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Bach is considered by many to have been the greatest composer in the
history of western music. Bach's main achievement lies in his synthesis and advanced
development of the primary contrapuntal idiom of the late Baroque, and in the basic tune
fullness of his thematic material. He was able to successfully integrate and expand upon
the harmonic and formal frameworks of the national schools of the time: German, French,
Italian & English, while retaining a personal identity and spirit in his large output.
Bach is also known for the numerical symbolism and mathematical exactitude which many
people have found in his music -- for this, he is often regarded as one of the pinnacle
geniuses of western civilization, even by those who are not normally involved with music.
Bach spent the height of his working life in a Lutheran church position in
Leipzig, as both organist and music director. Much of his music is overtly religious,
while many of his secular works admit religious interpretations on some levels. His large
output of organ music is considered to be the greatest legacy of compositions for the
instrument, and is the measure by which all later efforts are judged. His other solo
keyboard music is held in equally high esteem, especially for its exploration of the
strictly contrapuntal fugue; his 48 Preludes & Fugues (The Well-Tempered Clavier) are
still the primary means by which these forms are taught. His other chamber music is
similarly lofty; the sets for solo violin & solo cello being the summits of their
respective genres. Bach's large-scale sacred choral music is also unique in its scope and
development, the Passions and B Minor Mass having led to the rediscovery of his music in
the 19th century. His huge outputs of cantatas for allocations are equally impressive.
Finally, his large output of concerti includes some of the finest examples of the period,
including the ubiquitous Brandenberg Concertos. ~Todd McComb (6/94).
Bach, Johann Serbastian was a German composer and organ player and
technician. He was the youngest son of Johann Ambrosius Bach who had eight sons, an
organist and t own musician. J.S Bach was orphaned at the age of 10 where both parents
died within a year of each other. He went to live with his elder brother Johnann Christoph
at Ohrdruf where he had klavier and organ lesson.
In 1700, he stayed at St. Michael's Church, for 3 years, learning much
from the organist-composer Gerog Bohm. Organist at Arnstadt, 1703, and then M\'fc hlhausen
in 1707, when he married his cousin Maria Barbara Bach. In 1708, he become organist in the
Kapelle of the Duke of Saxe-Wei- mar, whe re he remained for 9 years, leaving in
disappointment at not being appointed Kapelle-meister in 1717. By this time he had
composition some of his finest organ works and church cantatas. From his period dated his
violin, concertos, sonatas, suites, and Brandenburg concertos. In 1720, his wife died
leaving him with seven young children (Of Bach's twenty offspring, ten died in infancy.
Four became well-known composers, including Carl Philipp Emanuel and Johann Christian.) In
December 1721, he married Anna Magdalena Wilcken, 20-year-old daughter of the Court
trumpeter. As he was dissatisfied with life at then, Bach applied for the cantorship at
St. Thomas, Leipzig, in Dec. 1722. He was selected for the post as he had St. John Passion
as evidence of his fitnes s for his post and the chosen candidate withdrew. During his
time, he composed more then 250 church cantatas. However, in 1740, he began to have
trouble with his eyesight and in the last year of his life, he was almost totally blind.
His health failing, Bach nevertheless continued to compose, dictating his work to a pupil.
He finally succumbed to a stroke on July 28, 1750. He was buried in an unmarked grave at
St. Thomas' Church. Bach was famous for his organ virtuoso.
As a composer, his reputation in his lifetime was restricted to a fairly
narrow circle and his music was regarded by many as old-fashioned. Bach supreme
achievement was as a polyphonist. His North German Protestant religion was the root of all
his artistic allied to a tireless industry i n the pursuit of every kind of refinement of
his skill and technique. Sonata form was not yet developed enough for him to be interested
in it, and he had no leaning towards the fribolities of opera. Although some of the forms
in which he wrote the church cantata, for example was outdated before he died, he poured
into them all the resources of his genius so that they have outlived most other examples.
The dramatic and emotional force of his music as evidenced in the Passions, was remarkable
in its day and has spoken to succeeding generations with increasing power. Suffice it so
say that for many composers and for countless listeners, Bach's music is supreme-to quote
Wagner: the most stupendous miracle in all music.
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