompanied works for violin to keyboard fantasias, solo sonatas, trio sonatas, quartets, and works for orchestra.

    Episode 25: Bach's Christmas Cantatas

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2019 59:04


    We’re going to look at two of Bach’s Christmas Cantatas, BWV 91, “Praised Be You, Jesus Christ,” and BWV 110, “May Our Mouths be filled with Laughter.”

    Episode 24: Bach's Contemporaries--G. P. Telemann, part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2019 67:57


    We’ll survey the vocal/choral music of G. P. Telemann.

    Episode 23: Bach's Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord, part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2019 63:19


    We'll look at two more of Bach's sonatas for violin with harpsichord obbligato: Sonata No. 5 in F Minor, BWV 1018; and Sonata No. 6 in G Major, BWV 1019.

    Episode 22: Bach's Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord, part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2019 56:50


    We'll look at two of Bach's sonatas for violin with harpsichord obbligato: Sonata No. 1 in B Minor, BWV 1014, and Sonata No. 2 in A Major, BWV 1015.

    Episode 21: Bach's Wedding Cantatas--BWV 202 & BWV 195

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2019 61:15


    We'll look at two of Bach's Wedding Cantatas: BWV 202 and BWV 195.

    Episode 20: Bach’s French Suites—No. 1 in D minor, BWV 812; No. 5 in G major, BWV 816

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2019 56:55


    We’ll look at two of Bach’s French Suites: No. 1 in D Minor (BWV 812) and No. 5  in G Major (BWV 816).

    Episode 19: Bach's Flute Sonatas---Sonata in E minor, BWV 1034; Sonata in B minor, BWV 1030

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2019 61:30


    We'll look at two of Bach's Flute Sonatas: Sonata in E minor, BWV 1034; and Sonata in B minor, BWV 1030.

    Episode 18: Bach’s Early Works for Keyboard--BWV 992 & BWV 963

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2019 55:03


    We’ll look at two of Bach’s early works for keyboard: “Capriccio on the Departure of His Most Beloved Brother,” BWV 992; and the Sonata in D Major, BWV 963.

    Episode 17: Bach's St. John Passion, part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2019 72:21


    We'll look at part 2 of Bach's St. John Passion.

    Episode 16: Bach's St. John Passion, part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2019 45:23


    We'll look at part 1 of Bach's St. John Passion, BWV 245.

    Episode 15: Bach's Unaccompanied Cello Suites Nos. 1 & 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2019 61:28


    We'll look at Bach's first two unaccompanied cello suites, No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007, and No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1008.

    Episode 14: Bach's Orchestral Suites, part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2019 49:43


    We'll look at the last two Orchestral Suites: No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068; and No. 4 in D Major , BWV 1069.

    Episode 13: Bach's Orchestral Suites, part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2019 54:24


    We'll look at the first two Orchestral Suites: No. 1 in C Major, BWV 1066; and No. 2 in B Minor, BWV 1067.

    Episode 12: Bach's Christmas Oratorio, part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2018 51:06


    We'll look at the final three sections of Bach's Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248.

    Episode 11: Bach's Christmas Oratorio, part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2018 60:39


    We'll look at the first three sections of Bach's Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248

    Episode 10: Bach's B Minor Mass, part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2018 55:59


    We'll look at the concluding movements of Bach's B Minor Mass.

    Episode 9: Bach's B Minor Mass, part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2018 54:56


    We'll take a look at the Kyrie and Gloria sections of Bach's famous B Minor Mass.

    Episode 8: Bach’s Concertos, part 4—“Triple Concerto,” in A Minor, BWV 1044; Harpsichord Concerto in F Minor, BWV 1056; Concerto for Two Harpsichords and Strings in C Major, BWV 1061

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2018 48:08


    We’ll look at our final three Bach concertos: the “Triple Concerto,” in A Minor, BWV 1044; the Harpsichord Concerto  in F Minor, BWV 1056; and the Concerto for Two Harpsichords and Strings in C Major, BWV 1061.

    Episode 7: Bach's Concertos, part 3--Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 4, 2 & 5

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2018 58:21


    We'll look at the three remaining Brandenburg Concertos, Nos. 4,2 & 5.

    Episode 6: Bach's Concertos, part 2--Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 3, 6 & 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2018 56:15


    We'll look at three of Bach's famous Brandenburg Concertos: Nos. 3, 6 & 1.

    Episode 5: Bach's Concertos, part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2018 58:26


    We'll look at Bach's three most famous violin concertos: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in A Minor, BWV 1041; Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E Major, BWV 1042; and Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra in D Minor (the "Double" Concerto), BWV 1043.

    Episode No. 4: Bach's Secular Cantatas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2018 55:35


    We'll look at three of Bach's most famous secular cantatas: BWV 208, "What pleases me above all is the lively hunt" (The "Hunt" cantata); BWV 211, "Keep quiet, don't chatter" (The "Coffee" Cantata); BWV 212, "We have a new overseer" (The "Peasant" Cantata).

    Episode No. 3: Bach's Sacred Cantatas at Leiplzig

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2018 62:37


    We'll take a look at some of Bach's sacred cantatas composed in Leipzig, notably BWV 68, "God so loved the world";  BWV 78, "Jesus, by whom my soul";  BWV 80, "A Might Fortress is my God"; BWV 140, "Wake up, the voice calls us" ("Sleepers awake");  and BWV 51, "Shout to Joy for God in every land."

    Episode No. 2: Bach’s Sacred Cantatas at Weimar

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2018 48:33


    Bach accepts a position at the court of Weimar and composes some of his most colorful cantatas. We’ll take a closer look at three sacred cantatas: BWV 182, "King of heaven, welcome"; BWV 31, "The heavens laugh";  and BWV 63, "Christians, engrave this day."

    Episode No. 1: Bach’s Earliest Cantatas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2018 35:57


    We begin with a quick overview of Bach’s early years and takes a closer look at some of his earliest scared cantatas, including  BWV 131, "Out of the depths I cry, Lord, to you"; BWV 4, "Christ lay in death's bonds"; and BWV 106, "God's time is the very best time," composed while living in Arnstadt and Muhlhausen.

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