Premium Essay

Biography of Bach

In:

Submitted By sleepypanda
Words 1462
Pages 6
Synopsis

Born on March 31, 1685 (N.S.), in Eisenach, Thuringia, Germany, Johann Sebastian Bach had a prestigious musical lineage and took on various organist positions during the early 18th century, creating famous compositions like "Toccata and Fugue in D minor." Some of his best-known compositions are the "Mass in B Minor," the "Brandenburg Concertos" and "The Well-Tempered Clavier." Bach died in Leipzig, Germany, on July 28, 1750. Today, he is considered one of the greatest Western composers of all time.

Childhood

Born in Eisenach, Thuringia, Germany, on March 31, 1685 (N.S.) / March 21, 1685 (O.S.), Johann Sebastian Bach came from a family of musicians, stretching back several generations. His father, Johann Ambrosius, worked as the town musician in Eisenach, and it is believed that he taught young Johann to play the violin.

At the age of 7, Bach went to school where he received religious instruction and studied Latin and other subjects. His Lutheran faith would influence his later musical works. By the time he turned 10, Bach found himself an orphan after the death of both of his parents. His older brother Johann Christoph, a church organist in Ohrdruf, took him in. Johann Christoph provided some further musical instruction for his younger brother and enrolled him in a local school. Bach stayed with his brother's family until he was 15.

Bach had a beautiful soprano singing voice, which helped him land a place at a school in Lüneburg. Sometime after his arrival, his voice changed and Bach switched to playing the violin and the harpsichord. Bach was greatly influenced by a local organist named George Böhm. In 1703, he landed his first job as a musician at the court of Duke Johann Ernst in Weimar. There he was a jack-of-all-trades, serving as a violinist at times and filling in for the official organist in other moments.

Early Career

Bach had a

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Bach: A Brief Biography Of Johann Sebastian Bach

...Bach was born in Germany on March 21, 1685 into a family of many musicians that went way back in his family. Johann Ambrosius Bach and Elizabeth Lammerhirt Bach were the names of Johann Sebastian’s parents. During Bach’s childhood his father is the one who taught him how to play the violin. Along with playing the violin Bach could also sing very well. Bach and his family were Lutheran and whenever they went to their church Bach would sing in the church choir. Sadly, Bach’s parents passed away within a year of each other, shortly before Bach’s tenth birthday. Once both of his parents passed away Bach had nowhere to go so his brother Johann Christoph Bach decided to adopt him. Christoph was “a church organist in Ohrdruf” (Johann Sebastian Bach). Even though Christoph is the one who gave Bach organ lessons, Bach...

Words: 1414 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Music Appreciation a Biography on a Classical Artist: Johan Sabastian Bach

...Born into a musical family, Bach received his earliest instruction from his father. After his father's death in 1695, Bach moved to Ohrdruf, where he lived and studied organ with his older brother Johann Christoph. He also received an education at schools in Eisenach, Ohrdruf, and Lüneburg. Bach's first permanent positions were as organist in Arnstadt (1703-1707) and Mühlhausen (1707-1708). During these years, he performed, composed taught, and developed an interest in organ building. From 1708-1717 he was employed by Duke Wilhelm Ernst of Weimar, first as court organist, and after 1714, as concertmaster. During this period, he composed many of his best organ compositions; in his capacity as concertmaster, he was also expected to produce a cantata each month. In Weimar, Bach's style was influenced by his study of numerous Italian compositions (especially Vivaldi concertos). Bach's next position, as Music Director for the Prince Leopold of Cüthen (1717-1723), involved entirely different activities. Since the court chapel was Calvinist, there was no need for church compositions; Bach probably used the Cüthen organs only for teaching and practice. His new works were primarily for instrumental solo or ensemble, to be used as court entertainment or for instruction. Among the important compositions at Cüthen were the Brandenburg Concertos, the first volume of Das wohltemperirte Clavier (The Well-Tempered Clavier), the "French" and "English" Suites for harpsichord (although the "English"...

Words: 735 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Bach a Great Composer

...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...

Words: 1427 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Mozart Research Paper

...sister, Maria Anna, who was nicknamed Nannerl. Starting music at a young age, his father quickly realised that Mozart had a talent after teaching Mozart the keyboard. Mozart composed his first composition at the young age of 5. Later on in his life, he was appointed an assistant concertmaster. He has also played for royalty and his music influenced a lot of composers later on. Mozart died at the early age of 35 on December 5, 1791. Some reasons why he is the greatest composer in history is that he only lived to the age of 35, while Bach lived to the age of 65, he had learned more instruments than Bach, and the Mozart Effect....

Words: 598 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Composers

...any other female composer in the medieval era. She gained much experience while being part of the Divine office which she sang. She had many music forms that she used as a composer. Hildegard von Bingen used antiphons, responsories, sequences, and hymns. Hildegard von Bidgen was well known and will never be forgotten as a musical composer. She was laid to rest in 1179 but she still lives on in her musical work. Fierro, N. HILDEGARD OF BINGEN: SYMOHONY OF THE HARMONY OF HEAVEN. 1997. 05 Novmeber 2012 <http://www.hildegard.org/music/music.html>. "Hildegard of Bingen." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2012. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Nov. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Hildegard of Bingen." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Nov. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. Josquin Deprez Josquin Deprez was a Flemish composer during the Renaissance period when was from 1450-1600. Just as many other composers of history, he influenced the life of many others with...

Words: 2573 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Classical Music

...what was written c) Periodic Phrase Structure: Start out with a phrase that has question, then next has an answer d) Paratactic to Syntactic: We move to a formal, set, pattern e) Slowing of Harmonic Rhythm Sonata Form: Not to confused with an actual Sonata, this is a structure of a piece Rondo Form: What Ritornello form is when the Classical musicians get their hands on it. Harmony controls form Illusion of Order * Establishing or Thwarting expectation The Age of Enlightenment * The philosophes * War/revolution/industrial revolution * Encyclopedia’s, histories of music, biographies of musicians Composers on the edge * Johan Shammsitz * Sonata form (almost) * Domenico Scarlatti * Binary keyboard works with hints of sonata form in them * C.P.E. Bach (“Belin Bach”) * Fantasias * J.C. Bach (“London Bach”) * Keyboard works drastically different from “Baroque” style keyboard pieces Instrumental Music...

Words: 291 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Topic: Glenn Gould Plays J.S. Bach’s Fugue in E Major, the Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2

...Topic: Glenn Gould plays J.S. Bach’s Fugue in E major, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 J.S. Bach’s renowned composition, The Well-Tempered Clavier, depicts a wide variety of color, technique, and style from a musical perspective. The piece “is a kind of encyclopedia of fugue composition, in which the greatest master of the genre tried out almost ever technique and style available to it,” (Kerman 133) and many pianists and modern composers still look back to perform and analyze the varying forms, textures, and devices Bach used to reinterpret his work. One particular pianist, Glenn Gould, established his career performing Bach’s compositions from the 1950s onward. In performing Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier, Gould was able to clearly redefine the musical personality in each subject by mirroring it after his own. Indeed, by articulating Bach’s contrapuntal textures, maintaining the tempo in an imitative manner, and playing with precise finger technique, Glenn Gould demonstrates in Bach’s Fugue in E Major, The Well-Tempered Clavier, his personal demeanor as eccentric, obsessive, and obstinate. Gould’s articulation of Bach’s contrapuntal textures is characterized by his stark entrances of each subject of the fugue, as well as his paralleling of the voices in the same dynamics by both hands; these distinct characteristics exemplify Gould’s eccentric personality as he similarly had almost two minds – one for his musical career and one for his personal life. As the piece begins...

Words: 1052 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Sochi Olympics Games 2014 and Human Rights

...In Sochi will set up special "zones for meetings." The news was announced the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach at a meeting of the Executive Board of the organization in Switzerland. He, however, did not go into details - so do not know where these areas will be, who is going to create and control. Thomas Bach stressed only that people who want to express their views on any issue or protest will be given the opportunity, writes USA Today, which is referenced Newsru.com. "We welcome this measure by which everyone can express their opinion" - quoted by Bach at a press conference in Lausanne "Russian service of the BBC." Russian experts, however, resemble three months ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the organization of security in Sochi during the 2014 Olympics, where it is directly prohibited rallies and demonstrations during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Ibid described rules around the city of individuals - in some areas can be accessed only with the approval of the authorities, others will generally closed for public use. President's decree, in particular, defined "control zones" created in Sochi, for getting into that require a special permit and where will be enhanced inspection of vehicles by law enforcement officers. In the "forbidden zone" located around the Olympic venues, restrict access "without the overhead and operational needs." In addition, according to the document, from January 7 to March 21, 2014 in...

Words: 1322 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Mozart Historiography

...playful and bouncy. There is also a line repeated by the upper voices to represent femininity and low sustains to show authority and power, which ties into the rest of the opera very well. The end goes into a beautiful soli that maybe used to represent love. Mozart uses these and many techniques to portray emotions felt by characters in the opera. "Mozart - Flute Concerto No. 1 in G Major (K. 313) By Emmanuel Pahud Soloist (Full HD)." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2015. This is one of the only two concertos Mozart wrote for flute. The opening statement portrays pride and power. The flute later comes in with this same line and plays around the melody. The use of ornaments reflects Mozart’s influence by baroque composers such as J.S. Bach. The runs and clean rhythms allow the flutist to showcase their virtuosity, while allowing the beauty and the tenderness of the flute to show. Overall, the use of little ornaments and the sonata form show how Mozart is a very classical composer. Mozart, Leopold. Letter to Anna Maria Mozart. 14 Dec. 1769. In Mozart's Words. HRI Online, n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2015. This is one of the only recovered letters from this early in Mozart’s life. Thirteen year old, Wolfgang sent a postscript along with his father’s letter to his mother. He told of how he enjoyed traveling and the accommodations in Kalterl were much better than those in other places. He also provides evidence that he had a very close relationship with his mother and loves her very much...

Words: 1334 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

J.S Bach

...Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Eisenach, Saxe-Eisenach, on 21 March 1685 O.S. (31 March 1685 N.S.). He was the son of Johann Ambrosius Bach, the director of the town musicians, and Maria Elisabeth Lämmerhirt.[10] He was the eighth child of Johann Ambrosius, (the eldest son in the family was 14 at the time of Bach's birth)[11] who probably taught him violin and the basics of music theory.[12] His uncles were all professional musicians, whose posts included church organists, court chamber musicians, and composers. One uncle, Johann Christoph Bach(1645–93), introduced him to the organ, and an older second cousin, Johann Ludwig Bach (1677–1731), was a well-known composer and violinist. Bach drafted a genealogy around 1735, titled "Origin of the musical Bach family".[13] Bach's mother died in 1694, and his father died eight months later.[5] Bach, aged 10, moved in with his oldest brother, Johann Christoph Bach(1671–1721), the organist at St. Michael's Church in Ohrdruf, Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.[14] There he studied, performed, and copied music, including his own brother's, despite being forbidden to do so because scores were so valuable and private and blank ledger paper of that type was costly.[15][16] He received valuable teaching from his brother, who instructed him on the clavichord. J.C. Bach exposed him to the works of great composers of the day, including South German composers such as Johann Pachelbel (under whom Johann Christoph had studied)[2] and Johann Jakob Froberger;...

Words: 4104 - Pages: 17

Premium Essay

History Of The Trumpet Essay

...Trumpets have always been seen and used as a form of musical history and importance held to a high standard as an instrument that was until 14th century came into play and it was considered as a musical instrument to play music. The first place in which it was used for musical places was in the king’s court. Normally the pitch tone keys of the trumpet were of D or C. The military trumpets were usually pitched at an E-flat or F. The trumpet was manufactured by several individuals as well as composers and musical artists throughout time. One well known individual is Vincent Bach a Holton artist in 1917 and 1918 he was a well-established cornet and trumpet player before he launched his own company manufacturing trumpets and mouthpieces. Vincent Schrotenbach is a musician from Austrian- American who had a trumpet repairman disable and destroy his mouthpiece and from there he began making his own. This one attempt at trying to establish a better mouthpiece for himself turned into a corporation under the name of...

Words: 900 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Ringo Starr

...According to USA today, ever since The Beatles had their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on Feb. 9 1964, over 50 years ago, fans still go mad over this group that is no longer together today, but whose music still lives on. The Beatles became an extremely popular and influential group in Rock n’ Roll and their music is still played all over the world. The impact that they made on the music industry has been noted for quite some time now but can’t be overstated enough. The members who made up this group were, George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr. These four men, all from Liverpool, England, met one by one over time for their love for music. John first met Paul when he impressed him with his guitar skills one night and was then invited to join Johns group at the time, The Quarrymen. Next came George who joined the group in Feb. of 1958. The three of them joined a pair of guys whose mother owned The Casbah club and they became Johnny & the Mood Dogs, and then changed to The Silver Beetles. John Lennon dreamed up the bands final name, The Beatles, mixing ‘beat’ with ‘beetle’ like the last groups name. In 1960, the Beatles toured Hamburg, Germany and were then joined by Ringo Starr, who was previously playing with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. These were the main four men, also known as the “fab four”, who made up the group we still talk and hear about today. Brian Epstein, an English music entrepreneur, was best known in his lifetime for managing...

Words: 1582 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

A Biographical Sketch of Ludwig Van Beethoven

...A Biographical Sketch of Ludwig van Beethoven Introduction Ludwig van Beethoven (December 1770- March 1827) was a pianist and composer- arguably the greatest and most influential composer of all time. He made his mark in history with the crucial role that he played in the transition of classical eras in art music. He had a full and varied music career and wasn’t afraid to move his numerous compositions from the tried and tested musical styles. In terms or the world’s greatest, Beethoven only comes second to the likes of Mozart or Bach. Beethoven is best known for his compositions, which include 32 piano sonatas, 5 concertos for piano, 16 string quartets and 9 symphonies (Anderson 1044). He is also known for the composition of other music, choral works and songs. Early Childhood Beethoven was born on the 16th of December, 1770 in Bonn and baptized the following day (Dalhaus & Whittall 6). His father was originally from Brabant, Belgium, but had moved to Bonn where he served as a musician at the local court. Despite his weakness for alcohol, Beethoven’s father was quite influential in shaping the music career of Beethoven as it was through him that young Beethoven was exposed to music. From an early age, Beethoven was taught music by Christiano Gottlob Neefe, a famous opera composer and conductor, and Johann van Beethoven who was his father. Johann envisioned creating a new kind of Mozart in his son and would train him every evening on returning from the court. As a teenager...

Words: 1587 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Somewhere For Me: Richard Rogers's Life And Career

...Music electrifies life, remaining present through every moment and milestone, imprinting itself into the minds of people. Across the expanse of the earth, music remains a universal form of self expression, stirring passion and creativity within human minds. Richard rogers, a 20th century musical compose, represents as a single instance of music’s impact on an individual. In turn, the music that Rogers created lives on even decades after his death. Richard Rogers’s name doesn’t mean much on its own, usually requiring a pairing with Lorenz Hart or Oscar Hammerstein to ring any bells. Meryle Secrest, in her book Somewhere For Me: a biography of Richard Rogers, illustrates the finest details of Rogers’s life and career, highlighting highs and...

Words: 982 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Will Marion Cook’s Underappreciated Musical Legacy

...Will Marion Cook is a name to reckon with in the history of black American music. “His great genius will always be a guiding star to those of us who remain,” black violinist Clarence Cameron White wrote on hearing of Cook’s death. Trumpeter Arthur Briggs called Cook “the greatest real musician ever.” Duke Ellington and Eubie Blake praised him as a mentor. Yet while Ellington’s and Blake’s careers are well documented, only academics can describe Cook’s. Even diehard fans of the American popular songbook are hard-pressed to name one of his songs. The first recording devoted to his work appeared only a few years ago, and Marva Griffin Carter’s 2008 biography, Swing Along, is the first since his death in 1944. In the end, the fact of Cook’s importance is better known than its reason. A significant composer, but of what? Didn’t he write something like the first black Broadway musical? Yes, but what else? The tale most often told about Cook has him returning from conservatory training at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik in 1889 and performing a concert at Carnegie Hall. When a reviewer praised him as “the world’s greatest Negro violinist,” Cook stormed into his office, smashed his violin to bits on the man’s desk, and yelled, “I am not the world’s greatest Negro violinist. I am the greatest violinist in the world!” He never played the violin again. Cook’s words might suggest that racism explains his obscurity. Yet a few years later, Cook gave the world a song with these lyrics: Such...

Words: 2656 - Pages: 11