Johann Sebastian Bach is regarded as one of the greatest musicians in the history of humankind. He was born in Eisenach, Thuringia, Ernestine Saxon Duchies, on March 31, 1685, and died in Leipzig on July 28, 1750 (Emery and Marshall). Bach was the last child of Johann Ambrosius Bach, the town’s music director and it is believed that he was the one who taught Bach how to play Violin (“Johann Sebastian Bach”). Born into a family of musicians with musical ancestors and relatives, he became a great German composer throughout his time. Sadly, Bach was orphaned at ten and raised by his brother Johann Christoph, an organist at Ohrdruf. His brother gave him his first keyboard classes (Emery and Marshall) and he was a skilled musician, organist, and pianist during his adolescence. Bach began living independently at the age of 15 as well as continued to follow his passion for music (Emery and Marshall). During his musical journey, he did study all aspects of German music through his art and distinctive musical compositions.
When he was only18 years old, Bach became the organist at the New Church, presently referred to as Bach Church. Bach and his friend George Erdmann attended the renowned St. Michael’s School in Luneburg in April 1700, where music was one of the academic subjects (“Johann Sebastian Bach’s Biography”). During his stay here, Bach learned to play the organ and sang in a choir for the first time. In July 1707, he accepted the position of organist at the Blasius Church in Muhlhausen. Bach married Maria Barbara four months later and the couple had seven children (Emery and Marshall); the wife died later died at the age of 35.
In 1708, while in Weimar, Batch became a court composer and came up with a piece of original organ music during his stay (“Johann Sebastian Bach”). Among the best work composed at Weimar is the Toccata and fugue in D minor. Most of his other works were written about a decade later. Bach married Anna Magdalena, a soprano with an amazing voice, on December 3, 1721, and together, they had 13 children (“Johann Sebastian Bach”). Bach suffered from a serious eye problem in the year 1940, which resulted in a loss of sight. Nevertheless, Bach continued with his musical work. In 1749, Bach began his new composition, “The Art of Fugue,” but could not complete it. On July 28, 1750, Bach died in Leipzig at 65 due to a stroke (“Johann Sebastian Bach”). His wife, Anna, who was left badly off, survived for ten more years before her death.
Bach’s Contribution to Music History
Bach studied art and music and, as a result, created unique musical works. His incredible masterpieces contributed to the rise and advancement of music. He left a legacy as a great classical genius of world music even after he died in 1750. Bach is widely considered the greatest composer of all time. His works include the Toccata, Fugue in D Minor, Brandenburg Concertos, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Mass in B Minor, and many others (Emery and Marshall). He is also acknowledged for his styles, such as Baroque and polyphonic, which led to the creation of Baroque music that is agreed upon by music historians and theorists.
Despite the humiliation, Bach remained focused on his music. He is perceived as the father of the polyphonic genre. Various musicians still study his music works and are often used as required works in professional learning. Bach’s music was neglected for about 50 years after his death, but when it was revived in the 1800s, it gained enormous momentum. His music is regarded as an intentional exhumation of old music, supported by biographical and essential research findings. They also serve as a motivation and blueprint for future productions of the same genre.
Works Cited
Emery, Walter, and Robert L. Marshall. “Johann Sebastian Bach.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 2022.
“Johann Sebastian Bach.” Biography, 2017. Web.