The life story of composer Johann Sebastian Bach

NowYouKnowAbout

20 Mar 202005:29

Summary

TLDRJohann Sebastian Bach, born in 1685 in Eisenach, Germany, was a prodigious composer and musician from a musical family. He worked as a court musician and later as a director of music, composing over a thousand pieces, including the renowned 'Well-Tempered Clavier' and 'Brandenburg Concertos.' Despite his high standards and occasional clashes with his employers, Bach's music, ranging from church compositions to lullabies, has left a lasting legacy, making him one of the most celebrated composers in classical music history.

Takeaways

🎵 Johann Sebastian Bach was a renowned composer of the Baroque period, known for his significant contributions to classical music.
👴 Born in 1685, he lived almost twice as long as Mozart, who died at 35, and passed away at the age of 65.
🎭 Bach was born in Eisenach, Germany, at a time when Germany was a collection of small states, not yet a unified country.
🎼 Coming from a musical family, Bach's father was a town musician, and his uncles were professional musicians.
🏡 After the death of his parents, Bach moved in with his brother Johann Christoph, who taught him music.
🎓 At 15, Bach won a singing scholarship to St. Michael's, a prestigious boarding school, where he further honed his musical skills.
💼 Bach's first job was as a court musician for the Duke of Weimar, where he started with menial tasks and eventually became the director of music.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 He married his cousin Maria Barbara, with whom he had seven children, two of whom also became composers.
🏆 Bach's work, including the Well-Tempered Clavier and the Brandenburg Concertos, showcases his mastery of various musical forms and his innovative approach.
🏛️ He held the esteemed position of the Thomas Cantor in Leipzig, composing and performing music for four churches, demonstrating his prolific output.
👨‍⚕️ Bach's later life was marked by declining eyesight, leading to an unsuccessful surgery that resulted in blindness, and he died shortly thereafter.
🌟 Today, Bach is celebrated as one of the greatest composers in history, leaving behind over a thousand pieces of music that span various genres and purposes.

Q & A

How old would Johann Sebastian Bach be if he were alive today?
-Johann Sebastian Bach would be over 330 years old if he were alive today.
What was the lifespan of Bach compared to Mozart?
-Bach lived for 65 years, which is almost twice as long as Mozart.
What significant historical figures lived during the same time as Bach?
-Bach lived at the same time as the scientist Isaac Newton and the founding fathers of the USA, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.
Where was Johann Sebastian Bach born and in what year?
-Bach was born in Eisenach, in the middle of Germany, in the year 1685.
What was the profession of Bach's father?
-Bach's father was the head of the town musicians.
At what age did Bach lose both his parents and move in with his brother?
-Bach was only 10 years old when he lost both his parents and had to move in with his older brother, Johann Christoph.
What was Bach's first job as a musician?
-Bach's first job as a musician was as a court musician for the Duke of Weimar.
How many children did Bach have with his wife Maria Barbara?
-Bach and his wife Maria Barbara had seven children, though only four of them reached adulthood.
What was the significance of the 'Well-Tempered Clavier' that Bach composed?
-The 'Well-Tempered Clavier' is a collection of preludes and fugues in every major and minor key, showcasing Bach's mastery of composition.
What was the reason behind Bach's move to Leipzig?
-Bach moved to Leipzig to take up the position of the Thomas Cantor, which involved composing and performing music for four churches.
What health issue did Bach face in his later years, and what was the consequence of the attempted treatment?
-In his later years, Bach faced problems with his eyesight. An attempted surgery to correct this issue went wrong, resulting in his blindness, and he died shortly after.

Outlines

00:00

🎼 Johann Sebastian Bach: A Musical Genius

This paragraph introduces Johann Sebastian Bach, one of the most renowned composers in classical music history. Born in 1685 in Eisenach, Germany, Bach belonged to a highly musical family and was exposed to music from a young age. His father was a town musician, and his uncles were professional musicians. After the death of his parents, he moved in with his brother, Johann Christoph, who taught him about music. At 15, Bach won a singing scholarship to St. Michael's, a prestigious boarding school. He later became a court musician for the Duke of Weimar, where he started as an organist and choir director. Bach was known for his high standards and was not satisfied with the choir's performance, leading him to seek inspiration from other musicians. He eventually became the director of music, allowing him to work with a high-quality orchestra and compose extensively. His works include the Well-Tempered Clavier, a collection of preludes and fugues in every major and minor key. Despite a job offer from the Prince of Cothen, Bach stayed with the Duke of Weimar, focusing on composing music for various instruments and orchestras, including the Brandenburg Concertos. After six years, he moved to Leipzig to become the Thomas Cantor, a position that involved composing and performing music for four churches. His later years were marked by declining eyesight, and he underwent surgery that unfortunately led to blindness. Bach passed away shortly after, leaving behind over a thousand pieces of music that continue to be celebrated today.

05:11

🎵 Exploring Bach's Music: A Journey Through Time

The second paragraph serves as an invitation to explore Johann Sebastian Bach's music, emphasizing the timeless and diverse nature of his compositions. It suggests that Bach's music is not only for listening but also for experiencing various emotions and activities. The paragraph concludes with a musical interlude, encouraging the listener to check out Bach's music for themselves, hinting at the joy and depth that can be found in his works.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach is a central figure in the video, renowned as one of the most famous composers in classical music. Born in 1685 in Eisenach, Germany, he was part of a highly musical family. Throughout his life, Bach composed over a thousand pieces of music across various genres, including church music, orchestral works, and pieces for solo instruments. His work, such as the 'Well-Tempered Clavier' and 'Brandenburg Concertos,' showcases his mastery of counterpoint and harmony, and his influence on Western classical music is profound.

💡Baroque Period

The Baroque Period is a historical era in art music that spans from the late 16th to the mid-18th century. It is characterized by its ornate and intricate style, with a strong emphasis on contrasts, elaborate melodies, and a dramatic use of dynamics. In the script, the Baroque Period is mentioned as the era during which Bach lived and composed, and it is suggested that his music is emblematic of this period's style.

💡Composer

A composer is a person who creates music, either by writing the melodies, harmonies, and rhythms or by combining different musical elements. In the context of the video, Bach is highlighted as a composer, and his compositions are the focus of the narrative. The video discusses his creative process and the legacy of his compositions, which include complex works like the 'Goldberg Variations' and 'Toccata and Fugue in D minor.'

💡Court Musician

A court musician is a musician who is employed by a royal or noble court to provide music for entertainment, ceremonies, and other functions. In the script, Bach is mentioned to have worked as a court musician, which involved playing the organ, leading the choir, and composing music for the Duke of Weimar and other noble patrons. This role was significant in his career, as it provided him with the resources and support to create his music.

💡Organist

An organist is a musician who plays the organ, a keyboard instrument that produces sound through a system of pipes. The video emphasizes Bach's skill as an organist, noting that he was a 'brilliant organist' in his lifetime. His proficiency in playing the organ was so renowned that it was akin to being a 'rock star' of his day, and it played a significant role in establishing his reputation.

💡Well-Tempered Clavier

The 'Well-Tempered Clavier' is a collection of two sets of preludes and fugues composed by Bach, each written in all 24 major and minor keys. This work is a significant contribution to the development of Western tonality and is a testament to Bach's mastery of counterpoint and keyboard composition. In the video, it is mentioned as an example of his innovative approach to composition and his technical virtuosity.

💡Brandenburg Concertos

The 'Brandenburg Concertos' are a set of six orchestral compositions that Bach presented to Christian Ludwig, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt, in 1721. These concertos are considered some of the best examples of orchestral music from the Baroque era. The video mentions them as an example of Bach's work for orchestras and his focus on music for various instruments like violins, flutes, and lutes.

💡Thomas Cantor

The Thomas Cantor refers to the position Bach held at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, where he was responsible for composing and directing music for the church's services. This role was the most significant and stable of his career, and it allowed him to produce a vast amount of sacred music. The video highlights this position as the 'best job in music' and underscores the importance of his church music in his oeuvre.

💡Musical Family

A musical family is a family where music is a significant part of the family's life and occupation. In the script, it is mentioned that Bach was born into a 'musical family,' with his father being the head of the town musicians and his uncles all being professional musicians. This environment likely played a crucial role in shaping his musical talents and interests.

💡Blindness

Blindness is the condition of lacking sight or the ability to see. In the video, it is recounted that Bach underwent an eye surgery at the age of 65 that unfortunately resulted in him becoming blind. This event is significant as it marked the end of his composing career and led to his death shortly thereafter. Despite this tragic turn, his legacy as a composer and musician remains undiminished.

Highlights

Johann Sebastian Bach would be over 330 years old now, having lived for 65 years.

Bach lived almost twice as long as Mozart.

He is one of classical music's most famous composers.

Bach was born 70 years after Shakespeare and died six years before Mozart.

He lived at the same time as Isaac Newton and the founding fathers of the USA.

Bach was born in Eisenach, Germany, in 1685.

He was born into a musical family, with everyone playing or composing music.

At 10, Bach moved in with his older brother after the death of his parents.

At 15, Bach won a singing scholarship to St. Michael's, a smart boarding school.

Bach's first job was as a court musician for the Duke of Weimar.

He married his cousin Maria Barbara, with whom he had seven children.

Bach wrote his famous Toccata and Fugue during his time at Weimar.

He once walked 450 kilometers to see the superstar organist Dietrich Buxtehude perform.

Bach was promoted to director of music, allowing him to work with high-quality musicians.

He composed the Well-Tempered Clavier, a set of preludes and fugues in every major and minor key.

Bach received a job offer from the Prince of Cothen, where he focused on music for violins, flutes, and lutes.

The Brandenburg Concertos were composed as a present for the nobleman Lord Brandenburg.

Bach moved to Leipzig to start the best job in music at the Thomas Church.

He composed music for four churches in Leipzig, demonstrating an immense workload.

The Goldberg Variations were written for a Russian ambassador who couldn't sleep.

Bach was known as a brilliant organist in his lifetime.

He left us with over a thousand pieces of music to enjoy.