Johann Sebastian Bach - sea or stream in the world of music? Johann Sebastian Bach: biography, video, interesting facts, creativity Bach's works.
Johann Sebastian Bach is the most remarkable member of the famous Bach musical family and one of the greatest composers of all time. He was born March 31, 1685 in Eisenach and died July 28, 1750 in Leipzig.
Portrait of Johann Sebastian Bach. Artist E. G. Haussmann, 1748
Having lost his father, Johann Ambrose Bach (1645 - 1695), at the age of 10, Johann Sebastian was placed in the care of his older brother Johann Christoph, an organist in Ohrdruf (Thuringia), who laid the foundation for his music lessons. After the death of his brother, 14-year-old Johann Sebastian went to Lüneburg, where he entered the gymnasium choir as a treble and received a higher school education. From here he often traveled to Hamburg to get acquainted with the playing of the organist Reinken, as well as Celle, and to listen to the famous court chapel. In 1703 Bach became a violinist at the court chapel in Weimar. In 1704 he became an organist in Arnstadt, from where he traveled to Lübeck in 1705 to listen to and study with the famous organist Buchstegude. In 1707, Johann Sebastian became organist in Mühlhausen, in 1708 he became court organist and chamber musician in Weimar, a position he held until 1717.
Bach. The best works
This year Bach met in Dresden with the famous French pianist Marchand, on whom he made such an impression with his playing that he suddenly left, evading the musical competition offered to him. In the same year, Bach became court bandmaster to the prince of Anhalt-Köthen, and in 1723 he received the vacant position of cantor at the school of St. Thomas in Leipzig, which he held until his death. In addition to occasional trips to Dresden after his appointment as Saxon-Weissenfell Kapellmeister and a visit to Berlin (1747), where he was honorably received by Frederick the Great, Bach lived in Leipzig in complete seclusion, devoting himself entirely to service, family and students. It was here that his most significant works arose, for the most part (especially spiritual cantatas) due to official duties. In old age, he had the misfortune to go blind.
Johann Sebastian Bach. Life and art
Johann Sebastian Bach was not only brilliant composer, but also one of the greatest performers on piano and organ. Contemporaries most of all admired his last quality, while the full recognition of his outstanding composing activity fell to later generations.
Bach was married twice: the first time to his cousin Maria Barbara Bach, daughter of Johann Michael Bach, who died in 1720, and then (from 1721) on Anna Magdalene, daughter of the chamber musician Wülken in Weissenfels, who outlived her husband. Bach left behind 6 sons and 4 daughters; 5 more sons and 5 daughters died before his death.
Many famous musicians came out of the Bach school. Among them, the first place is occupied by his four sons, who made themselves a significant name in the history of music, or at least occupied an outstanding position in the musical world in their time.
About the works of the composer - see the article Bach's Creativity - Briefly. Biographies of other great musicians - see the block "More on the topic ..." below the text of the article.
Born (21) March 31, 1685 in the city of Eisenach. IN little Bach originally laid down a passion for music, because his ancestors were professional musicians.
Music training
At the age of ten, after the death of his parents, Johann Bach was taken in by his brother Johann Christoph. He taught the future composer to play the clavier and organ.
At the age of 15, Bach went to study at vocal school named after St. Michael, in the city of Lüneburg. There he meets art. contemporary musicians, develops comprehensively. During 1700-1703 begins musical biography Johann Sebastian Bach. They wrote the first organ music.
In service
After graduation, Johann Sebastian was sent to Duke Ernst as a musician at the court. Dissatisfaction with a dependent position forces him to change jobs. In 1704, Bach received the post of organist of the New Church in Arndstadt. Summary The article does not make it possible to dwell in detail on the work of the great composer, but it was at this time that he created many talented works. Collaboration with the poet Christian Friedrich Heinrici, court musician Telemachus enriched the music with new motives. In 1707 Bach moved to Mühlhusen, continued to work as a church musician and engage in creativity. The authorities are satisfied with his work, the composer receives a reward.
Personal life
In 1707 Bach married his cousin Maria Barbara. He again decided to change jobs, this time becoming court organist in Weimar. In this city, six children are born in the musician's family. Three died in infancy, and three become well-known musicians in the future.
In 1720, Bach's wife died, but a year later the composer married again, now to famous singer Anna Magdalene Wilhelm. A happy family had 13 children.
Continuation of the creative path
In 1717, Bach entered the service of the Duke of Anhalt - Köthen, who highly appreciated his talent. During the period from 1717 to 1723, Bach's magnificent suites appeared (for orchestra, cello, clavier).
Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, English and French suites were written in Köthen.
In 1723, the musician received the position of cantor and teacher of music and Latin in the Church of St. Thomas, then became musical director in Leipzig. Johann Sebastian Bach's wide repertoire included both secular and brass music. During his life, Johann Sebastian Bach managed to visit the head of the music college. Several cycles of the composer Bach used all kinds of instruments ("Musical Offering", "The Art of the Fugue")
last years of life
IN last years Bach was rapidly losing his sight throughout his life. His music was then considered unfashionable, outdated. Despite this, the composer continued to work. In 1747, he created a cycle of plays called "Music of the Offering", dedicated to the Prussian King Frederick II. Last work was a collection of works "The Art of the Fugue", which included 14 fugues and 4 canons.
Johann Sebastian Bach died on July 28, 1750 in Leipzig, but his musical legacy remains immortal.
A brief biography of Bach does not give a complete picture of the complex life path composer, about his personality. You can get acquainted with his fate and work in detail by reading the books of Johann Forkel, Robert Franz, Albert Schweitzer.
Chronological table
Other biography options
Biography test
Some simple questions O short biography Bach.
Johann Sebastian was born into a family that is considered the largest musical dynasty in Germany. Among the ancestors of Bach, Veit Bach, a baker who played the zither, and Johannes Bach, a city musician in Erfurt, were especially famous. The descendants of the latter became so famous that in some medieval German dialects the surname "Bach" became a household name and received the meaning of "city musician".
Bach's father is Johann Amvroysky, a city musician.
Johann Sebastian's uncle, Johann Christoph, served as an organist in the city. It is natural that learning music is the future greatest representative dynasties began from an early age.
1693 - the younger Bach enters a church school. The boy has a good soprano voice and is making progress.
1695 - In two years, Johann Sebastian loses both parents. He is taken in by his older brother, who served as a musician in Ordfur.
1695 - 1700 - Ohrdruf. Bach goes to school and studies music under the guidance of his brother. At the same time, as a teenager, Johann Bach severely lost his sight - at night, by the light of the moon, he copied notes from his brother.
The school teacher recommends that Bach go to Lüneburg, to the famous school at St. Michael's Church. Johann Sebastian walks 300 kilometers from Central to Northern Germany. In Lüneburg, Bach lives on full board and even receives a small stipend. Master organist Georg Böhm becomes one of the mentors of the future composer in Lünebur.
1702 - after leaving school, Bach has the right to go to university, but he cannot afford it, since he needs to earn a living. After spending some time in Lüneburg, future composer goes back to Thuringia. Here he manages to serve as a violinist in the private chapel of Prince Johann Ernest of Saxony. Then Bach stops in Arnstadt, where he spends 4 years.
Best of the day
1703 - 1707 - Arnstadt. Bach serves as a church organist, while not ceasing to study the music and performance style of famous musicians of the time.
1707 - Bach accepts an invitation to serve in Mühlhausen, as organist in the church of St. Blaise. Here he begins to write cantatas and moonlights as an organ repairman. Bach spends a year in Mühlhausen.
1708 - Johann Sebastian Bach marries his cousin, also an orphan, Maria Barbara. Maria Barbara gave birth to Bach 7 children, of whom four survived.
The same year - moving to Weimar. Johann Bach finally stays in the city for a long time, he is the court organist and composer. This time is considered to be the beginning creative way Bach as a composer of music. Numerous pieces for organ and harpsichord were written in Weimar.
1717 - 1723 - Keten. Bach receives a place as court bandmaster at the court of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Keten. The duties of Johann Sebastian included: to accompany the singing of the prince (according to contemporaries, who possessed good voice), to accompany him playing the harpsichord and gamba, and also to lead a chapel of 18 musicians. Here he wrote the Well-Tempered Clavier (Volume 1), sonatas and suites for violin and cello solo, six Brandenburg Concertos
The appearance of Bach in the position of court bandmaster was preceded by an event in Dresden: there was to be a performance of the "world star" of that time, L. Marchand. The musicians met on the eve of the concert, they even managed to play together, after which Marchand left Dresden, unable to withstand the competition and recognizing Bach as a better musician than himself.
June 1720 - Maria Barbara dies suddenly. Bach becomes a widower.
1721 - Johann Bach marries for the second time the daughter of a court musician from Weissenfeld, Anna Magdalene Wilken. She also represents a musical dynasty, has a beautiful voice and good hearing. Helping her husband, Anna Magdalena rewrote many of his works. The second marriage becomes much more successful for the composer than the first. For the beloved Anna Magdalene, Bach creates the "Notebook for Anna Magdalene Bach". In this marriage, Bach has 13 children, but six of them survive.
1722 - charter from secular music, Bach applies for a vacancy in Leipzig as a cantor. A year later, he gets this place.
1723 - 1750 - Leipzig.
1723 - in Leipzig, which has already become famous musician waiting for the music director of the city and the cantor of the church choir at the school of St. Thomas. It is here that Johann Sebastian begins his work as head of the chorister school. Teaching burdens the composer, taking time away from creativity. In addition, the school of choristers is poorly maintained, the students of Johann Sebastian are constantly hungry and poorly dressed. And the school authorities care little about the quality of the boys' singing abilities.
At the same time, the composer takes an active part in the activities of the "Music Collegium" of Leipzig.
In Leipzig, three sons of Johann Sebastian Bach are born: Wilhelm Friedemann, Philip Emmanuel, John Christian. All of them were gifted musicians.
Leipzig period of creativity - Bach writes "Passion according to Matthew", "Passion according to John", "High Mass", "Majestic Oratorio", Mass in B minor, "Christmas Oratorio", etc. The authorities are dissatisfied with the works of Johann Sebastian - they are "not churchly" , they lack proper rigor, but there is an abundance of colorfulness of earthly music. Mutual dissatisfaction between the composer and his superiors eventually spills over into an open conflict.
1740 - Bach, formally remaining in the service, actually leaves for own creativity. He's writing instrumental music, trying to print some of his work.
1747 - a trip to Berlin. Philip Emmanuel, son of Bach, serves under Frederick II. He provides his father with a speech at the royal court. Bach plays for Friedrich and his entourage, improvises on a theme given by the king. Returning to Leipzig, Bach puts this improvisation at the heart of his work "Musical Offering" and dedicates it to Frederick II of Prussia.
Johann Sebastian Bach- German composer, virtuoso organist, music teacher. During his life, Bach wrote more than 1000 works.
Was born March 31, 1685 in the city of Eisenach, where he lived until the age of ten. Orphaned, he moved to Ohrdruf, to his older brother Johann Christoph, an organist.
His brother became his first teacher on the clavier and organ. Then Bach went to study at a singing school in the city of Lüneburg. There he gets acquainted with the work of modern musicians, develops comprehensively. During the years 1700-1703 Bach's first organ music was written.
After completing his studies, Johann Sebastian was sent to Duke Ernst as a musician at the court. Then he was invited to be a caretaker in the organ hall of the church in Arnstadt, after which he became an organist. During this time, many works by Bach were written. Later he became an organist in the city of Mühlhausen.
In 1707 Bach married Maria Barbara, his cousin. They subsequently had seven children, three of whom died in childhood. Two of the survivors - Wilhelm Friedemann and Carl Philipp Emmanuel - later became well-known composers.
The authorities were pleased with his work, and the composer received a reward for publishing the work. However, Bach again decided to change jobs, this time becoming court organist in Weimar.
Bach's music is filled with the best trends of that time thanks to the teachings of other composers. The next employer of Bach, who highly appreciated his talent, was the Duke of Anhalt-Köthen. During the period from 1717 to 1723, Bach's magnificent suites appeared (for orchestra, cello, clavier).
In 1720, Bach's wife died, but a year later the composer married again, now to a singer. The happy family had 13 children. During his stay in Köthen, Bach's Brandenburg Concertos were written.
In 1723, the musician became a teacher at the church, then - music director in Leipzig. The wide repertoire of Johann Sebastian Bach included secular, brass music. During his life, Johann Sebastian Bach managed to visit the head of the music college. Several cycles of the composer Bach used all kinds of instruments (“Musical Offering”, “The Art of the Fugue”).
German composer Johann Sebastian Bach created more than 1000 musical works. He lived in the Baroque era and in his work summarized everything that was characteristic of the music of his time. Bach wrote in every genre available in the 18th century, with the exception of opera. Today, the works of this master of polyphony and virtuoso organist are listened to in the most different situations- they are so diverse. You can find ingenuous humor and deep sorrow in his music, philosophical reflections and intense drama.
Johann Sebastian Bach was born in 1685, he was the eighth and most youngest child in family. The father of the great composer Johann Ambrosius Bach was also a musician: the Bach family has been known for its musicality since the beginning of the 16th century. At that time, the creators of music enjoyed special honor in Saxony and Thuringia, they were supported by the authorities, aristocrats and representatives of the church.
Bach lost both parents by the age of 10, and his older brother, who worked as an organist, took up his upbringing. Johann Sebastian studied at the gymnasium, and at the same time received from his brother the skills of playing the organ and clavier. At the age of 15, Bach entered a vocal school and began to write his first works. After leaving school, he was briefly a court musician for the Duke of Weimar, and then became an organist in a church in the city of Arnstadt. It was then that the composer wrote a large number of organ works.
Soon, Bach began to have problems with the authorities: he expressed dissatisfaction with the level of training of the singers in the choir, and then completely left for another city for several months in order to get acquainted with the playing of the authoritative Danish-German organist Dietrich Buxtehude. Bach left for Mühlhausen, where he was invited to the same position - an organist in the church. In 1707, the composer married his cousin, who bore him seven children, three of whom died in infancy, and two later became famous composers.
In Mühlhausen, Bach worked for only a year, and then moved to Weimar, where he became court organist and organizer of concerts. By this time, he already enjoyed great recognition and received a high salary. It was in Weimar that the composer's talent reached its peak - for about 10 years he was continuously composing works for clavier, organ and orchestra.
By 1717, Bach had achieved all possible heights in Weimar and began to look for another job. At first, the old employer did not want to let him go, and even put him under arrest for a month. However, Bach soon left him and went to the city of Köthen. If earlier his music was largely composed for worship, then here, due to the special requirements of the employer, the composer began to write mainly secular works.
In 1720, Bach's wife suddenly died, but a year and a half later he married a young singer again.
In 1723, Johann Sebastian Bach became the cantor of the choir at the Church of St. Thomas in Leipzig, and then was appointed the "music director" of all the Churches that worked in the city. Bach continued to write music until his death - even having lost his sight, he dictated it to his son-in-law. Died great composer in 1750, now his remains are buried in the same church of St. Thomas in Leipzig, where he worked for 27 years.
