The Music and Life of Johann Sebastian Bach by Peter Medhurst
Claude Debussy once said of Bach (1685-1750) that he was ‘a benevolent God, to whom musicians should offer a prayer before setting to work so that they may be preserved from mediocrity’. Since there is nothing mediocre about the works of Bach, he is certainly an ideal candidate for inspiring other composers. However, so highly developed are Bach’s musical achievements that it is easy to forget that he, too, had to learn his craft and develop a personal style through the study of other people’s compositions. This lecture examines Bach’s life, as well as the various aspects of his style, including his use of chorale, fugue, variation, sonatas, and concerto – all forms that shaped and moulded Bach into the great composer that he is.
Peter Medhurst
Peter appears in the Uk and abroad as a musician and scholar, giving recitals and delivering illustrated lectures on music and the arts. He studied singing and early keyboard instruments at the Royal College of Music and at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. Peter has delivered both lectures and study days for the society in the past and we are delighted to welcome him back.