JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH. (1685-1750)

A composer of the Baroque era.

Both of Johann Sebastian’s Bach’s parent’s died before he turned ten.

After their deaths, Johann lived with his older brother Christoph, a church organist, who taught Johann harpsichord and organ. For most of his life, Johann Sebastian Bach was a church musician, beginning as a boy soprano in a church choir. After his voice changed, he became a violinist in a church orchestra at Lunenberg, near Hamburg, Germany.

As a teenager, Bach often traveled to Hamburg to hear concerts and to take organ lessons. In 1703 (age 18), he became the first town organist at Arnstadt, and it was here that he first began to compose music. Four years later he married and was soon appointed the court organist and violinist to the Duke of Weimar. In this position, Bach was able to study all styles of music and develop his composing skills. He wrote many pieces for organ and harpsichord as well as several sacred cantatas.

In 1717, the prince of Cothen hired Bach as his court choirmaster. In this position he had more time to compose hundreds of works for clavier (a type of keyboard instrument like a piano), string orchestras, instrumental groups of all sizes, solos, duets, trios, and concertos. His wife Maria died suddenly in 1720, and a year later he married Anna Wulken, a fine singer.

Bach remained at Cothen until 1723 (age 38), when the Prince’s new wife decided she preferred less serious music that which Bach composed. Bach moved to Leipzig , Germany, and became choirmaster at a private choir school. He also supervised the music in two Leipzig churches and wrote music for all church occasions. Bach was never totally happy in this position but he took the job so his children could be educated at the school. When he was a court musician, professionals musicians were available to perform his music. Here his music was performed, often poorly, by student and amateur musicians. His pay was less than at Cothen and his living conditions were sub-standard; nevertheless, Bach remained at the choir school for the rest of his life.

In Leipzig, Bach composed almost endlessly, providing music for both the church and the community. He also taught music, Latin, and conducted the choir at the choir school. Occasionally, he travelled throughout Europe to hear the music of other composers.

In appearance, Bach was a bit overweight. He was courteous, dignified, and loyal to his friends. As a teacher, he was considerate and patient with his students. As a composer, he approached his work as a job that had to be done. When asked to describe his life as a composer, he answered, “I worked hard.” He wrote in all musical forms and styles except opera. Bach probably would not have expected his music to be performed today, more than 250 years after his death; his goal was to simply to create music for everyday occasions in eighteenth century Leipzig.