K枚then Calls
Donald Macleod follows the trail of Johann Sebastian Bach as he makes his way in the world. Today, Bach鈥檚 courtly era, when he wrote his much-loved Brandenburg Concertos.
Johann Sebastian Bach is a towering cultural icon, a composer who might be seen as the poster boy for 鈥渟erious music鈥� and spent most of his career in the service of the church. But he played many roles in the course of his life, and could be funny, sassy, conniving, obstinate, and rebellious. This week, along with the 鈥渨orldly鈥� Bach, we鈥檒l get to know his secular music鈥� and follow his trail as he makes his way in the world, from courts to coffee houses, building a family, two-timing his bosses, and even a stint behind bars.
Today, Bach鈥檚 chapter in K枚then is full of plot twists: a career pivot, a princely patron, a tragedy nobody saw coming鈥nd a chance encounter which leads to some of his best-loved instrumental gems.
Prelude in D minor, BWV851
Aaron Pilsan, piano
Brandenburg Concerto No 5, BWV1050 (iii. Allegro)
Academy of Ancient Music
Richard Egarr, harpsichord/director
Cantata BWV134a 鈥楧ie Zeit, die Tag und Jahre macht鈥�: Ergetzet auf Erden
Damien Guillon, alto
Makoto Sakurada, tenor
Bach Collegium Japan
Masaaki Suzuki, conductor
Cello Suite No 2 in D minor, BWV1008 (Sarabande and minuets)
Jean-Guihen Queyras, cello
French Suite No 4 in E-flat major, BWV815 (1st-4th movements)
Murray Perahia, piano
Brandenburg Concerto No 4 in G major, BWV1049
Monica Huggett, violin
Rachel Beckett, recorder
Marion Scott, recorder
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Produced by Amelia Parker for 蜜芽传媒 Audio Wales and West
On radio
Broadcast
- Wed 15 Oct 2025 16:00蜜芽传媒 Radio 3
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