簡介
約翰•塞巴斯蒂安•巴赫（Johann Sebastian Bach） (1685年3月21日 - 1750年7月28日)，巴洛克時期的德國作曲家，傑出的管風琴、小提琴、和羽管鍵琴演奏家。巴赫被普遍認為是音樂史上最重要的作曲家之一，並被尊稱為“西方音樂之父”，也是西方文化史上最重要的人物之一。
巴赫出生於德國中部圖林根小城艾森納赫的一個音樂世家，在有生之年是一位著名的宮廷樂長，在德國萊比錫聖托馬斯教堂度過了一生中的絕大多數時間，同著名作曲家韓德爾和泰勒曼齊名。但由於古典音樂的風尚迅速轉向，巴赫的音樂成就長時間未得到應有的評價。雖然莫扎特、貝多芬等偉大作曲家均對巴赫的作品崇拜有加，但直到浪漫主義時代的重要作曲家孟德爾頌對他的作品進行發掘和推廣之後，經過幾代音樂家的共同努力，巴赫才逐漸獲得了今天的崇高地位。
巴赫是巴洛克音樂的主要代表人物，他的音樂將中世紀的秩序和嚴謹同文藝復興時期充滿激情的個人主義相結合，對後世的音樂產生了巨大的影響。
代表作
• 布蘭登堡協奏曲，BWV1046-BWV1051
• 小提琴協奏曲，BWV1041-BWV1043
• 十二平均律鍵盤曲集，BWV846-BWV893
• B小調彌撒，BWV232
• 馬太受難曲，BWV244
• 管弦組曲，BWV1066-BWV1069
• 哥德堡變奏曲，BWV988
• 無伴奏大提琴組曲，bwv1007-BWV1012
•巴赫的主要作品列表
Vocal music (sacred) Masses Mass in B Minor, BWV 232 (1724–46); 4 Lutheran masses (i.e., containing only settings of the “Kyrie” and the “Gloria”).
Oratorios Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 (1734); Easter Oratorio (Kommt, eilet und laufet, BWV 249; 1725); Ascension Oratorio (1735).
Passions Passion According to St. John, BWV 245 (1724); Passion According to St. Matthew, BWV 244 (1729).
Cantatas About 200 for different Sundays in the church year (1707 to after 1735; mainly 1714–16, 1723–27), mostly for soloist(s), chorus, and orchestra.
Other works Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243; 7 motets; 2 “Sanctus” settings (3 others based on works by other composers); 186 independent chorale harmonizations.
Vocal music (secular) Cantatas 24, mostly for soloists, chorus, and orchestra—all on German texts, except 2 Italian; they include the Coffee Cantata (Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht, BWV 211; c. 1732) and the Peasant Cantata (Mer hahn en neue Oberkeet, BWV 212; 1742).
Other works 5 songs for voice and continuo and 1 quodlibet for 4 voices and continuo.
Orchestral music Concerti 6 Brandenburg Concertos (pre-1721); 2 concerti for violin and orchestra and 1 for 2 violins (1717–23); 7 for 1 harpsichord, 3 for 2 harpsichords, 2 for 3, and 1 for 4 harpsichords; 1 concerto for harpsichord, flute, and violin.
Other orchestral works 4 overtures (suites); Sinfonia in D Major (incomplete).
Chamber music Sonatas 2 for violin and continuo; 2 for flute and continuo; 1 for 2 flutes and harpsichord; 2 for flute, violin, and continuo; 3 for harpsichord and flute; 3 for harpsichord and viola da gamba; 6 for harpsichord and violin.
Other chamber music Das musikalisches Opfer (1747) for strings, flute, and continuo; 6 unaccompanied sonatas (partitas) for violin (c. 1720); 6 unaccompanied suites (sonatas) for cello (c. 1720).
Organ music Chorale preludes 140 chorale preludes including the Orgelbüchlein (mainly 1714–16); Clavierübung, vol. 3 (1739), and Schübler Chorale Preludes (1746 or later).
Fugues 18 preludes and fugues (1708–17, 1729–39), including the “St. Anne” in E-flat major and the “Wedge” in E minor; 5 toccatas and fugues (1700–17), including the “Dorian” in D minor; 3 fantasies and fugues; 4 other fugues.
Other organ compositions Variations on the chorale Vom Himmel hoch (1747); Passacaglia in C Minor, BWV 582 (1708–17); 4 concerti; 7 fantasies; 4 preludes; 6 sonatas (trios); 3 trios.
Harpsichord music Collections Clavierübung, vol. 1 (1726–31), 6 partitas; vol. 2 (1735), French Overture in B Minor and Concerto in the Italian Style; vol. 3 (1739), organ music with 4 “duets” for harpsichord; and vol. 4 (1742), Goldberg Variations. The Well-Tempered Clavier, 2 vol. (1722 and 1742), containing 48 preludes and fugues, 1 in each key in each book; Clavierbüchlein (1720), for Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, containing 15 2-part and 15 3-part inventions, 20 preludes, 2 chorale preludes, 2 allemandes, 4 minuets, a fugue, and an “applicatio”; Clavierbüchlein (1722) and Notenbuch (1725), both for Anna Magdalena Bach, containing marches, minuets, a musette, polonaises, etc.; 6 French Suites and 6 English Suites.
Other harpsichord works Aria variata in A minor; 2 capriccios; Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue; 5 fantasies, 2 with fugues; 12 Little Preludes; 4 preludes and 6 for beginners; 4 preludes and fughettas, 3 preludes and fugues; 2 sonatas; 4 miscellaneous suites; 7 toccatas and arrangements.
For unspecified instrument(s) Die Kunst der Fuge (1749); 16 fugues and 4 canons.
