MUS 351 Chapter Notes - Chapter 13: Collegium Musicum, Trio Sonata, Goldberg Variations
Document Summary
His current position contrasts with his reputation in his own day, when he was renowned in. Protestant germany as an organ virtuoso and writer of learned contrapuntal works, but comparatively little of his music was published or circulated in manuscript. Bach embraced all the major styles, forms, and genres of his time (except opera) blended them in new ways and developed them further. He was a working musician who composed primarily to fulfill the needs of the positions he held. As court music director at cothen, where he had no formal church music duties, he turned out mostly solo or ensemble music for domestic or court entertainment, along with some pedagogical works. At leipzig, in charge of music at 4 churches, he produced cantatas and other church music. His appointment in 1729 as director of the leipzig collegium musicum led him to write concertos and chamber works.
