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Bach a Great Composer

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Ross Simard

Who is the greatest composer that has ever lived? That is a question that can lead to many debates and possibly arguments. There are as many great composers, each using the styles and methods of their time, that one will have a very difficult time naming one single composer the greatest throughout the history of music. Composers have come along that mastered the style of their era, and there have been composers that have broken down the barriers of what music, in their time, was supposed to be. There are those composers that had such an impact on music that their deaths have marked the end of that era of music. To name one single composer as being the greatest, would be like determining which grain of sand on the beach is the most important. They are all equally important to making the beach look as beautiful as it is. The composer that drew my attention was Johann Sebastian Bach. He was undoubtedly one of the greatest composers of his time. Throughout his lifetime,
Bach was an outstanding organ player. Born in 1685 to musical parents, Bach was the youngest of eight children. His family was a musical family, so the young Bach was set off for a career in music from a young age. He learned to play the organ and harpsichord at an early age.
His parents died when Bach was only ten years old. Fortunately enough for young
Johann, he had a brother that took him in. His older brother, Johann Christoph, was able to further Bach’s musical training. While living in Luneburg, Bach obtained a position in the choir at St. Michael’s School. Bach remained in Germany his entire life, never leaving once.
Throughout German, however, Bach held numerous positions during his career at churches, and in the Country’s courts. St. Boniface Church hired Bach in 1703 as the church organist.
During this time, Bach took a leave of absence, traveling to Lubbock, Germany to listen to the great organist, Dietrich Buxtehude. Bach was so eager to hear Buxtehude that he had made the entire journey on foot. The leave that he had taken from St. Boniface, only a month, quickly turned to several months, and Bach was forced to find a new position elsewhere. He was offered Buxtehude’s position, but could not accept the stipulations that the position demanded, “which was to marry one of Buxtehude’s daughters” (Bach’s Life and Works.).
Since she was considerably older than him, Bach refused. Bach found his new position as the organist for the Church of St. Blaise in Muhlhausen. While at St. Blaise, and still very inspired by Buxtehude, “Bach wanted to
Present Muhlhausen with what Bach called well-ordered church music” (Bach’s Life and works).
His music that he composed there, which included a cantata, was enthusiastically welcomed by the Church’s council. It was so revered, that it was printed and recorded in city records.
Still, there were those who were not in agreement with Bach’s compositions, particularly his pastor, who pushed him to seek out a new position elsewhere. Bach, being a strong, devout Lutheran, wrote in his request for an honorable dismissal, stated his goal in life is “with all goodwill to conduct well-ordered church music to the honor of God”(Encyclopedia of World Biography). In fact, since doing this research on Bach, I have more understanding on the importance the Church and God had on
Bach. The previous quote gives clarity to the direction Bach took with most of his composures. Bach took up post as the Court organist for Duke Wilhelm Ernst. This was his third position in only five years. Each position was changed due to some unfavorable condition that Bach was not able to adhere to. During the years at Weimar, there was an enormous output of organ music. Bach, again, changed his position. He found himself conducting the Court
Orchestra for Prince Leopold in Cothen. Since his service was to that of the Courts, Bach produced many pieces. His inspiration, however, was slowed due to the death of his beloved, Maria Barbara, his first wife. Bach had four children with his first wife. Later the next year, Bach met his second wife, Anna Wilcke. The great composer and Anna were blessed with thirteen children (unfortunately few of them survived through childhood), during the next twenty years of their marriage. During his time at Cothen, Bach composed, to what many believe to be his greatest works. “Bach produced his greatest instrumental works during the Cothen period” (World Biography). Prince Leopold married the Princess of Anhalt-Bernberg in 1721.
The Prince’s new wife soon convinced the Prince to re-think their finances, and choose to look towards other endeavors. This was too much for Bach, and keeping with his previous track record, once again began to look for a new position elsewhere. Bach, being a deeply religious man, also desired to provide a strong Orthodox
Lutheran upbringing for his family. Bach was able to acquire a post at St. Thomas’ Church in Leipzig, Germany. It was not easy to acquire this position, though. the Leipzig committee was reluctant to appoint Bach. they typically sought composers with a university degree. “He did not have a university degree, and his reputation was primarily as an organist, not as a composer” (World Biography). Bach’s duties were to provide choral music for notonly St. Thomas, but also the nearby St. Nicholas’ Church. Each Sunday a cantata was performed, alternating between the two churches. In addition, festive days and other r occasions, required special music. “In his arrangement with the Council, Bach promised to perform not only the musical duties, but also other responsibilities in connection with St. Thomas’ School, such as teach classes in music, giving private instruction in singing and even teaching Latin” (Life and Works). As mentioned before, Bach looked at music as a means for making a living, direction for his fellow man, and a way to honor God. His position in Leipzig allowed him to do all three. Bach produced an amazing amount of music during his time at
Leipzig. “295 church cantatas, 6 great motets, the 5 masses, including the B Minor Mass, and the great Passions and oratories” (Life and Works). Bach was required to compose a new cantata every week. The St. Matthew Passion was composed during this time, which is regarded as one of western music’s great masterpieces. During this time, towards the end of 1749, Bach began to lose his eyesight. Being totally blind in the last year of his life, Bach was stricken with a stroke, followed by an unforgiving fever. On “July 28, 1750” ( ), Bach died. He was buried in St. John’s Cemetery. Unfortunately, his grave was not marked with any tombstone; it was soon forgotten. When St. John’s Church was rebuilt over a hundred years later, some Bach’s admirers succeed in having what was believed to be Bach’s bones exhumed and re-buried in a vault. Sadly the Church was destroyed during World War II. Once again, Bach’s remains were rescued and in 1949 laid to rest in the altar room of the Thomaskirche. Today, they remain there. Bach’s sons, four of them, continued their Father’s work as composers. Bach composed his music with the idea of no unnecessary not. “All served to profoundly interpret the text” (Musical Quarterly). Bach’s music was an expression of his faith
He composed most of his works “in the name of Jesus” (Musical Quarterly), and “to the glory of
God alone” (Musical Quarterly). He mastered the polyphonic style and remarkable heights with his St. Matthew Passion. So, in conclusion, to the question of, “Who is the greatest Composer?”, again no one man can claim that title, but with his musical symbolism, and his dramatic flair, Bach can be put on the list of most influential ones. His death is looked at by historians as marking the end of the musical Baroque era. Such an inspiration cannot be overlooked. Many composers were inspired by Bach, and his influence can be best described in the words of
Johannes Brahurs “Study Bach: there you will find everything” (Life and Works).

Works Cited
“Selected Websites on Johann Sebastian Bach’s Life and Works.” Gale Biography in Context. Detroit: Gale, 2009. Biography In Context. Web. 22 2013
“Johann Sebastian Bach.” Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detriot: Gale, 1998. Biography In Context. Web. 21 June 2013.
Joshua Rifkin. “The Chronology of Bach’s Saint Matthew Passion.” The Musical Quarterly Vol. 61. No. 3(Jul,.1975). pp. 360-387. Oxford University Press

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