Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750)

Johann Sebastian Bach is regarded as one of the greatest composers in the history of Western classical music. His work, characterized by intricate musical complexity and intellectual depth, left a profound influence on successive generations of musicians and music lovers alike.

Early life and education

Bach was born on March 21, 1685, in Eisenach, a town in the duchy of Saxe-Eisenach, in the central part of Germany. He belonged to a long line of musicians, which can be traced back to his great-great-grandfather, Veit Bach. Johann’s father, Johann Ambrosius Bach, was a town musician, and it was from him that Johann received his first musical instruction.

Sadly, both of Bach’s parents died when he was just 10 years old, and he was then taken in by his older brother Johann Christoph, an organist in Ohrdruf. Bach’s brother provided him with further music instruction and introduced him to the works of composers of the day, such as Johann Pachelbel and Johann Jakob Froberger.

Early career

At the age of 15, Bach was enrolled at the prestigious St. Michael’s School in Lüneburg. During his time there, he was exposed to a wider breadth of European culture, including the music of the French and Italian masters. This exposure expanded his horizons and later played a significant role in shaping his own compositional style.

In 1703, he was appointed as the violinist in the chamber orchestra of Prince Johann Ernst III in Weimar. Later that same year, Bach became the organist at the New Church in Arnstadt. His time at Arnstadt was not entirely smooth, with complaints about his elaborate playing style and his unauthorized absences to study with the organist Buxtehude.

Middle years

In 1707, Bach was appointed organist at the Church of St. Blaise in Mühlhausen, where he wrote one of his first known cantatas, “Actus tragicus” (BWV 106). A year later, he moved back to Weimar, accepting a position as a court organist and concertmaster. Bach’s time in Weimar (1708–1717) was a prolific period where he composed a substantial portion of his organ works.

In 1717, Bach was appointed Kapellmeister (director of music) at the court of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen. During his tenure here, Bach’s compositions were chiefly instrumental, including concertos, orchestral suites, sonatas, and part of his work “The Well-Tempered Clavier.”

Later years and legacy

In 1723, Bach became Cantor of St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, a position he held until his death in 1750. His responsibilities included teaching music and leading church services, but he also found time to compose numerous works, including his “Passions” (such as St. Matthew Passion and St. John Passion), the “Mass in B minor,” and the “Christmas Oratorio.”

Despite his prolific output, Bach’s music was not widely recognized during his lifetime compared to other contemporaries. However, his work was rediscovered in the 19th century and has since been considered among the greatest in Western music for its intellectual depth, technical command, and artistic beauty. He made significant contributions in virtually every genre of the day except opera.

The influence of Bach’s music pervades the work of subsequent composers. His mastery of form and harmony, as well as his ability to unify complex musical elements, made him a model for many who followed. He is today revered for his abilities as an organist, for his understanding of counterpoint and harmonic structure, and for the enduring quality and depth of his compositions.

Johann Sebastian Bach died in Leipzig on July 28, 1750. His final years were marked by failing eyesight and ill health, but he continued composing and performing, leaving behind a legacy of more than 1,000 compositions spanning virtually every form of music of his time. Bach’s music remains widely performed and studied, cementing his reputation as one of the pillars of Western classical music.