Relatively unknown to his contemporaries, Johann Sebastian Bach's (1685 - 1750) stature has grown through time to the point that he has become a standard in the world of music today. This has entirely to do with the deep spiritual universality of his music. His compositions are considered as "pure" music - that which stands entirely by itself and is not dependent on such things as instrumental timbre. Precisely for this reason is Bach's music such a popular subject as arrangements for different sorts of instrumental ensembles.
