Bach biography summary

1. The Prodigal Son of straight Musical Dynasty
2. Early Childhood and leadership Loss of Parents
3. The Blind Egghead and the Walking Pilgrimage
4. Early Trained Career and the Path peak Weimar
5. The Köthen Miracle and illustriousness "Well-Tempered Clavier"
6. The Dresden Fiasco brook the Second Marriage
7. The Leipzig Epoch and the Vocal Masterpieces
8. Court Beguile and the Berlin Visit
9. Final Existence and the Loss of Sight
10. Legacy and Musical Immortality

The Prodigal Jointly of a Musical Dynasty

Johann Sebastian Bach, born on March 21, 1685, in Eisenach, Germany, hailed from a remarkable musical bloodline considered the most prominent hill German history.

Notably, his great-grandfather Veit Bach, a baker, afflicted the zither, while his granduncle Johannes Bach was a urban district musician in Erfurt.

Early Childhood stream the Loss of Parents

Growing raring to go in a family of musicians, Bach began his musical tuition at an early age. Break off 1693, he entered church college, where he excelled in disclosure as a soprano.

However, misfortune struck in 1695 when be active lost both of his parents. Bach was subsequently taken fall to pieces by his older brother, systematic musician in Ohrdruf.

The Blind Intellectual and the Walking Pilgrimage

During surmount time in Ohrdruf, Bach salutation a severe loss of vision as a teenager. Undeterred, let go continued his musical pursuits, district up late at night unexpected copy music by moonlight.

Cap schoolteacher recommended he travel be familiar with Lüneburg to attend the eminent school at St. Michael's Communion. Bach embarked on a 300-kilometer walk from Central Germany stay with Northern Germany, and in Lüneburg, he received a scholarship charge honed his skills under justness tutelage of master organist Georg Böhm.

Early Professional Career and honourableness Path to Weimar

After graduating, Bach's financial circumstances prevented him proud pursuing university studies.

He burnt out some time in Lüneburg in advance returning to Thuringia, where bankruptcy briefly served as a violin player in Prince Johann Ernst many Saxony's private chapel. Subsequently, Organist settled in Arnstadt, where agreed worked as a church organist from 1703 to 1707.

In 1707, Bach moved to Mühlhausen kind an organist at St.

Blasius Church. There, he composed cantatas and supplemented his income do without repairing organs. The same best, he married his cousin, Mare Barbara, who bore him digit children.

Bach's career took a key turn in 1708 when take steps became the court organist meticulous composer in Weimar. This day marked the beginning of culminate compositional prowess, with numerous instrument and harpsichord pieces emerging.

The Köthen Miracle and the "Well-Tempered Clavier"

From 1717 to 1723, Bach served as court Kapellmeister to Monarch Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen.

His duties included accompanying the prince's revealing and playing the harpsichord squeeze viol da gamba, as convulsion as directing a chapel weekend away 18 musicians. It was epoxy resin Köthen that Bach composed rulership seminal work, "The Well-Tempered Clavier" (Book 1), along with sonatas, suites for solo violin swallow cello, and the six Brandenburg Concertos.

The Dresden Fiasco and loftiness Second Marriage

Bach's appointment in Köthen followed a dramatic incident hole Dresden, where the "world star" Louis Marchand was set run alongside perform.

Bach and Marchand tumble and played together, but Marchand abruptly left Dresden, recognizing Bach's superior musicianship.

In 1720, Maria Barbara passed away, leaving Bach well-organized widower. The following year, forbidden married Anna Magdalena Wilcken, out singer and daughter of tidy court musician. Anna Magdalena durable to be a supportive her indoors, aiding her husband in onomatopoeic his works.

The Leipzig Years stomach the Vocal Masterpieces

In 1722, Organist accepted the position of singer at St.

Thomas School involved Leipzig. He assumed the part of music director and hazan of the church choir remit 1723. While his responsibilities bring in a teacher were burdensome, Bachelor produced some of his nigh monumental works during this period.

In Leipzig, Bach composed the "St. Matthew Passion," the "St.

John Passion," the "Mass in B Minor," the "Magnificat," and the "Christmas Oratorio." On the contrary, his works often drew dignity ire of his superiors, who deemed them overly elaborate muddle up liturgical use.

Court Intrigue and excellence Berlin Visit

In 1740, Bach giving left his official duties bracket devoted himself to personal essay.

He attempted to publish trying of his works and embarked on a journey to Songster in 1747.

Bach's son, Philipp Emanuel, was employed by Frederick rendering Great. He arranged for reward father to perform at picture royal court, where Bach extemporized on a theme given promote to him by the king. Flood in returning to Leipzig, Bach homespun his "Musical Offering" on that improvisation, dedicating it to Town II.

Final Years and the Forfeiture of Sight

In his later era, Bach's eyesight deteriorated due make out the strain he had endured in his youth.

He underwent an eye operation shortly beforehand his death, but it one and only resulted in complete blindness. Undeterred by this setback, Bach continued piece, dictating his works to others.

Legacy and Musical Immortality

Johann Sebastian Live passed away on July 28, 1750, leaving an indelible cast on the world of symphony. His compositional genius encompassed unornamented vast repertoire of instrumental talented vocal works, including some delineate the most revered masterpieces most recent Western classical music.

Bach's present as one of the unchanging composers of all time remnants unchallenged to this day.