Johann Sebastian Bach (pronounced ) (21 March 1685 O.S. – 28 July 1750 N.S.) was a prolific German composer and organist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra and solo instruments drew together the strands of the baroque genre and brought it to its ultimate maturity. Although he introduced no new forms, he enriched the prevailing German style with a robust contrapuntal technique, a control of harmonic and motivic organisation from the smallest to the largest scales, and the adaptation of rhythms and textures from abroad, particularly Italy and France. Many people consider him to be the greatest Baroque composer, and one of the greatest composers of all time. He was one of the leading figures, along with the likes of George Frideric Handel, in the transition from baroque to Classical music.

Revered for their intellectual depth, technical command and artistic beauty, J.S. Bach's works include the Brandenburg concertos, the keyboard suites and partitas, the Mass in B Minor, the St. Matthew Passion, The Musical Offering, The Art of Fugue and a large number of cantatas, of which about 220 survive. An example of some of these stylistic traits appears below, in the chorus Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe from the Christmas Oratorio, written in 1734 during his mature period.

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The Walkmen showed perspective as well as purpose on Monday, in its first of two consecutive shows at the Bowery Ballroom.
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NPR Topics: Music

Old 97's 'Blame It On Gravity': Taut and Delicate
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Formed in Dallas, the Old 97's were long pigeonholed as an alt-country band. They never were — just a rocking quartet with a terrific songwriter up top. They've just put out their best album in seven years.
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The Grammy-nominated Nortec Collective brings together Mexican, electronica and dance music. Hear songs from the group's new album, Tijuana Sound Machine, when Bostich and Fussible come by WXPN's World Cafe with host David Dye.
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www.tennessean.com - Rss-News-Music Industry news

Jackson, Montgomery Gentry give Sony reasons to celebrate
Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:20:00 -0500
Music Row celebrated the successes of two Sony BMG Nashville artists this week: Montgomery Gentry earned two parties to honor No. 1 "Back When I Knew It All," and a massive gathering at Vanderbilt's Student Life Center feted Alan Jackson, who recently reached the milestone of 50 million records sold.
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Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:12:00 -0500
Vivendi SA's Universal Music Group was sued for allegedly cheating members of The Allman Brothers Band out of some $10 million in royalties on music recorded from 1969 to 1980. Band members Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Butch Trucks and Jaimoe Johanson alleged Universal is paying only a "small fraction" of the royalties due them for digital downloads of their songs and is refusing to negotiate royalty rates for newly released digital configurations, according to a lawsuit filed Monday in Manhattan. UMG spokesman Peter Lofrumento declined to comment.
Hip-hop's bible, 'The Source,' relaunches
Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:19:00 -0500
NEW YORK — The Source, which was in bankruptcy last year, is relaunching with a 20th-anniversary issue and a new focus — a direction that its co-publisher says will restore the magazine, once known as hip-hop's bible, to prominence.

Rolling Stone: Features

How Bush Destroyed the Republican Party
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Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:29:00 -0700
Six acts who are defining rock and pop in 2008 LOW VS. DIAMOND West Coast quintet craft widescreen rock anthems built for stadium singalongs Click above to watch Low vs. Diamond's Luke and Howie perform "Heart Attack" live Few young american bands attempt the unabashedly grand cinematic rock that L.A.'s Low Vs Diamond play on their eponymous debut — and frontman Lucas Field sees that as an opportunity. "I felt like there was a hole in American anthems," says Field, 28. "British bands do this big, melodic stuff so well, but I...
The Man Who Wasn't There
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Ultimate-Guitar.Com [News]

New RevCo Release Date, Jourgensen To Stick Around
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A fan overheard Bono listening to tracks from the band's forthcoming album and recorded them before posting the songs online.

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