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All Bach all the time: See why the Netherlands Bach Society have just taken over your Fridays

By Michael Vincent on May 7, 2014

all-of-bach (1)

Besides being the bastion of baroque classical music, J.S. Bach wrote an incredible 1080 compositions during his lifetime. Some say the number is closer to 1120, but unless you own a copy of Bach’s complete recordings, you probably haven’t heard them all. Thanks to the Netherlands Bach Society, they are on a mission to change that.

Founded in 1921, the NBS launched the ambitious project to record nearly all of Bach’s BWVs (video and audio), and provide them all for free at allofbach.com. They will be releasing new videos scheduled every Friday until their goal is reached. So far there are six pieces up on the site, with 1074 to go.

Why All of Bach?

The ensemble states that the idea came to them when looking for a way to celebrate their first 100 years. “In this way we can involve people in the way we work and let them discover how you can make Bach sound,” said Artistic Director Jos van Veldhoven. “It’s a gift to the world. Because whether you live in South Korea and are practicing the Minuet in G minor for the first time or you live in Appingedam and are fascinated by four-part fugues, you are just a few mouse clicks away from the information you are looking for.”

The Netherlands Bach Society has been a staple of the Dutch music scene ever since they started in 1921, with a performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion in the Grote Kerk in Naarden. Each season they present over fifty concerts all over the Netherlands and abroad.  In addition to the videos, they will also include interviews and background information on each of the pieces.

Mark your calendars, Toronto – looks like Fridays will never be the same again.

 

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A special thanks to Musical Toronto reader, James Kulczycki for bringing this to my attention.

Michael Vincent

 

Michael Vincent
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