Bach was born in the present day Germany in the capital of duchy of Saxe-Eisenach on March 21, 1685. His mother had eight other children and taught him music theory and how to play the violin at a very young age. Many of his family members were professional musicians including Johann Christoph Bach, his uncle, and Johann Ludwig Bach, his cousin. At the age of ten his parents died so he lived with his oldest brother who played the organ. He studies and performed music with his brother while living with him and even copied some of his music. His brother also taught him to play the clavichord, which is a stringed keyboard instrument from Europe. He was exposed to composers such as Johann Pachelbel, Jean-Baptiste Lully, Louis Marchand, and Marin Marias. By 1700 Bach attended St. Michael’s School in Luneburg, which was considered to be a prestigious school. There he played the three-manual organ and harpsichords while also singing in the choir. While at school Back frequented St. John’s Church where he had access to one of the most famous organs in history. He also took trips during this time to watch Johann Adam Reincken, another famous organist.
As Bach graduated and entered adulthood he applied to be an organist in Sangerhausen but was turned down. From there he went on to the Chapel of Duke Johann Ernst III, in Weimar, and was appointed the court musician. He was eventually invited to be the organist for the New Church in Arnstadt. Though Bach was paid a reasonable salary he had tensions with his boss and eventually moved to Muhlhausen to be the organist for Blasius Church in 1706. This is where he married his second cousin Maria Barbara Bach that same year. He published his first known major piece, Gott ist mein Konig, in 1708. That same year Bach and his wife moved back to Weimer and lived near the ducal palace and had their first child Catharina Dorothea. Over the years they went on to have three more children Wilhelm Friedemann, Carl Philipp Emanuel, and Johann Gottfried Bernhard. During this time Bach started to compose pieces with dramatic opening and dynamic motor rhythms, which he drew from many Italian composers such as Vivaldi, Corelli, and Torelli. Between 1722 and 1744 he composed the preludes and fugues, which made up two books called The Well-Tempered Calvier. While in Weimar he also began work on his book containing Lutheran chorales called Little Organ Book. In 1714 was promoted to Konzertmeister in the castle church. Three years later he was dismissed when he fell out of favor and was jailed for a month in the process. Bach then moved onto work for Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Kothen, as his director of music. Back mostly composed secular pieces including the orchestral suites, cello suites, sonatas and partitas for solo violin, and the Brandenburg Concertos. The prince majorly influenced his style with his love of dance music. In 1720, Bach’s wife died and he married Anna Magdalena Wilcke, who was also a performer in court, a year later. They had six children named Gottfried Heinrich, Elisabeth Juliane Friedercia, Johann Christoph Friedrich, Johann Christian, Johanna Carolina, and Regina Susanna. In 1723, Bach provided music to St. Thomas Church, St. Nichols Church, New Church, and St. Peter’s Church when he was appointed Cantor of the Thomasschule. He composed, performed, and taught music there for twenty-seven years until his death. Bach became ill in 1749 and started to go blind. His eyes were operated on …show more content…
After this he started to gain reputation as one of the greatest composers of all time. In the 20th century classical performers and composer’s started paying tribute to Bach with their own work. For many years after his death Bach wasn’t really known for being a composer but was known for his skill on the organ and his teaching. That has certainly changed over the centuries as Bach is now mostly known for his compositions. Some of Bach’s most famous works include The Brandenburg Concertos, The 48 Preludes and fugues "Well Tempered Klavier", The Goldberg Variations, The Concerto for Two Violins, The B minor, Mass, The St Matthew Passion, and The 6 solo cello
As Bach graduated and entered adulthood he applied to be an organist in Sangerhausen but was turned down. From there he went on to the Chapel of Duke Johann Ernst III, in Weimar, and was appointed the court musician. He was eventually invited to be the organist for the New Church in Arnstadt. Though Bach was paid a reasonable salary he had tensions with his boss and eventually moved to Muhlhausen to be the organist for Blasius Church in 1706. This is where he married his second cousin Maria Barbara Bach that same year. He published his first known major piece, Gott ist mein Konig, in 1708. That same year Bach and his wife moved back to Weimer and lived near the ducal palace and had their first child Catharina Dorothea. Over the years they went on to have three more children Wilhelm Friedemann, Carl Philipp Emanuel, and Johann Gottfried Bernhard. During this time Bach started to compose pieces with dramatic opening and dynamic motor rhythms, which he drew from many Italian composers such as Vivaldi, Corelli, and Torelli. Between 1722 and 1744 he composed the preludes and fugues, which made up two books called The Well-Tempered Calvier. While in Weimar he also began work on his book containing Lutheran chorales called Little Organ Book. In 1714 was promoted to Konzertmeister in the castle church. Three years later he was dismissed when he fell out of favor and was jailed for a month in the process. Bach then moved onto work for Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Kothen, as his director of music. Back mostly composed secular pieces including the orchestral suites, cello suites, sonatas and partitas for solo violin, and the Brandenburg Concertos. The prince majorly influenced his style with his love of dance music. In 1720, Bach’s wife died and he married Anna Magdalena Wilcke, who was also a performer in court, a year later. They had six children named Gottfried Heinrich, Elisabeth Juliane Friedercia, Johann Christoph Friedrich, Johann Christian, Johanna Carolina, and Regina Susanna. In 1723, Bach provided music to St. Thomas Church, St. Nichols Church, New Church, and St. Peter’s Church when he was appointed Cantor of the Thomasschule. He composed, performed, and taught music there for twenty-seven years until his death. Bach became ill in 1749 and started to go blind. His eyes were operated on …show more content…
After this he started to gain reputation as one of the greatest composers of all time. In the 20th century classical performers and composer’s started paying tribute to Bach with their own work. For many years after his death Bach wasn’t really known for being a composer but was known for his skill on the organ and his teaching. That has certainly changed over the centuries as Bach is now mostly known for his compositions. Some of Bach’s most famous works include The Brandenburg Concertos, The 48 Preludes and fugues "Well Tempered Klavier", The Goldberg Variations, The Concerto for Two Violins, The B minor, Mass, The St Matthew Passion, and The 6 solo cello