J.S.Bach Biography - A Very Quick Guide
Artist:
J.S.Bach
Born:
21 March 1685, Eisenach
Died:
28 July 1750, Leipzig
Where and when was J.S. Bach born?
J.S. Bach was born in Eisenach, now in Germany, on March 21st 1685, the same year as two other baroque giants, George Frederick Handel and Domenico Scarlatti.
Did Bach have a happy childhood?
Bach’s childhood was tainted by the loss of his parents at the age of 10. He was subsequently brought up by his brother Johann Christoph Bach, with whom he continued his musical studies.
What type of music did Bach write?
Bach wrote in almost every genre of the time, both sacred and secular, vocal and instrumental. This incudes sacred cantatas, vocal works consisting of choruses, arias and chorales designed for use in church; oratorio-like Passion music and other religious music such as masses; orchestral suites; concertos; solo keyboard music, especially for harpsichord and organ; and works for other solo instruments, especially the violin and cello.
The most notable genre that he did not contribute to was opera, though his Passion music is dramatic enough to sometimes have been staged in modern performances.
Where did J.S. Bach work?
Bach held a number of appointments during his lifetime. The most significant of these were his appointments at Weimar (1708–1717), where he was organist and director of music at the ducal court; at Köthen (1717–1723), where he was Kapellmeister to Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen; and at Leipzig (1723–1750) where he was Director of Church Music and responsible for St. Thomas School.
What was the most curious incident in his life?
After asking to take his leave from his position in Weimar in order to begin at Köthen, his employer, Duke Wilhem Ernst, in a fit of indignant rage had Bach imprisoned for 30 days for this ‘stubborness’ and ‘too much insistence.’ He eventually relented, allowing Bach to take up his new position.
What made Bach’s style unique?
Bach is particularly known for mathematical complexity of his music, most obviously manifested in his mastery of counterpoint—the weaving together of separate lines within a musical texture. What truly makes him great, however, is the marriage of this technical complexity with emotional depth and spirituality, imbuing his music with profound humanity.
What were Bach’s most important works?
It is sometimes said that Bach wrote no bad music, almost every work being imbued with his genius. His most celebrated, however, include his Brandenburg Concertos; keyboard works such as the Well-Tempered Clavier and the Goldberg Variations; organ works such as the Schübler Chorales and Passacaglia and Fugue and C minor; and his St. John and St. Matthew Passions and Mass in B Minor.
Is it true Bach had a large family?
Bach was born into a family with a long musical pedigree, his father, who likely was responsible for his son’s initial musical education, being the court trumpeter and director of the town musicians in Eisenach.
Bach himself had 20 children, though only 10 survived to adulthood. Of these, the most illustrious were Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and Johann Christian Bach, who both continued the family tradition by becoming important composers in their own right.
How did Bach die?
Bach died in Leipzig on July 28, 1750, his failing health worsened by an unsuccessful eye operation. He was 65.
What were J.S. Bach’s Last words?
Bach’s last words were said to be ‘Don’t cry for me, for I go where music is born,’ reflecting a life lived in the service of God and his art.
J.S. Bach was born in Eisenach, now in Germany, on March 21st 1685, the same year as two other baroque giants, George Frederick Handel and Domenico Scarlatti.
Did Bach have a happy childhood?
Bach’s childhood was tainted by the loss of his parents at the age of 10. He was subsequently brought up by his brother Johann Christoph Bach, with whom he continued his musical studies.
What type of music did Bach write?
Bach wrote in almost every genre of the time, both sacred and secular, vocal and instrumental. This incudes sacred cantatas, vocal works consisting of choruses, arias and chorales designed for use in church; oratorio-like Passion music and other religious music such as masses; orchestral suites; concertos; solo keyboard music, especially for harpsichord and organ; and works for other solo instruments, especially the violin and cello.
The most notable genre that he did not contribute to was opera, though his Passion music is dramatic enough to sometimes have been staged in modern performances.
Where did J.S. Bach work?
Bach held a number of appointments during his lifetime. The most significant of these were his appointments at Weimar (1708–1717), where he was organist and director of music at the ducal court; at Köthen (1717–1723), where he was Kapellmeister to Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen; and at Leipzig (1723–1750) where he was Director of Church Music and responsible for St. Thomas School.
What was the most curious incident in his life?
After asking to take his leave from his position in Weimar in order to begin at Köthen, his employer, Duke Wilhem Ernst, in a fit of indignant rage had Bach imprisoned for 30 days for this ‘stubborness’ and ‘too much insistence.’ He eventually relented, allowing Bach to take up his new position.
What made Bach’s style unique?
Bach is particularly known for mathematical complexity of his music, most obviously manifested in his mastery of counterpoint—the weaving together of separate lines within a musical texture. What truly makes him great, however, is the marriage of this technical complexity with emotional depth and spirituality, imbuing his music with profound humanity.
What were Bach’s most important works?
It is sometimes said that Bach wrote no bad music, almost every work being imbued with his genius. His most celebrated, however, include his Brandenburg Concertos; keyboard works such as the Well-Tempered Clavier and the Goldberg Variations; organ works such as the Schübler Chorales and Passacaglia and Fugue and C minor; and his St. John and St. Matthew Passions and Mass in B Minor.
Is it true Bach had a large family?
Bach was born into a family with a long musical pedigree, his father, who likely was responsible for his son’s initial musical education, being the court trumpeter and director of the town musicians in Eisenach.
Bach himself had 20 children, though only 10 survived to adulthood. Of these, the most illustrious were Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and Johann Christian Bach, who both continued the family tradition by becoming important composers in their own right.
How did Bach die?
Bach died in Leipzig on July 28, 1750, his failing health worsened by an unsuccessful eye operation. He was 65.
What were J.S. Bach’s Last words?
Bach’s last words were said to be ‘Don’t cry for me, for I go where music is born,’ reflecting a life lived in the service of God and his art.
Useful recources:
The J.S. Bach Home Page — Interactive database of J.S. Bach's works.
All of Bach (Netherlands Bach Society) — project aiming to perform & record all Bach’s works.
Bach-Archiv Leipzig — research institute with biography, manuscripts & resources.
Encyclopaedia Britannica — Johann Sebastian Bach
Wikipedia — Johann Sebastian Bach
The American Bach Society — supports study & performance of Bach’s music, with links and resources.
8notes J.S. Bach Collection — Free J.S. Bach Sheet Music
Top Pieces on 8notes by J.S.Bach