Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Toccata and Fugue, for organ in D minor, BWV 565 (BC J37): Toccata
2. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: Air
3. Prelude and Fugue, for keyboard No. 1 in C major (WTC I/1), BWV 846 (BC L80): Prelude in C major
4. Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049: Mvt. 1, Allegro
5. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Aria
6. Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, chorale prelude for organ (Schübler Chorale No. 1), BWV 645 (BC K22)
7. Concerto for violin, strings & continuo No. 1 in A minor, BWV 1041: Mvt. 1, Allegro Moderato
8. Cantata No. 147, 'Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben,' BWV 147 (BC A174): Jesus bleibet meine Freude (Jesu, joy of man's desiring)
9. Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 4 in A major, BWV 1055: Mvt. 1, Allegro
10. Suite for solo cello No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: Bourée I & Bourée II
11. Concerto for oboe & violin (or 2 violins), strings & continuo (reconstruction), BWV 1060R: Mvt. 2, Adagio
12. Mass in B minor, for soloists, chorus & orchestra, BWV 232 (BC E1): Crucifixus
13. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Praeludium
14. French Suite, for keyboard No. 5 in G major, BWV 816 (BC L23): Gigue
15. Prelude for lute in C minor, BWV 999 (BC L171)
16. Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050: Allegro
17. St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), for soloists, double chorus & double orchestra, BWV 244 (BC D3b): Wir setzen uns mit Tränen ni

Disc 2:

1. Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, BWV 1047: Mvt. 1, Allegro
2. Concerto for 2 violins, strings & continuo in D minor ('Double'), BWV 1043: Mvt. 2, Largo, ma non tanto
3. Partita for lute in E major, BWV 1006a (BC L171): Prelude
4. Cantata No. 208, 'Was mir behagt,' (Hunt Cantata), BWV 208 (BC G1, G3): Schafe können sicher weiden (Sheep may safely graze)
5. Sonata for viola da gamba & keyboard No. 3 in G minor, BWV 1029: Mvt. 2, Adagio (excerpt)
6. Italian Concerto, for solo keyboard in F major (Clavier-Übung II/1), BWV 971 (BC L7): Mvt. 1, Allegro
7. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Pastoral sinfonia
8. Concerto for violin, strings & continuo No. 1 in A minor, BWV 1041: Mvt. 2, Andante
9. Partita for keyboard No. 1 in B flat major, BWV 825 (BC L1)
10. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: Menuet
11. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: Badinerie
12. Concerto for oboe, violin, strings & continuo in F major (reconstruction), BWV 1053R: Siciliano
13. Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048: Mvt. 1, Allegro
14. Partita for solo violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: Allemande
15. Partita for solo violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: Gigue
16. Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 2 in E major, BWV 1053
17. Cantata No. 22, 'Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe,' BWV 22 (BC A48): Ertöt' uns durch dein' Güte (Sanctify us by thy goodness)
18. Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 5 in F minor, BWV 1056: Mvt. 2, Largo
19. Concerto for solo organ No. 2 in A minor (after Vivaldi Op. 3/8, RV 522), BWV 593 (BC J86): Mvt. 1, Allegro

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #48438 in Music
• Released on: 2000-06-13
• Number of discs: 2

Amazon.com
It is not possible to fit 36 Bach masterpieces on two CDs, so what Essential Bach does is present individual movements from across a range of the composer's work. The anthology is clearly aimed at the newcomer, and the absence of booklet notes to put the music in context is disappointing. We are only given titles, performers, and what films the extracts have been featured in, from Rollerball to The English Patient.

On the plus side, most if not all of the music is instantly recognizable, by melody if not by name. Everything from the Brandenburg Concertos to "Air on a G String" to the B Minor Mass and St. Matthew Passion is represented. Performances range from 1960 to 1993, encompassing both early instrument and modern orchestra interpretations by a wide variety of forces, including Sir Neville Marriner with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and Raymond Leppard leading the English Chamber Orchestra. Given such diversity the result is unavoidably a patchwork, albeit one made from the finest materials, and as such is perhaps best treated as a sampler to aid exploration of the vast legacy of one of the very greatest composers who ever lived. --Gary S. Dalkin, Amazon.co.uk

Customer Reviews

The greatest composer of all time!
This is truly a splendid collection of works by J.S. Bach. Covering a wide variety of sounds, tempos and textures, there's something here for everyone.

CD 1 begins with a dramatic orchestral version of Toccata in D minor, which is more commonly known as an organ piece. Then it shifts to the soft and soothing sound of Air (Orchestral Suite No. 3), followed by the heavenly melodies of Prelude in C major (a beautifully-played harp solo). Next comes the joyful-sounding Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 (1st movement), followed by a serene piano solo called Aria.

Other highlights on CD 1 include the cinematic-sounding Allegro moderato (Violin Concerto No. 1), the upbeat, richly textured Brandenberg Concerto No. 5 (3rd movement), and the exquisite guitar playing in Bourrees I & II (from Cello Suite No. 3) and Prelude in D minor.

Highlights on CD 2 include the respective 1st movements of Brandenburg Concerto Nos. 2 and 3, the brilliant, uplifting guitar melodies in both Prelude (Lute Suite No. 4) and Gigue (Partita No. 1), the cheerful piano solo in Allegro (Italian Concerto), the touchingly subtle harpsichord playing in Largo (Keyboard Concerto No. 5), and the mesmerizing Organ solo in Allegro (Concerto in A minor for organ).

For me, the only thing that prevents this album from being perfect is the omission of the 3rd movement of Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 and the 1st movement of Brandenburg Concerto No. 5. But it is still well-deserving of a five-star rating.

Quite simply the best sampling of J.S. Bach available.

Exquisite Essential Bach
Value and exquisite sampler of Bach on two CD's at an affordable price. Recorded by the likes primarily of Academy of the St. Martin-in-the-fields, Chicago Sympony, Boston Symphony, English Chamber Orchestra and with virtuoso performers as William Bennett, Heinz Hollinger, Pepe Romero, and Wolfgang Rubsam, one gets treated to wonderful Bach exerpts of all his fantastic breath and depth of chamber, symphony and choral works.

One will have to go to other places to find background on these marvelous compositions as the liner notes only list perfomer and date recorded.

Essential Bach
Great CD with lovely classical music! We now have 3 of the "essential" classical series and enjoy them all.