This work investigates the specific instrumentation, orchestral composition, and performance practices utilized by Johann Sebastian Bach in his various musical works. Charles Sanford Terry, a noted musicologist and Bach scholar, provides a technical examination of the individual instruments employed by the composer. The text analyzes how Bach utilized these instruments within his cantatas, concertos, and orchestral suites to achieve his specific sonic objectives.

Musicologists and historians frequently cite this text as a foundational reference for understanding the technical specifications of Bach's orchestral writing. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which assumes a high level of familiarity with musical terminology and score reading.