The J. S. Bach Files Podcast

Terence J. O'Grady•thejsbachfiles.podbean.com

Ever wanted to take a closer look at the music of Johann Sebastian Bach? The J. S. Bach Files might make that a little easier.

Last refreshed: June 27th, 2025 at 1:30 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

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.

Mar 14, 2022•51 min•Ep. 50

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

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

Feb 21, 2022•56 min•Ep. 49

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 the collection.

Jan 20, 2022•58 min•Ep. 48

Episode 47: Bach‘s Cantatas for Alto Soloist

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

Dec 09, 2021•54 min•Ep. 47

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.

Nov 02, 2021•59 min•Ep. 46

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”).

Sep 27, 2021•56 min•Ep. 45

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.

Aug 23, 2021•48 min•Ep. 44

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 sonata version.

Jul 16, 2021•46 min•Ep. 43

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.”

Jun 09, 2021•52 min•Ep. 42

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.

May 03, 2021•49 min•Ep. 41

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

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

Mar 29, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 40

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

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

Mar 01, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 39

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.

Feb 01, 2021•44 min•Ep. 38

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 (“Jesus, my Joy”), BWV 227.

Dec 28, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 37

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 at two of the three-part inventions (or Sinfonia)—No. 3 in D major, and No. 9 in F minor.

Nov 27, 2020•45 min•Ep. 36

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.

Oct 29, 2020•54 min•Ep. 35

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.

Sep 25, 2020•50 min•Ep. 34

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, Op 3, No. 1; his Organ Concerto in F major , Op. 4, No. 4; and brief excerpts from the Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks.

Aug 21, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 33

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” and the oratorio “Jephtha.”

Jul 17, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 32

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.

Jun 16, 2020•53 min•Ep. 31

Episode 30: Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, part 1

We’ll look at Sonata No.1 in F Minor, BWV 1001, and Partita No, 1 in B Minor, BWV 1002.

May 14, 2020•58 min•Ep. 31

Episode 29: Bach's Cantatas for Quasimodo Geniti Sunday

We’ll look at two cantatas from Quasimodo Geniti Sunday, the first Sunday after Easter: Cantata BWV 67, titled in English Translation “Hold in Remembrance Jesus Christ,” and BWV 42, in English Translation "On the Evening of the Same Sabbath.”

Apr 14, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 30

Episode 28: Bach's Early Works for Organ

We’re going to look at various early organ works by Bach including Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 531; Prelude and Fugue in E Minor, BWV 533; “Little” G Minor Fugue, BWV 578; Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565; and Chorale Prelude BWV 599 from “Das Orgel-Buchlein.”

Mar 09, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 29

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