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Hannah French explores the life and music of JS Bach's eldest son, Wilhelm Friedemann, whose success as a composer and organist was overshadowed by his 'wayward personality'.

Hannah French explores the life and music of JS Bach's eldest son, Wilhelm Friedemann - the great hope for the second generation, but one whose terrible business sense and difficult personality meant he was always destined to be overshadowed by younger brother, Emanuel.

And Hannah also discovers how descendants of the Bach family made their way across the Atlantic to settle in Oklahoma!

27 days left to listen

59 minutes

Last on

Sunday 17:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    2 Part Invention No 8 in F, BWV 779

    Performer: Mahan Esfahani.
    • HYPERION.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Kothener Trauermusik (1st mvt: Sinfonia)

    Ensemble: Solomon's Knot. Conductor: Jonathan Sells.
    • LINN.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in G, BWV 541

    Performer: Masaaki Suzuki.
    • BIS.

  • Wilhelm Friedemann Bach

    Harpsichord Concerto in D, FK 41 (1st mvt: Allegro)

    Performer: Francesco Corti. Orchestra: Il Pomo d’Oro. Director: Francesco Corti.
    • ARCANA.

  • Wilhelm Friedemann Bach

    Wer mich liebet der wird mein Wort halten, F 72 (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Rastatter Hofkapelle. Conductor: Jürgen Ochs.
    • CARUS.

  • Wilhelm Friedemann Bach

    Concerto for 2 Harpsichords in F (3rd mvt: Presto)

    Performer: Christopher Hogwood. Performer: Christophe Rousset.
    • L'Oiseau Lyre.

  • Wilhelm Friedemann Bach

    Sinfonia in D minor FK 65 (1st & 2nd mvts)

    Performer: Francesco Corti. Orchestra: Il Pomo d’Oro. Director: Francesco Corti.
    • ARCANA.

  • Wilhelm Friedemann Bach

    Polonaise No 8

    Performer: Virginia Black.
    • COLLINS CLASSICS.

  • Wilhelm Friedemann Bach

    Flute Sonata in G major, F 59 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Manuel Granatiero. Performer: Eleonora Bišćević.
    • ARCANA.

  • Wilhelm Friedemann Bach

    Fantasia in D minor, FK 19

    Performer: Friedhelm Flamme.
    • CPO.

  • Wilhelm Friedemann Bach

    Sinfonia in F, F 67 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Tafelmusik. Director: Jeanne Lamon.
    • SONY.

Broadcast

  • Sunday 17:00
    BBC Radio 3

Podcast