Johann Sebastian Bach: The Sublime, Creative Imagination

• Week 1
  Germany, after the 30 Years’ War, continued to recover slowly during Bach’s lifetime. Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism and Calvinism vied for religious and cultural dominance. Bach’s family tree shows multiple generations of musicians. We’ll explore the diversity of styles, locations, early influences and first important works. 
• Week 2
  Bach mastered a vast list of general categories, including solo, instrumental and vocal works, sacred and secular, among his 1,100+ still-existing works. Through highlights and examples, we’ll delve into the terms “partita,” “prelude,” “cantata,” “passion,” “concerto,” “oratorio” and “suite” as used in Bach’s time and especially the term often associated with Bach: “fugue,” and its relationship to “canon.” 
• Week 3
  We learn about the women in Bach’s life, with whom he shared numerous children, especially his unique and talented second wife, Anna Magdalena, who supported and inspired him. Additionally, we’ll credit the women who played important and special roles in the rediscovery of Bach’s long-forgotten legacy. His famous four sons merit individual attention. We’ll also consider the importance of Martin Luther and the influence of pietism: Bach used hymns, many by Luther himself, in numerous sacred works.
• Week 4
  Bach “borrowed” and parodied other composers, and freely transcribed his own works. The famous Brandenburg Concertos cover nearly the entire gamut of baroque-style concertos and show fascinating variety. A prominent influence of French baroque culture came to Germany, and Bach often used popular French dance styles, even in sacred works. Could one dance to a movement of a cantata or passion?  
• Week 5
  We’ll discuss the history and details of two of the many portraits of Bach known to the public. We then trace Bach’s visit to Potsdam and the court of Frederick the Great, where Bach’s son, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, was employed, which led to the birth of the Musical Offering. The Christmas Oratorio and Magnificat will be highlighted.
• Week 6
  Nearby Dresden, a thriving music centre, especially for Italian opera, was an attraction for Bach. Although a Catholic city, Lutheran Bach chose to seek a position using the now-famous B Minor Mass as his application. The great passions, St. Matthew and St. John have become the dual pinnacles of Bach’s work. The Art of the Fugue became significant in the twilight of Bach's life. 

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

• Appreciate the larger context of Bach’s music and his times
• Better understand how to listen and engage with the music in its diversity
• Recognize Bach’s universal importance as an innovator and how he influenced the entire Western world’s musical landscape

• Lectures
• Participation in discussions
  
• Supplementary resources accessed through Canvas
  
• Reflective essay (applicable only to certificate students)

No textbook is required. We will provide all course materials online.