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The Life and Works o f Johann Sebastian Bach. The Life of Johann Sebastian Bach. Born on March 21, 1685 in Eisenach, Germany. Bach’s father , Johann Ambrosius was the court trumpeter for the Duke of Eisenach and director of the musicians of the town of Eisenach.
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The Life and Works of Johann Sebastian Bach
The Life of Johann Sebastian Bach • Born on March 21, 1685 in Eisenach, Germany. • Bach’s father, Johann Ambrosius was the court trumpeter for the Duke of Eisenach and director of the musicians of the town of Eisenach. • The Bach family had a well known reputation for musical talent and held many musical positions in the community.
Bach grew up around music and at a very young age was exposed to all different kinds. • Bach was taught by his father early on to play the violin and harpsichord. • As he got older Bach learnedto play the organ with his famous uncle, Johann Christoph Bach who was the organist at the Georgenkirche in Eisenach. • He attended school at the Old Grammer School where Martin Luther himself had been a pupil. • Bach studied the organ and singing in school.
Bach continued to be anxiously engaged in learning many instruments and quickly became extremely proficient with all them. • Bach learned how to compose by hand copying the works of previous masters. • Shortly after starting his schooling Johann lost a sister, a brother and both parents to illnesses. • Following such tragedy, Bach was taken in by a married older brother, Johann was moved 30 miles to Ohrdrufwhere his study of music continued.
He had a very gifted soprano voice and was quickly admitted to the choir of the wealthy Michaelis monastery in Luneburg. • At age 18 he acquired a position as an organist in Arnstadt. • Bach married his second cousin Maria in 1707 - they moved to Muhlhausen. • Bach was a very talented organist and was in high demand - he was also very picky and made a lot of his employers angry - he once wanted to quit working for his employer so badly, he went to prison in order to do so.
Maria died in 1721. • Bach then married Anna Magdalena in 1723 - she was 20, he was 36. • Soon after they were married, Bach landed a very good job in Leipzig as a choirmaster where he also continued to compose. • Bach had 22 children in all - 12 of whom died at a young age. 10 with Maria, 12 with Anna Magdalena. • Bach died on July 28, 1750 due to a massive stroke.
Bach’s Famous Compositions & Musical Mark • Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (organ) • The Brandenburg concertos • The Well-Tempered Clavier • Goldberg Variations • Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring • Bach’s music is still very highly regarded today for it’s modernity and it’s complexity.
History of “The Air on the G String”by Johann Sebastian Bach • The title “Air of the G String” was actually made famous by August Daniel Ferdinand Victor Wilhelmj of the Air. • Prior to the title “Air on the G String” and during the time period in which Bach had met his second wife, he composed Orchestral Suite No 3 in D Major and many of his most famous works. • The Original Orchestral suite was written by Bach for his long time friend Prince Leopold of Anhalt sometime between 1717 and 1723.
History of “The Air of the G String Continued… • Wilhelmjwas a famous violinist and teacher and during the late 19th century he decided to modify Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major a little bit. • By changing the original key of the piece from D major to C major and taking the melody down an octave, Wilhelmj could then play the piece only using the G string of his Violin! • Thus this composition became known as “The Air on the G String”.
