Composer Study: Johann Sebastian Bach
I don’t know how we passed over Johann Sebastian Bach when we were doing composer study a few years ago, but I’m glad we’re be listening to some of his music this year with Classical Conversations. Here are a few of the “extras” I’ve pulled together to expand upon our study at home.
Audio Resources
Mr. Bach Comes to Call from Classical Kids- “Sawdust” (Gavotte from Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major) from Beethoven’s Wig 3: Many More Sing Along Symphonies
- “Anybody In There?” (Toccata and Fugue in D minor) from Beethoven’s Wig 3: Many More Sing Along Symphonies
- Classics for Kids episodes on Bach
- The Story of Bach in Words and Music
- “Bach: the Story of the Boy Who Sang in the Streets” from Stories of Great Composers for Children by Thomas Tapper (free audiobook)
Video Resources
For my younger children, one of their favorite ways of learning about classical music is watching Little Einsteins. There are several episodes that feature music by Bach:
- “Farmer Annie” and “The Birthday Machine” (both featuring Brandenburg Concerto No. 5)
- “A Tall Totem Tale” and “Knock on Wood” (both featuring Orchestral Suite No. 2)
Books and Other Reading
- Johann Sebastian Bach (from the Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Composers series) by Mike Venezia
- Sebastian Bach, The Boy from Thuringia by Opal Wheeler (chapter book)
- Becoming Bach by Tom Leonard
- Bach’s Big Adventure by Sallie Ketcham and Timothy Bush
- Sebastian: A Book About Bach by Jeanette Winter
- The Twenty Children of Johann Sebastian Bach by David Arkin
- Bach Goldberg Variations (Once Upon a Masterpiece) by Anna Harwell Celenza
- Hero of Faith: Johann Sebastian Bach by Barry L. Bobb
