PROGRAM
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Fantasy and Fugue in G minor  for organ  BMV 542

Violin Concerto in A minor, BMV 1041
Allegro / Andante / Allegro assai

Chorale for organ "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland" in G minor , BMV 659

Violin Concerto No. 2 in E major, BMV 1042
Allegro / Adagio / Allegro assai

Organ Concerto "O Mensch, bewein dein Suende gross" in E flat major, BMV622

Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BMV 1043
Vivace / Largo ma non tanto / Allegro

"Johann, people are complaining about the music that you are writing. It is too showy. Some church ministers even think it is sinful. Music should be simple, to draw attention to God, not to the music or the performers."

Bach was deeply inspired: "My music comes from my heart as a humble offering to God, no matter what style of music I use."

Johann Sebastian Bach used to put the initials "JJ" on the top of his scores, and to end his pieces with the initials "S.D.G". The initials JJ stand for "Jesu, Juva" or "Jesus, help". S.D.G is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase "Soli Deo Gloria" (Glory to God alone). It was used by Baroque artists Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Friedrich Handel to indicate that the work was created to glorify God. The phrase became one of the five solos expressing the core beliefs of the Protestant Reformers.

Although the public of the time respected Bach as a great organist, they did not recognise him as a great composer. When he died in 1750, his music was considered old-fashioned and forgotten by most people. It was only almost 80 years later that it was rediscovered.