Johann Sebastian Bach, the German organist and composer of the Baroque era, was one of the greatest and most productive geniuses in the history of Western music. The significance of Bach's music is due in large part to the scope of his intellect. He is perhaps best known as a supreme master of counterpoint.
Counterpoint is the simultaneous combination of two or more melodies.
Bach was able to understand and use every resource of musical language that was available in the Baroque era. Thus, if he chose, he could combine the rhythmic patterns of French dances, the gracefulness of Italian melody, and the intricacy of German counterpoint all in one composition. This refers to a system of tuning advocated by Bach, which was to establish itself during the 19th century. In equal temperament the octave is divided into twelve precisely equidistant intervals. This piece is one of 48 which illustrate and exploit the new method.