Symphony Listening Program - Bach
- What
- Symphony Listening Program - Bach
- When
- 11/12/2025
Audio file
Day 1: This week's feature composer is]ohann Sebastian Bach (Bawk). The feature composition is "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"(YEA-zu). Bach composed this music for choir and orchestra more than 250 years ago. It is a special kind of composition called a chorale. We would call it a hymn. The first words of the chorale in English are, "Jesu, joy of man's desiring..." That is the name English speaking people give to this composition. This performance is sung in German, the language Bach spoke.
Day 2: This week's feature composer is Johann Sebastian Bach. The feature composition is "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." Bach composed the chorale"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" as part of a cantata, a composition fora church service. A cantata always contained a chorale or hymn everyone knew.This chorale had a slow, smooth melody so Bach created an active, flowing melody for the orchestra to play.
Day 3: This week's feature composer is Johann Sebastian Bach. The feature composition is "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." Bach composed "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" as part of a church service. The melody of the chorale is reverent, slow, and smooth with pauses between each phrase. For the orchestra, led by the oboe, Bach wrote an active, flowing, joyful melody.
Day 4: This week's feature composer is |ohann Sebastian Bach. The feature composition is "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." In this chorale, Bach designed a beautiful contrast between the slow, reverent hymn and the joyful, flowing melody of the orchestra. Bach used this combination of feelings to create a peaceful, uplifting mood.
Day 5: This week's feature composition is "Jesu, Joy of Man'sDesiring." Do you remember the name of the composer? (Short pause). If you are thinking of Johann Sebastian Bach you are correct. Bach used two contrasting ideas for his chorale, The active, flowing melody played by the oboe and orchestra make the chorale joyful. The choir's slow, smooth melody with many pauses is reverent and uplifting.