Album 4: Bach (1685 - 1750)

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) is one of the greatest composers of all time, and his compositions are numerous and diverse. So it was really difficult for me to pick what I want to include in my list. But then I guess my goal is just to showcase the greatness, the genius, and the beauty of one's work.

My personal favourite Bach compositions are his Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin (BWV1001-1006) - it might be the composition of which I own the most versions of CD. I would probably put Nathan Milstein's DG version in the list if not for the fact that they totalled around 2 hours, and it feels weird to include just the Sonatas and not the Partitas, and vice versa.

His vocal works, including Cantatas, Passions and his Mass in B minor are great, as are his works for organ. I was also tempted to choose his orchestral work, in particular his two violin concertos and his double violin concerto. But I foresee that the next few items on the list will probably all be orchestral work. So I decided to go for his works for keyboard.

The Goldberg Variations (BWV988) was published in 1741, and is one of his best known composition for keyboard. According to legend, it is written for one of his pupils to help his employer sleeps. The piece contains one aria and 30 variations based on it, and, as with many other works of Bach, both complex and beautiful. There are many recordings of it, both on piano and on harpsichord.

Album 04: J.S. Bach - Goldberg Variations (Trevor Pinnock (Harpsichord))