Johann Sebastian Bach

By Chad Miller and Destinee Deitz.

He was born in Eisenach, Germany on March 21, 1685.

He died on July 28, 1750 in Leipzig, Germany.

He traveled to Lüneburg in 1700 to 1703.

He graduated from St. Michael’s high school in 1702, and the following year he accepted the

position of violinist.

Arnstad (1704-1707)

In the summer of 1703 Bach was invited to test and demonstrate the organ in the new church at Arnstad.

Mühlhausen (1707-1708)

In 1707 Bach was appointed organist at the Church of St. Blaise in Mühlhausen. Later that year Bach married Maria Barbara.

Weimar (1708-1717)

When Bach arrived in Weimar later in the summer of 1708 as curt organist to Duke Wilhelm Emst, it marked the third time in 5 years that he had changed positions because of unfavorable circumstances.

Cöthen (1717-1723)

Bach's prime responsibility was to conduct the court orchestra, in which the prince himself participated. Bach produced his greatest instrumental works during the Cöthen period.

Leipzig (1723-1750)

The other candidates were recognized composers, and Bach's ability as an organist was not needed since the cantor was not required to play at the services.

More facts!!!

Bach's first music lessons were on the violin, with his father as instructor. Having a beautiful soprano voice, he also sang in the choir at St. George's Church. On May 3, 1694, his mother died; his father remarried 6 months later but died scarcely 2 months after that. The oldest brother, Johann Christoph, assumed the care of the 10-year-old Johann Sebastian. The boy moved to Ohrdruf to live with his brother, organist at St. Michael's Church. From him Johann Sebastian received his first instruction at the harpsichord and perhaps at the organ.

Johann Sebastian Bach’s first lesson.

His first lesson was with his dad, Johann Ambrosius Bach. Its was with a violin.

That is what he played at is first lesson.

His first marriage.

In October 1707, Bach married his cousin Maria Barbara Bach; together they would eventually have seven children, including Wilhelm Friedemann Bach and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach.

His second marriage.

Bach's wife Maria had died in 1720. In 1721, he married Anna Magdalena Wilcke the daughter of the town trumpeter they would have 13 children together including Johann Christian Bach. Altogether, Bach had 20 children with his two wives, but 10 of his children died in infancy. Four went on to become well-known composers and musicians.

Bach’s death.

By 1740, Bach's eyesight was failing. Two eye operations resulted in Bach's complete blindness; these operations also damaged his health and may have hastened his death. He died of a stroke on July 28, 1750. Bach is buried at St. John's cemetery, Leipzig. Bach's widow Anna lived for another ten years, dying in poverty in 1760. Bach's death in 1750 marked the end of the Baroque period in music.

The Re-Discovery of Bach's Works - Bach's Back.

Bach's works were soon forgotten. In March, 1829 (almost 100 years after Bach's death), the composer Felix Mendelssohn performed Bach's St. Matthew Passion, spurring a world-wide interest in Bach. Soon, Bach's works were appreciated by the world - essentially for the first time.