J. S. Bach

(1685 – 1750)

Johann Sebastian Bach was better known as a virtuoso organist than as a composer in his day. His sacred music, organ and choral works, and other instrumental music had an enthusiasm and seeming freedom that concealed immense rigor. Bach's use of counterpoint was brilliant and innovative, and the immense complexities of his compositional style—which often included religious and numerological symbols that seem to fit perfectly together in a profound puzzle of special codes—still amaze musicians today. Many consider him the greatest composer of all time. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) is the most important member of the family. His genius combined outstanding performing musicianship with supreme creative power.

Johann Sebastian’s parents were Johann Ambrosial Bach and Maria Elizabeth Zummerrihirt, daughter of a furrier and respected citizen of Erfurt.

Sebastian attended the Zateinschule, which offered a sound humanistic and theological education. His musical education is a matter for researches: presumably his father taught him the rudiments of string playing, but he did not study keyboard instruments until he went to Ohrdruf.

At school, Bach studied Latin, arithmetic, history, geography, genealogy, heraldry, German poetry and physics.

During his early Leipzig years Bach involved himself in church music with particular thoroughness and extreme energy. This activity centred on the “Hauptmusic” composed for Sundays and church feasts, a cantata, whose text generally related to the Gospel – a tradition inherited from previous Kantors. In a relatively short time he composed five complete cycles of cantatas for the church year, with about 60 cantatas in each, making a repertory of roughly 300 sacred cantatas.

About 2 November 1723 Bach inaugurated a new organ in Störmthal, outside Leipzig with Cantata no.194. At the end of 1724, Bach produced his first large – scale choral work for Leipzig, the St.John Passion.

Bach produced congratulatory cantatas for two Leipzig University professors in May and August.

An important work composed by Bach in October 1727 was the “Trauer Ode”, Cantata no.198.

Among the more important events of 1735 was the appearance of the Second part of the “Clavier-Ubung”at Easter.

Bach retained his interest in organ building. In 1746 there were two important examinations and inaugurations of organs.

During his last years Bach worked at a revision of the work, which he intended to have printed. But Bach did not see the entire work in print; his sons took change of the publication and the work appeared posthumously in autumn 1751.

In his last yeast years Bach suffered from eye trouble. By the beginning of 1749 he was apparently incapable of work.

During his last years, Bach’s ability to work must have fluctuated. But he was not entirely inactive.

He died in 1750. He was buried at St.John’s cemetery.

Bach was surprisingly emancipated and self-confident artist for his time.

J. S. Bach

Answer the following questions.

1. What did Bach’s genius combine?

2. What fame did he acquire in his lifetime?

3. What was Bach’s art?

4. Who were his parents?

5. What school did Bach attend?

6. What did Bach’s father teach him?

7. What subjects did Bach study at school?

8. Where did Bach study music?

9. What music had Bach encouraged?

10. What music did he mostly write?

11. How many cantatas did he compose?

12. When did Bach inaugurate a new organ in Störmhal?

13. What did Bach do during his last years?

14. Did Bach see his works in print?

15. What were his last years of life?

16. What was Bach’s creative production?