The Melody Spin Song Encyclopedia

Originally Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach for high voice and piano, this version with classical guitar, double bass, cello, and violin retains the essence of the song. The slow but measured pace brings a serenity and peace to a world sorely lacking it. From the ‘Birthday Cantata’ in A flat Major, Sheep May Safely Graze is one of Johann Sebastian Bach’s great works and is often used as the processional for weddings.

“Ayn Rand, the famous writer of “The Fountainhead” and “Atlas Shrugged” describes art as a reflection of the artist’s sense of life. Johann Sebastian Bach was a devout Christian whose religious beliefs permeated his music. This piece is no exception. If you imagine the title of the piece as “His Sheep May Safely Graze” and listen to it you get the idea of Bach’s feelings toward his faith.” - Darren Curtis Skanson

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Bach is considered by many to have been the greatest composer in the history of western music. Bach’s main achievement lies in his synthesis and advanced development of the primary contrapuntal idiom of the late Baroque, and in the basic tunefulness of his thematic material. He is often regarded as one of the pinnacle geniuses of western civilization. Bach spent the height of his working life in a Lutheran church position in Leipzig, as both organist and music director. Much of his music is overtly religious, while many of his secular works admit religious interpretations on some levels. His large output of organ music is considered to be the greatest legacy of compositions for the instrument, and is the measure by which all later efforts are judged. His other solo keyboard music is held in equally high esteem, especially for its exploration of the strictly contrapuntal fugue; his 48 Preludes & Fugues (The Well-Tempered Clavier) are still the primary means by which these forms are taught.

Other Johann Sebastian Bach arrangements from Darren Curtis Skanson: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring classical guitar duet, Minuet In G, and Ave Maria.

Although Skanson is known mostly for his classical guitar compositions, he is also a prolific arranger. His classical guitar arrangements of Beethoven, Brahms, and other classical composers are among the most essential to the classical guitar repertoire. Darren Curtis Skanson’s Light Classical Guitar music has a timeless classical sound with familiar melodies and fresh new compositions that all lean to the gentle and melodic side of Classical. With 9 compact discs to his resume, Darren is a classical guitar musical force. His Spanish and Flamenco release “Solamente Romanz” reached #8 on Billboard’s Top Classical Chart. Darren’s previous CD, “Classica” which features classical guitar reached #11 on that same chart. Darren was also proclaimed; “… the most requested classical guitarist on Beethoven Radio” by Beethoven.com, the #1 Classical Radio Station in the world.