Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach (born Eisenach, 21 March 1685; died Leipzig, 28 July 1750) was the best-known member of the Bach family of composers of classical music, many of whom had the first name Johann.

Biography

His father Johann Ambrosius Bach died when he was 10, and he was raised by his brother Johann Christoph Bach. At 15, he became a chorister at Luneberg and studied the organ. In 1703 he became organist at Weimar, thenimmediately moved to Arnstadt. In 1707 he moved to Muhlhausen, where he married his first cousin, Maria Barbara Bach. They had ten children, including Wilhelm Friedemann Bach and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach.

They lived in Weimar from 1708 to 1717, then he went to work for Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cothen. Barbara died in 1720, and in 1721 Johann married Anna Magdalena Wilcken. They had ten children, including Johann Christian Bach.

In 1723, Johann became cantor at St. Thomas' Church, [Leipzig]]. His eyesight deteriorated badly in 1749, and despite an operation in 1750 he became blind.

Work

Bach composed an immense amount of music in a wide range of forms, from solo organ works to oratorios. They are often identified by their numbers in the BWV catalogie of his works. Some of his best-known pieces are:

• Brandenberg concertos 1-6 (BWV 1046-1051)
• Concerto for two violins (BWV 1043)
• Concerto for oboe and violin (BWV 1060)
• Four orchestral suites (BWV 1066-9)
  • The Air from Suite 3 is known as the Air on a G string
• St. Matthew Passion
• St. John Passion
• The Art of Fugue (BWV 1080)
• Goldberg Variations for keyboard (BWV 988)
• Toccata and Fugue for organ in D minor (BWV 565)
• Cantata 147, "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben" (BWV 147)
  • The final chorale "Jesu joy of man's desiring" is often played separately, sometimes arranged for orchestra or piano
• Cantata 208, "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben" (BWV 208)
  • The aria "Sheep may safely graze" is often played separately, sometimes arranged for orchestra or piano
• Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248)