“To You, to You, Sebastian, I Shall Sing”

Bach’s Reception in New Music: From Kagel to Kurtág

Johann Sebastian Bach is one of the few composers whose music continues to resonate far beyond his own time. To this day, composers draw inspiration from his works, his formal structures, his harmonic language, and his musical ideas. But how does contemporary music engage with Bach? What traces of his work can be found in contemporary compositions, and why does his music remain a source of inspiration even in the 21st century?

These are the questions explored by Dr Thorsten Preuß, editor for Early and Contemporary Music at Bavarian Broadcasting (BR), in his lecture. Through selected musical examples, he offers fascinating insights into the many connections between Bach and the music of our time.