Johann Sebastian Bach (1685- 1750)

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Johann Sebastian Bach

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Johann Sebastian Bach (1685- 1750)

Young Life

Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, said to be one of the best organists of his time (Baroque Music). He was born in March 1685 in Eisenach, Thuringia as the youngest of eight children. His father Johann Ambrosius was also a musician and a court trumpeter for the Duke of Eisenach, and Director of the musicians in Eisenach (Baroque Music). Bach came from a family with a music talent, with his family members having held positions as organists, Cantors, instrumentalists in Thuringia.

His Music Career

Johann Sebastian Bach was a composer, a musician, teacher, and organist who later became a specialist in construction of organs. Bach learnt to play the violin, the orchestra, and the organ from his father and his famous uncle and twin brother to the father, Johann Christoph at a young age. The organ was his chosen instrument. He also achieved success in the art of Fugue, choral polyphone, instrumental music and dance forms. In Eisenach he attended Old Latin Grammar School, the same school that Martin Luther had attended. He sang in the schools choir. His parents died before Bach was 10 years old. His mother died when Bach was nine years old, his father’s death followed nine months later (Sherrane, 2011). After the parents death Bach was taken in by his older brother Johann Christoph who had already established himself as an organist in Ohrdruf. Johann Christoph had a great influence in Bach’s success in music as he taught him and encouraged him to study music composition. At the same time Bach was attending the Gymnasium grammar school in Ohrdruf where he studied theology, Latin...

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Bach had and an unsuccessful eye operation in 1749 which resulted to total blindness. This did not deter him from music as he continued to compose music by dictating the composition to his pupil. He died of a stroke in July 1750 and was buried in an unmarked grave at St. Thomas Church. However his body was later exhumed and reburied in Johanniskirche (Baroque Music).

His death marked the end of Baroque music. Bach left a music legacy. His music has been studied and continues to be studied by several generations of composers and musicians.

Works Cited

Baroque Music (n.d). Johann Sebastian Bach. Retrieved from http://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxjsbach.html

Koster, J., (n.d). J. S. Bach. Retrieved from http://www.jsbach.org/biography.html

Sherranne, R., (2011). The Baroque age: Johann Sebastian Bach. Retrieved from http://www.ipl.org/div/mushist/bar/bach.html

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