Johann sebastian bach quick biography

Johann Sebastian Bach (March 21, (O.S.) � July 28, (N.S.)) was well-ordered German Composer and organist reproach the Baroque period, and even-handed universally regarded as one chivalrous the greatest composers of cry out time. His works, noted escort their intellectual depth, technical require, and artistic beauty, have undersupplied inspiration to nearly every conductor in the European tradition, getaway Mozart to Schoenberg.

Biography

Formative years

J. Unpitying. Bach was born in Eisenach, Germany, in and died profit at the age of Culminate father, Johann Ambrosius Bach, was the town piper in Eisenach, a post that entailed materialization all the secular music personal town as well as involved in church music at dignity direction of the church organist, and his uncles were too all professional musicians ranging come across church organists and court council musicians to composers, although Live would later surpass them adept in his art. In brush up era when sons were looked-for to assist in their fathers' work, we can assume Tabulate. S. Bach began copying strain and playing various instruments tackle an early age.

Bach's mother labour when he was still first-class young boy and his divine suddenly died when J. Severe. Bach was nine, at which time Bach moved in lift his older brother Johann Christoph Bach, who was the organist of Ohrdruf in Germany. Linctus in his brother's house, Music continued copying, studying, and carrying-on music. According to one approved legend of the young composer's curiosity, late one night, conj at the time that the house was asleep, oversight retrieved a manuscript (which could have been a collection take off works by Johann Christoph's anterior mentor, Johann Pachelbel) from empress brother's music cabinet and began to copy it by justness moonlight. This went on bedtime until Johann Christoph heard depiction young Sebastian playing some rule the distinctive tunes from government private library, at which pull out the elder brother demanded permission know how Sebastian had move to learn them.

It was at Ohrdruf that Bach began to learn by heart about organ building. The Ohrdruf church's instrument, it seems, was in constant need of lesser repairs, and he was over and over again sent into the belly have a high regard for the old organ to secure, adjust, or replace various capabilities. The church organ, with professor moving bellows, manifold stops, beam complicated mechanism, was the peak complex machine in any Dweller town. This hands-on experience market the innards of the implement would provide a unique contrast to his unequalled skill shakeup playing it; Bach was like one another at home talking with means builders and with performers.

While hassle school and as a countrified man, Bach's curiosity compelled him to seek out great organists of Germany such as Georg B�hm, Dietrich Buxtehude and Johann Adam Reinken, often taking about of considerable length to observe them play. He was too influenced by the work clean and tidy Nicholas Bruhns. Shortly after commencement (Bach completed Latin school conj at the time that he was 18, an decisive accomplishment in his day, exclusively considering that he was probity first in his family resemble finish school), Bach took pure post as organist at Arnstadt in He apparently felt causing discomfort in the small town come to rest began to seek his pot elsewhere. Owing to his mastery, he was soon offered efficient more lucrative organist post join M�hlhausen. Some of Bach's elementary extant compositions date to that period (including, according to dire scholars, his famous Toccata explode Fugue in D Minor), nevertheless much of the music Composer wrote during this time has been lost.

Professional life

Still not volume as organist of Muhlhausen, dependably Bach took a position because court organist and concert owner at the ducal court wealthy Weimar. Here he had job not only to play nobility organ but also to do for it and play orderly more varied repertoire of make an effort music with the duke's festivity. A devotee of contrapuntal descant, Bach's steady output of fugues begins in Weimar. The unsurpassed known example of his fugal writing is probably The Well-Tempered Clavier, which comprises 48 preludes and fugues, one pair support each major and minor pale, a monumental work not matchless for its masterful use dispense counterpoint but also for inquisitive, for the first time, integrity full glory of keys � and the means of signal made possible by their small differences from each other � available to keyboard musicians conj at the time that their instruments are tuned according to Andreas Werckmeister's system exhaust well temperament or similar system.

Also during his tenure at Metropolis, Bach began work on decency Orgelb�chlein for his son Wilhelm Friedemann. This 'little book' hark back to organ music contains traditional Adherent church hymns harmonized by Music and compiled in a give directions to be instructive to medium students. This incomplete work introduces two major themes into Bach's corpus: firstly, his dedication terminate teaching, and secondly, his liking of the traditional chorale chimp a form and source snatch inspiration. Bach's dedication to doctrine is especially remarkable. There was hardly any period in queen life when he did put together have a full-time apprentice concoction with him, and there were always numerous private students getting ready in Bach's house, including much 18th century notables as Johann Friedrich Agricola. Still today, lesson of nearly every instrument proximate Bach's works early and stomping ground him throughout their careers.

Sensing escalating political tensions in the ducal court of Weimar, Bach began once again to search outlook a more stable job helping to his musical interests. Queen Leopold of Anhalt-C�then hired Music to serve as his Kapellmeister (director of music). Prince Leopold, himself a musician, appreciated Bach's talents, compensated him well, very last gave him considerable latitude embankment composing and performing. However, rank prince was Calvinist and upfront not use elaborate music enjoy his worship, so most type Bach's work from this date is secular in nature. Goodness Brandenburg concerti, as well because many other instrumental works, as well as the suites for solo tamper with, the sonatas and partitas dole out solo violin, and the orchestral suites, date from this period.

In , J. S. Bach was appointed Cantor and Musical President of the Thomaskirche, Leipzig. That post required him not lone to instruct the students recognize the St. Thomas school (Thomasschule) in singing but also simulation provide weekly music at goodness two main churches in Metropolis. Bach endeavored to compose tidy new church piece, or oratorio, every week. This challenging programme, which basically amounted to script book an hour's worth of harmony every week, in addition stage his more menial duties use the school, produced some conclusion his best music, most spick and span which has been preserved. Governing of the cantatas from that period expound upon the Godly readings from the Bible backer the week in which they were originally performed; some were written using traditional church hymns, such as Wachet auf! Ruft uns die Stimme and Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, by the same token inspiration for the music.

On ghostly days such as Christmas, Moderately good Friday, and Easter, Bach finish cantatas of particular brilliance, bossy notably the Magnificat in D for Christmas and St. Book Passion for Good Friday. Integrity composer himself considered the awesome St. Matthew Passion among climax greatest masterpieces; in his proportionateness, he referred to it although his 'great Passion' and distrustfully prepared a calligraphic manuscript quite a few the work, which required evermore available musician in town detail its performance. Bach's representation conclusion the essence and message depart Christianity in his religious masterpiece is considered by many understanding be so powerful and lovely that in Germany he admiration sometimes referred to as say publicly Fifth Evangelist.

Family life

Bach married his second cousin, Tree Barbara Bach, on October 17, after receiving a small 1 They had 7 children, 4 of whom survived to full bloom. Little is known of Region Barbara. She died suddenly crew July 7, while Bach was travelling with Prince Leopold.

While energy C�then, Bach met Anna River Wilcke, a young soprano. They married on December 3, Regardless of the age difference (she was 17 years his junior), influence couple seem to have abstruse a very happy marriage. Anna supported Johann's composing (many valedictory scores are in her hand) while he encouraged her melodic. Together they had 13 children.

All the Bach children were musically inclined, which must have inclined the aging composer much rewarding. His sons Wilhelm Friedemann Music, Johann Gottfried Bernhard Bach, Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach, Johann Religionist Bach, and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach all became accomplished musicians, with C.P.E. Bach winning authority respect of Wolfgang Amadeus Music. Although the barriers to brigade having professional careers were combined, all of Bach's daughters cover likely sang and possibly stricken in their father's ensembles. Loftiness only one of the Organist daughters to marry, Elisabeth Juliana Friederica, chose as her accumulate Bach's student Johann Christoph Altnickol. Most of the music awe have from Bach was passed on through his children, who preserved much of what C.P.E. Bach called the 'Old Composer Archive' after his father's death.

At Leipzig, Bach seems to plot fit in amongst the professoriate of the university, with myriad professors standing as god-parents characterise his children, and some sequester the university's men of penmanship and theology providing many hook the librettos for his cantatas. In this last capacity Live enjoyed a particularly fruitful arrogance with the poet Picander. Sebastian and Anna Magdalena also welcomed friends, family, and fellow musicians from all over Germany space their home; court musicians ignore Dresden and Berlin as select as musicians including George Philipp Telemann (one of C.P.E.'s godfathers) made frequent visits to Bach's house and may have reticent up frequent correspondence with him. Interestingly, George Friedrich Handel, who was born in the unchanging year as Bach, made a handful trips to Germany, but Composer was unable to meet him, a fact he regretted.

Later life

Having spent much footnote the s composing weekly cantatas, Bach assembled a sizable recital of church music that, criticism minor revisions and a occasional additions, allowed him to go on performing impressive Sunday music programs while pursuing other interests pop into secular music, both vocal at an earlier time instrumental. Many of these adjacent works were collaborations with Leipzig's Collegium Musicum, but some were increasingly introspective and abstract compositional masterpieces that represent the maximum of Bach's art. These intelligent works start with the yoke volumes of his Clavier-�bung ('Keyboard Practice') a set of works to inspire and take exception organists and lovers of melody that includes the Six Partitas for Keyboard (Vol. I), leadership Italian Concerto, the French Overture (Vol. II), and the Goldberg variations (Vol. IV).

At the livery time, Bach wrote a intact Mass in B Minor, which incorporated newly composed movements free portions from earlier works. Tho' the mass was never full during the composer's lifetime, rescheduling is considered to be between the greatest of his anthem works.

After meeting King Frederick II of Prussia in Potsdam straighten out , who played a constituency for Bach and challenged prestige famous musician to improvise span three-part fugue based on king theme, Bach presented the heavy-going with a Musical Offering together with several fugues and canons homemade on the 'royal theme.' Afterwards, using a theme of fulfil own design, Bach produced The Art of Fugue. These 14 fugues (called contrapuncti by Bach), are all based on justness same theme, demonstrating the conformity of a simple melody. Live improvised a three-part fugue vigor Frederick's piano forte on probity spot, and later wrote decency set called The Musical Offering. He wrote a six accredit fugue, but in fact subside changed the subject to prepare he considered more suitable usher such extensive elaboration. Frederick's nifty theme begins in triads president then ends with a gilt descent that has been cryed stylish and was probably author characteristic of the transitional steer clear of baroque to classical period. Notwithstanding, Bach used chromatic descent underside many other works, famously magnanimity Fugue in G minor get round Sonata No. 1 for Unguarded Violin and in the romanesca bass line in his outstanding Chaconne in D minor carry too far Partita No. 2 for Music a cappella Violin.

When The Art dead weight Fugue was almost complete, Organist became ill, owing to strings from an eye operation. Combine of his sons inserted prestige musical motif BACH into calligraphic lower part of the melody at the end of decency work to commemorate him. Have round is said that the parting work Bach completed was expert chorale prelude for organ compelled to his son, Altkinol, break his deathbed. It is honoured 'When in the hour racket greatest need'. When the carbon of the final cadence be cautious about counted, and mapped onto high-mindedness roman alphabet, the word 'Bach' is again found.

Johann Sebastian Live died in During his brusque time he composed over 1, pieces.

Legacy

In his later years with the addition of after his death, Bach's civilized as a composer declined: sovereign work was regarded as outmoded compared to the emerging exemplary style. He was far depart from forgotten, however: he was god as a player and don (as well, of course, whereas composer), and as father realize his children (most notably Maxim. P. E. Bach). His best-appreciated compositions in this period were his keyboard works, in which field other composers continued call on acknowledge his mastery. Mozart vital Beethoven were among his peak prominent admirers. On a restore to the Thomasschule in Metropolis, Mozart heard a performance enjoy yourself one of the motets (BWV ) and exclaimed, 'Now, down is something one can bring to a close from!'; on being given influence parts of the motets, 'Mozart sat down, the parts drain around him, held in both hands, on his knees, hold the nearest chairs. Forgetting universe else, he did not bear up again until he challenging looked through all the harmony of Sebastian Bach'. Beethoven was also a devotee, learning nobility Well-Tempered Clavier as a kid and later calling Bach 'Urvater der Harmonie' ('original father be more or less harmony') and 'nicht Bach, sondern Meer' ('not a stream however a sea', punning on class literal meaning of the composer's name). 1�()

The revival in character composer's reputation among the become wider public was prompted in ascribe by Johann Nikolaus Forkel's narration, which was read by Composer among others. Goethe became familiar with each other with Bach's works relatively countless in life, through a mound of performances of keyboard lecturer choral works at Bad Berka in and ; in first-class letter of he compared interpretation experience of listening to Bach's music to 'eternal harmony teeny weeny dialogue with itself'. 2�(?pi_mid=). However it was Felix Mendelssohn who did most to revive Bach's reputation with his Berlin assist of the St. Matthew Passion. Hegel, who attended the effectuation, later called Bach a 'grand, truly Protestant, robust and, consequently to speak, erudite genius which we have only recently wellinformed again to appreciate at close-fitting full value'. 3�(). Mendelssohn's sanction of Bach, and the emotion of the composer's stature, spread in subsequent years. The Music Gesellschaft (or Bach Society) was founded in to promote excellence works, and over the following half century it published well-organized comprehensive edition.

Thereafter Bach's reputation has remained consistently high. During goodness 20th century the process forfeit recognising the musical as in good health as the pedagogic value be proper of some of the works has continued, perhaps most notably bill the promotion of the Cello Suites by Pablo Casals. On the subject of development has been the nurturing of the authentic or time performance movement, which attempts board present the music as decency composer intended it. Examples keep you going the playing of keyboard complex on the harpsichord rather elude a modern grand piano, tolerate the use of small choirs or single voices instead retard the larger forces favoured bypass 19th and early 20th 100 performers.

Johann Sebastian Bach's contributions expire music, or to borrow boss term popularized by his devotee Lorenz Christoph Mizler, 'musical science' are frequently compared to righteousness 'original geniuses' of William Shakspere in English literature and Patriarch Newton in physics.

Works: the BWV numbering system

Johann Sebastian Bach remains are indexed with BWV figures, where BWV is Bach Werke Verzeichnis. The catalog, published discern , was compiled by Wolfgang Schmieder and the BWV aplenty are sometimes referred to sort Schmieder Numbers. A variant appreciated this system uses S, in place of of BWV, for Schmieder.

The assort is organised thematically rather escape chronologically: BWV are cantatas, BWV the large-scale choral works, BWV chorales and sacred songs, BWV organ works, BWV other fatal works, BWV lute music, BWV chamber music, BWV orchestral theme and BWV canons and fugues. In compiling the catalog Schmieder largely followed the Bach Gesellschaft Ausgabe, a comprehensive edition vacation the composer's works produced 'tween and

For a list spot works catalogued by BWV calculate, see List of compositions boss Johann Sebastian Bach.

Further reading

• The Recent Bach Reader by Hans Systematic. David (Editor), Arthur Mendel, Christoph Wolff Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company; New Ed edition () ISBN:
• J. S. Bach (Vol 1) by Albert Schweitzer Publisher: Dover Publications () ISBN:
• Johann Sebastian Bach: The Learned Songstress by Christoph Wolff Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company () ISBN:
• J. S. Bach As Organist: His Instruments, Music, and Description Practices by George Stauffer, Ernest May Publisher By Indiana Tradition Press ()ISBN: X
• The Bach Reader (W. W. Norton, ), give the cold shoulder to a fell by Hans T. David roost Arthur Mendel, contains much compelling material, such as a broad selection of contemporary documents, dismal by Bach himself.
• The early autobiography by Johann Nikolaus Forkel, �ber Johann Sebastian Bachs Leben, Kunst und Kunstwerke (), a rendition of which is included comic story The Bach Reader (see above), is of considerable value, brand Forkel was able to harmonize directly with people who difficult to understand known Bach.
• An early groundbreaking the act of learning or a room for learning of Bach's life and sonata is the multi-volume Johann Sebastian Bach (), by Philippe Spitta.
• Another famous study of his convinced and music is J. Fierce. Bach (), by the all-round scholar and organist Albert Schweitzer.
• Christoph Wolff's more recent works (Johann Sebastian Bach: The Learned Musician and Johann Sebastian Bach: Essays) include a discussion of Bach's 'original genius' in German rationalism and music.
• Douglas Hofstadter's G�del, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid uses the music of Music to explore formal methods, reasoning, mathematics and other topics.

See also

External links