Contents
Johann Sebastian Bach
Writing the Brandenburg Concertos and making intricate musical counterpoint sound expressive and alive.
Brandenburg Concertos · The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I
- Born
- 31 March 1685
- Birthplace
- Eisenach, Germany
- Died
- 28 July 1750
More people
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German Baroque composer and organist whose sacred music, keyboard works and concertos became central to the classical repertoire.
Early life
A musical household
His father was Eisenach’s town musician; several generations of the Bach family worked as musicians.
An older brother’s care
Orphaned at ten, he lived with his organist brother Johann Christoph before continuing his education in Lüneburg.
Career
- 1703
Church organist
Began professional church work in Arnstadt, later moving to Mühlhausen and Weimar.
- 1717
Köthen court
Became music director to Prince Leopold, concentrating on instrumental and chamber music.
- 1723
Leipzig cantor
Took responsibility for music at major Leipzig churches and the St Thomas School.
Selected work
Brandenburg Concertos
Six concertos explore changing combinations of solo instruments and ensemble.
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I
Preludes and fugues travel through all 24 major and minor keys.
Goldberg Variations
Thirty keyboard variations unfold over a recurring harmonic foundation.
Beyond work
A family of composers
His sons included Carl Philipp Emanuel and Johann Christian Bach, both significant composers in their own right.
A later revival
Felix Mendelssohn’s 1829 performance of the St Matthew Passion helped renew public interest in his choral music.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗The Well-Tempered Clavier ↗Photo: Elias Gottlob Haussmann. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
