Johann Sebastian Bach

Nationality: German

Born: Eisenach, March 21^st 1685

Died: Leipzig, July 28^th 1750

Type of music: Sacred music, Cantatas, instrumental music, keyboard music

Main works: Brandenburg Concertos (1721), Goldberg variations (1722), Well tempered clavier (1722-44), Mass in B minor (1749), The art of fugue (1750)

Bach today isn't just considered to be the best composer of the Baroque era, but possibly the greatest composer of all time. During his lifetime he mastered several keyboard instruments, while devoting himself and his music to the service of the church. He was born into a family of successful musicians, and at the age of 10 Bach moved to Ohrdruf to live with his brother who was an organist. It is most likely he taught Bach before he attained a place at St Michaels school in Luneburg. Here he studied music and sang in the choir until he left in 1702.

Bach briefly worked as a violinist at the Weimar ducal court before he was appointed the position of organist at a church in Arnstadt. Here he began his compositional career and in the winter of 1705-06, it is said Bach walked approximately 260 miles to Lubeck to see Dietrich Buxtehude performing. (Another virtuoso organist).

In 1708 Bach moved again to the Weimar ducal court. Here Bach took up the position of organist at the ducal chapel. Here Bach began to compose cantatas for court performances, and also instrumental music for the court orchestra.

However in 1717, after his relationship with Duke Wilhelm Ernst had broken down, he took up the position of Kapellmeister for Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cothen. Here most of the works Bach composed were secular compositions, as needed. This includes the Brandenburg concertos, his famous double concerto in D minor, orchestral suites and sonatas.

In 1721, Bach remarried to the singer and harpsichordist Anna Magdalena for whom he dedicated 'The Well Tempered Clavier' to. In May of 1723 Bach moved to his final post which was the Cantor at a school in Leipzig. Here Bach taught music and also provided music for the two churches in the town. Most notably, Bach composed roughly 250 Cantatas for Sunday church services, which are works written for voices and orchestra. He also composed two settings of the Passion, his famous Mass in B minor and the Christmas Oratorio. One of Bach's last major compositions was the Goldberg variations, a work based on a fugue setting written for Harpsichord.

Bach's music held little influence during the classical period, but was rediscovered in the 19^th Century, particularly by Mendelssohn, and his music is still performed all over the world today.

"Johann Sebastian Bach has done everything completely, he was a man through and through”. - Franz Schubert

Spotify link for the Classical Cafe playlist:

https://play.spotify.com/user/1146446707/playlist/722kiKqGuaxYnbQqnjifAr