Recording session of Bach’s concertos BWV 1055, 1056 and 1058.

David Fray, piano

In the composer’s day, the Keyboard Concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach would have been performed on the harpsichord. French pianist David Fray plays with such skill and joie de vivre that there’s little doubt that Bach would have been thrilled with the way his music sounds on the piano. Starting about five minutes into this excerpt from a wonderful documentary video created by filmmaker Bruno Monsaingeon you can enjoy the first movement of the Bach concerto BWV 1055 uninterrupted.  

Bach Cello Suite No. 1, Prelude

Avi Avital, mandolin

With its long history, Bach would have been familiar with the mandolin, and probably even knew about the concertos Vivaldi wrote for the instrument. Oddly, though, Bach never wrote specifically for the mandolin. Grammy-nominated Israeli musician and composer Avi Avital’s first recording featured the music of Bach arranged for mandolin and orchestra. Buy it! Seriously. Avital is that good.

Bach: 4 Inventions

Antonio Barberena, accordion

This is a perfect example of why the accordion CAN be taken seriously. The tone Barberena gets from his instrument is simply beautiful.

Bach: E Major Prelude

Rick Graham, electric guitar

Since Bach was always looking for a way to make money, I think it’s safe to say he’d be glad that his works are played today by so many musicians on so many different instruments… just as long as he would keep getting royalty checks!

Bach-Stokowski: Toccata & Fugue in D Minor

BBC Symphony Orchestra; Sir Andrew Davis, conductor

Made during the 1920s and '30s, Leopold Stokowski’s orchestrations of Bach’s music still raise the eyebrows of classical purists. His version of Bach’s Toccata & Fugue in D Minor is the mother of all Bach arrangements.