Ian Radge C.
Melad Humanities
Johannes Bach September 11, 2015
Johann Sebastian Bach (31 March [O.S. 21 March] 1685 – 28
July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the Baroque
period. He enriched established German styles through his skill
in counterpoint, harmonic and motivic organisation, and the
adaptation of rhythms, forms, and textures from abroad,
particularly from Italy and France. Bach's compositions include
theBrandenburg Concertos, the Goldberg Variations, the Mass in
B minor, two Passions, and over three hundred cantatas of
which around two hundred survive. His music is revered for its
technical command, artistic beauty, and intellectual depth.
Bach was born in Eisenach, in
the duchy of Saxe- Eisenach, into a great musical family.
His father, Johann Ambrosius Bach, was the director of
the town musicians, and all of his uncles were professional musicians. His father probably
taught him to play the violin andharpsichord, and his brother, Johann Christoph Bach,
taught him the clavichord and exposed him to much contemporary music. Apparently at his
own initiative, Bach attended St. Michael's School in Lüneburg for two years. After
graduating, he held several musical posts across Germany: he served
as Kapellmeister (director of music) to Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen, and
asThomaskantor in Leipzig, a position of music director at the main Lutheran churches and
educator at the Thomasschule. He received the title of "Royal Court Composer"
from Augustus III in 1736. Bach's health and vision declined in 1749, and he died on 28 July
1750.
Bach's abilities as an organist were highly respected during his lifetime, although he was
not widely recognised as a great composer until a revival of interest and performances of
his music in the first half of the 19th century. He is now generally regarded as one of the
greatest composers of all time.
From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Sebastian_Bach
