Lectures

• 

  

  1. Bach’s Musical World

  

  In our introductory lecture, Samuel Andreyev explains why Johann Sebastian Bach stands as a central figure in Western art music, examining his extraordinary breadth of achievement and enduring appeal. Together, we explore Bach’s unique ability to unite abstract complexity with deep expressivity, his relentless pursuit of craft, and his creation of works that continue to reveal new meanings to performers and listeners across generations. The lecture traces Bach’s life and career, showing how his devotion to complex polyphonic writing—despite changing musical fashions—produced music of unparalleled depth, reflecting a worldview shaped by theology, philosophy, science, and art.

  Lecture Quiz
• 

  

  2. Bach’s Organ Genius

  

  In lecture two, we explore Bach’s compositional genius through the Orgelbüchlein (“Little Organ Book”), a collection of 46 chorale preludes written during his Weimar years (1708–1717). Focusing on works such as “In dulci jubilo,” a radiant double canon, and “Durch Adams Fall,” with its unsettling chromatic bass, we see how Bach transforms simple hymn tunes into densely expressive polyphonic worlds. These minute-long pieces compress astonishing complexity, bend our sense of musical time, and use vivid symbolism to convey human emotion. The lecture also reveals Bach’s methodical, encyclopedic approach to composition and his uncanny ability to elevate the humblest material to extraordinary artistic heights.

  Lecture Quiz
• 

  

  3. Didactic Inventions

  

  In lecture three, we delve into Bach's work during his time as Kapellmeister in Köthen, focusing on his “Inventions and Sinfonias,” didactic keyboard pieces written for his son’s musical education. We examine how Bach creates these works from simple motifs that develop through techniques like invertible counterpoint and rhythmic complementarity, where each voice maintains independence while contributing to a unified texture. The lecture concludes by exploring how these pieces reflect Bach's compositional approach during a period that also produced the “Brandenburg Concertos,” “Cello Suites,” and the first book of “The Well-Tempered Clavier.”

  Lecture Quiz
• View More