Bach’s Best 

This course will offer an in-depth study of some of Johann Sebastian Bach’s finest works. With an emphasis on the harmonic structure of Bach’s music, selections will include harpsichord works, sacred and secular cantatas, chorale preludes, concertos, chamber works, organ works, and large choral works, including the St. John Passion and the Mass in B Minor. The works studied will be different from those presented in the fall class, “The Life and Music of JS Bach.” The class includes a 75-page take-home text, a slide show format with many video clips of musical examples, and teaching help from a keyboard. 

Reading: The 75-page text will be supplied by the instructor.

Peter Griffin has taught classes at MSC and OLLI in Portland. He serves on the Boards of Holbrook Community Foundation in Cundys Harbor, Bowdoin International Music Festival in Brunswick, and Friends of the Kotszchmar Organ and Classical Uprising in Portland.