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The Life and Works of Bach

By: Jeremy Siepmann
Narrated by: Jeremy Siepmann, John Shrapnel, Trevor Nichols, Ruth Sillers, David Timson
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Summary

Although now beloved and revered by millions as the greatest composer who ever lived, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) was best known in his lifetime as an organist, and was eclipsed in fame as a composer by two of his twenty children. For the last twenty-seven years of his life he was a schoolteacher and choir director whose duties extended to meal supervision and dormitory inspection. Yet throughout his career he composed a vast body of music which is amongst the most joyful, dancing and enrapturing ever written. This portrait-in-sound includes many examples of the music that made him immortal. With compelling narration by Jeremy Siepmann, character portrayals by acclaimed actors, and the interpolation of over twenty-five substantial musical extracts reflecting the development of one of music’s most enduringly awe-inspiring composers, we are transported back three centuries straight into the life of Johann Sebastian Bach. This innovative sense of immediacy is at the heart of this comprehensive audio-biography, depicting the life of a composer whose music is universally admired.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2002 Naxos AudioBooks (P)2002 Naxos AudioBooks
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excellent!

I really enjoyed this introduction to the life of Bach. the mixture of music and information is well balanced and entertaining. first class!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The perfect way to learn and listen to Bach

This is audio books at their best! How else to get a great grasp of the life of a famous composer than to hear his story, interspersed at appropriate places by samples of his wonderful music? The book brings JS Bach's life into focus, giving us a realistic picture of his life in the late 1600 and early 1700s in Germany. And just when you might be getting a little too much detail the audio brakes into a sample of his trademark Baroque music. Bliss!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Padded with music, short on substance.

Would you try another book written by Jeremy Siepmann or narrated by the narrators?

No - the book was poor in detail and substance being excessively padded with music performances (not even good ones, at that).
I felt that i'd been conned by the book

What could Jeremy Siepmann have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Researched Bach's life, given details, and cut out the padding

How could the performance have been better?

Rather dull vocal delivery, he sounds disinterested. So was I.

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Nope, not one.

Any additional comments?

i want my money back.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Not as good as the others

This edition was a little lacking in content as well as in music choice. Not as good as the others in the series

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