Sandy Burnett presents a musical guide to Bach’s life and works 

Immerse yourself in the life and music of Johann Sebastian Bach, arguably the greatest composer who ever lived.

In the Idler Academy’s Guide to Bach online course, broadcaster and musician Sandy Burnett talks us through the principal elements of JS Bach’s biography and his most beautiful works.

We follow Bach’s life from his early years – he was born into a remarkable musical family in Thuringia, Germany – through to his maturity in Leipzig where he wrote the great Passions and cantatas.

Along the way, Sandy explores a few outstanding works in detail, and we listen to illustrations from the very best available recordings.

We learn about Bach’s most important works including the Brandenburg Concertos and the St Matthew Passion. We end with Bach’s Mass in B Minor, completed a year before the composer’s death in 1750.

Filmed in Fenton House, Hampstead, this online course showcases one of the National Trust property’s rare harpsichords, part of a unique collection of early keyboards at Fenton and the instrument the composer wrote so many great works for.

You will emerge from the course uplifted, educated and enlightened.

The course also features a 3D tour of Leipzig. You will receive course notes, a reading list, an interactive quiz, plus a lovely certificate on completion.

There will also be a special Idler Academy “Meet the Tutor” real-time Q&A session with Sandy Burnett.

With special thanks to Ben Marks, Keeper of the Benton Fletcher Collection of Instruments.

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