Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was one of the great western composers in Western history. He wrote for almost every genre and musical form during his time. He was most recognized for his organ playing, not his composing.
His Life
Bach was born in Eisenach, Germany on March 21, 1685. At the age of ten Bach was orphaned and he went to live with his older brother, Johann Christoph Bach. When Bach reached the age of 15 he went to Lüneburg, where he continued his studies. In Lüneburg he sang in the choir and learned the respected music of the time. In Lüneburg he studied with Georg Böhm.
In 1703 at the age of eighteen he became the church organist at Arnstadt and
began composing for the organ, harpsichord and the voice. He then moved on to
Mühlhausen in 1707 at the age twenty-two. He then married his cousin,
Maria
Barbara Bach.
The next year they moved to Weimar where he served the Duke of Weimar for the next ten years. In Weimar Bach's music was for the organ and church choirs. When Bach tried to move the Duke threw him in Jail. Bach determined, moved to Cöthen, where he worked for Prince Leopold of Anhalt. Bach worked six years for the Prince, during which time he composed his most famous instrumental works, including the Brandenburg Concertos, English and French suites for the harpsichord, and a vast variety of chamber music.
Bach's wife died in 1720 when he was thirty-five. In 1721 he married Anna Magdalena Wilcken. Bach became the father of twenty children, and several of his sons became well known composers.
Bach changed jobs for the last time in his life when he became the director of music at the Saint Thomas's Church and School in Leipzig. Bach disliked this job, but he remained there for twenty-seven years, until he died.
Bach journeyed to Potsdam to visit his son Karl Philipp Emanuel, who was a musician at the court of King Frederick II of Prussia in 1747. The King admired Bach and gave him a melody to improvise on. From this melody Bach wrote the Musical Offering, he dedicated this piece to the King.
Bach's last great work was The Art of Fugue, which remained unfinished at his death. Towards the End of his life he lost his Eye Sight.
His Pieces
Bach's greatest religious works were composed during his time at Saint Thomas's Church, including Magnifcant, the Saint John Passion, the Saint Matthew Passion, the B-minor Mass, and several cantatas. While at Leipzig Bach completed The Well-Tempered Clavier, which was a collection of forty-eight preludes and fugues in all of the keys. Most of Bach's music was not published until long after his death. Bach not recognized for his composing but as an organist.