That Bach created what he did in the final decades of his life (300 years ago, actually), in a life full of challenges – a tough work life, pressure to write a cantata a week, teaching music and Latin, playing the organ, preparing church services for the Thomas and Nicholas Churches, is nothing short of remarkable. That the works were filled with genius and that they flowed so prolifically is nothing short of a miracle.

BACH IS, PERHAPS, THE SUBLIME COMFORTER, THE MAKER OF MUSIC SO TRANSENDENT IN ITS DIVINITY THAT THERE ARE NO WORDS WITH WHICH TO SPEAK OF ITS BEAUTY AND INHERENT DRAMATIC QUALITY.

Bach composed some of the most spiritual music and there was a significant amount – including some of the greatest music ever written: the Mass in B Minor, St. Matthew Passion, Christmas Oratorio, nearly 300 church cantatas – and the St. John Passion, his cosmic explanation for the phenomenon of the dramatic story.