Bach

German contrapuntal genius

Bach is a German surname, most famously associated with Johann Sebastian Bach, the Baroque composer whose works—the Brandenburg Concertos, the Mass in B minor, the Well-Tempered Clavier—established him as one of the greatest composers in Western music.

The name often stands alone to mean his music: We listened to Bach on the drive home.

Several of his sons were also notable composers.

composer

fugue

Contrapuntal musical form

Brandenburg · polyphony · harpsichord · oratorio · chorale · prelude · concerto · Leipzig · inventions · Magnificat

sacred

Mass

Catholic worship service

  • organBody's working component
  • choirOrganized group of singers
  • choralOf group singing

cantata · motet · oratorio · chorale · passion · vespers · hymnody · psalmody · antiphon · liturgical

Categories
Opposites
musical era/style

BachWagner

German Romantic opera composer

Liszt · Berlioz · Chopin · Tchaikovsky · Rachmaninoff

compositional approach

BachJohn Cage

Prepared piano inventor

free jazz · Philip Glass · minimalism · improviser · improvisation

cultural register

Bachpop music

Catchy, commercial song genre

bubblegum pop · Britney Spears · muzak · elevator music · club music

Phrases
Family

bachelor, bachelors, bachelorhood, bachelorette

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G