Music FundamentalsMusic Fundamentals99thth Grade Grade

Mr. Lias Mr. Lias

The Life and Music of Johann The Life and Music of Johann Sebastian BachSebastian Bach

Music: Toccata and Fugue in d minor

Bach: His LifeBach: His Life

Johann Sebastian Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Bach was born in Eisensach, Germany Eisensach, Germany in 1685. in 1685.

Bach’s father, Johann Bach’s father, Johann Ambrosius Bach, was Ambrosius Bach, was the town organist and the town organist and musician musician

Bach was orphaned at the age of ten and Bach was orphaned at the age of ten and then sent to live with his brother Johann then sent to live with his brother Johann Jacob.Jacob.

Interesting Fact of Bach’s Family:Interesting Fact of Bach’s Family:

All five of Bach’s brothers were All five of Bach’s brothers were named Johann.named Johann.

His CareerHis Career

In 1703, at age eighteen, Bach received In 1703, at age eighteen, Bach received his first post as a musician in the Weimar his first post as a musician in the Weimar Court and organist for the Neuekirche in Court and organist for the Neuekirche in Arnstadt.Arnstadt.

Bach spent the next twenty years of his life Bach spent the next twenty years of his life moving from post to post. moving from post to post.

The Wandering YearsThe Wandering Years

Bach’s twenty years of posts included:Bach’s twenty years of posts included:

Organist, Harpsichordist, Organist, Harpsichordist, and Clavier player in and Clavier player in MuhlhausenMuhlhausen

KapellmeisterKapellmeister for for Prince Leopold of Prince Leopold of CothenCothen

Settling DownSettling Down

In 1723, Bach received his last post in In 1723, Bach received his last post in Leipzig, Germany as a “musician of all Leipzig, Germany as a “musician of all trades” at St. Thomas Church.trades” at St. Thomas Church. Bach father over twenty children in two Bach father over twenty children in two marriages. His first wife, Maria Barbara marriages. His first wife, Maria Barbara Bach (his cousin) gave birth to seven Bach (his cousin) gave birth to seven children, and his second wife, Anna children, and his second wife, Anna Magdelena Wilcken, gave birth to the Magdelena Wilcken, gave birth to the other thirteen.other thirteen.

Tragedies of BachTragedies of Bach

Bach’s first wife, Maria Barbara Bach’s first wife, Maria Barbara Bach, died in 1720. Bach, died in 1720. Of his twenty children, ten lived past Of his twenty children, ten lived past childhood, and only four became childhood, and only four became composers.composers.Bach was the runner-up for the post Bach was the runner-up for the post at Leipzig and it was given to him at Leipzig and it was given to him only because the other person only because the other person backed out.backed out.

His MusicHis Music

Bach is accredited to over 1,000 works Bach is accredited to over 1,000 works over his forty-seven year career.over his forty-seven year career.

His music, though highly regarded now, His music, though highly regarded now, was to the people of the time as was to the people of the time as “old “old fashioned”fashioned”

Music: “Little” Fugue in g minor

Bach wrote many types, or Bach wrote many types, or forms forms ofof music, they include:music, they include:

FuguesFugues

InventionsInventions

ConcertosConcertos

PartitasPartitas

PreludesPreludes

Bach was most famous for his Fugues as Bach was most famous for his Fugues as heard throughout class todayheard throughout class today

InstrumentsInstruments

Bach played mainly keyboard instruments his Bach played mainly keyboard instruments his whole life, but wrote for all instruments of the whole life, but wrote for all instruments of the time that include:time that include:

HarpsichordHarpsichord OrganOrgan

VoiceVoice

OrchestrasOrchestras

His works are numerous and infamous and stand as a pillar for young composers everywhere

Bach ContributionsBach Contributions

Beyond his music, or actually, in his music Beyond his music, or actually, in his music Bach was an artist. Bach was an artist.

The technique he used became known as The technique he used became known as counterpoint. counterpoint.

Though Bach did not invent the technique Though Bach did not invent the technique of counterpoint, he was known as its of counterpoint, he was known as its master. master.

Voice-Leading/Part-WritingVoice-Leading/Part-Writing

In all of Bach’s choral pieces, the voices In all of Bach’s choral pieces, the voices all apply to certain rules discovered music all apply to certain rules discovered music theorists.theorists.

These rules, or the technique itself is These rules, or the technique itself is known as Voice-Leading/Part-Writing. known as Voice-Leading/Part-Writing.

V-L/P-W uses rules to determine how V-L/P-W uses rules to determine how harmony fits with a predetermined melody.harmony fits with a predetermined melody.

The FugueThe Fugue

The technique of writing fugue was one of The technique of writing fugue was one of Bach’s largest contributions.Bach’s largest contributions.

Fugue uses a Fugue uses a subjectsubject, or , or melodymelody, this , this subject is manipulated using tools like subject is manipulated using tools like voice inversion, inversion, voice inversion, inversion, retrograde….etc.retrograde….etc.

Composers today still use the techniques Composers today still use the techniques mastered by himmastered by him

Home WorkHome Work

AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Read pp.62-82 and Read pp.62-82 and do review for Mondaydo review for Monday

Have a Good Have a Good Weekend!!!!Weekend!!!!

ReferencesReferences

Foil, David. Foil, David. Bach: The Keyboard Works.Bach: The Keyboard Works.

Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, New York, New York, 1996.New York, New York, 1996.

Turek, Ralph. Turek, Ralph. The Elements of Music Vol. The Elements of Music Vol. 2, 22, 2ndnd edition. edition. McGraw-Hill Publishers, McGraw-Hill Publishers, New York, New York, 1996.New York, New York, 1996.