The J. S. Bach Files Podcast

Episode 50: Bach’s “Art of Fugue,” BWV 1080

We’ll look at some of the fugues from Bach’s “Art of Fugue,” BWV 1080.

Episode 49: Bach’s “Musical Offering,” BWV 1079

We’ll look at the ricercars, trio sonata and canons of the “Musical Offering.”

Episode 48: Bach’s “Organ Mass” (Clavier-Ubung III)

We’ll look at Bach’s “Organ Mass” (Clavier-Ubung or “Keyboard Practice” III) including the Trinity Prelude and Fugue and a sampling of the chorale preludes contained in t

Episode 47: Bach‘s Cantatas for Alto Soloist

We’ll focus on BWV 35, “Spirit and Soul Become Confused,” and BWV 170, “Contented Peace.”

Episode 46: Bach’s Partitas, BWV 825-830

We’ll focus on Bach’s Partita No. 4 in D major, BWV 828, but also take a look at the opening movements of the other five partitas.  

Episode 45: Bach’s Cantatas for Bass Soloist

We’ll look at “Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen,” BWV 56 (“Gladly I will carry the Cross-Staff”), and “Ich Habe Genung,” BWV 82 (“I have enough”).

Episode 44: Bach’s Music for Lute

We’ll focus on the Suite in E Minor, BWV 996, and the Suite in C Minor, BWV 997.

Episode 43: Bach's Trio Sonatas

We’ll look at two of Bach’s trio sonatas: the Sonata in G major for Two Flutes, BWV 1039; and Bach’s Sonata in Eb for organ, BWV 525, in both the original and a trio sona

Episode 42: Bach’s Cantatas for Soprano: BWV 199 & BWV 52

We’ll look at two of Bach’s cantatas for soprano soloist: BWV 199, “My Heart Swims in Blood,” and BWV 52, “False World, I Do Not trust you.”

Episode 41: Bach's Toccatas for Keyboard

We’ll focus on the Toccata in D major, BWV 912, and the Toccata in C minor, BWV 911.

Episode 40: Bach's St. Matthew Passion, part 2

We'll look at part 2 of the St. Matthew Passion.

Episode 39: Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, part 1

We’ll look at part 1 of the St. Matthew Passion.

Episode 38: Bach's Italian Concerto, BWV 971; French Overture, BWV 831; & Fantasie, BWV 906

We’ll look at the Italian Concerto, BWV 971; the French Overture, BWV 831; and the Fantasie, BWV 906.

Episode 37: Bach's Motets, BWV 225-231

We’re going to focus on Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied (“Sing onto the Lord a New Song”), BWV 225; Lobet den Herrn (“Praise the Lord”), BWV 230; and Jesu meine Freund  (

Episode 36: Bach's Two- and Three-Part Inventions

We’ll look at a sampling of the two-part inventions—Invention No. 1 in C major, No. 2 in C Minor, No 4 in D minor, No, 6 in E major, and No. 8 in F major. We’ll also look

Episode 35: Bach's Sonatas for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord, BWV 1028-1029

We’ll look at the Sonata in D major, BWV 1028, and the Sonata in G minor, BWV 1029.

Episode 34: Bach's English Suites, BWV 806-811

We’ll look at the English Suites, BWV 806-811, with a focus on Suite No. 2 in A Minor.

Episode 33: Bach's Contemporaries--G. F. Handel. part 2

We’ll look at Handel’s instrumental music, including his keyboard sonata in A Major; his Sonata in G minor for Violin and Continuo, Op. 1, No. 6; his Concerto in Bb major

Episode 32: Bach's Contemporaries--G. F. Handel, part 1

We’re going to look at the Chandos Anthem No. 2, “In the Lord Put I My Trust”; the Coronation Anthem, “Zadok the Priest”; and parts of the opera “Julius Caesar in Egypt”

Episode 31: Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, part 2

We’ll look at Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003, and Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004.