The life story of composer Johann Sebastian Bach

Summary

Johann 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.