J.S.

Bach: A Concise Biography

J.S. Bach 1685-1750

Eisenach Central Germany a charming place it is famous for 2 people
who are important Martin Luther who wrote the Latin bible into
German.
180 years later in the same Lutheran society was JS Bach he was
destined to become one of the best composers of time.
In the Parish church, Luther preached a sermon and the sermon got
him banned. The church he was banned from was also the church that
J.S. Bach was baptized at in 1685.
Bach was all about music in church it was for the people. Luther wrote
hymns based on Folk songs.
Eisenach was being ruled by Saxe Eisenach at the time when Germany
was not the large united country that it is today. The only thing that
united them where the language. Politically they were broken up into
300 small states. By Heredity dukes and bishops, and priests they
ruled these countries, these people like to have a big palace which
gave them their own chaples with chamber and choir music
incorporated into them. The Duke of Eisenach gave employment to no
other than Johann Ambrosius Bach which was J.S. Bachs father. He was
violinists. Bachs father was the towns musician.
In bachs lifetime there where about 40 different Bachs making music.
Probably taught violin by his father
He went to a good school to learn grammar and religious studies.
When Bach was nine both of his parents died. He was take into the
house of his brother le Christof Bach whim was an organists.
Bach was known as a great singer. His brother assisted him in studying
composition and taught him how to play the organ.
When 15 he moved to join a boys choir in Luneburg Germany. He was
given a scholarship by Ornduf to ST Michaels. He met Burhn who was
very interested in him and encouraged to expand his experience by
going to Hamburg to meet organists Reinken and Lupeck.
Celle was another place he visited to get some more experience. He
turned 17 and was well educated to go to a university but he could not
afford it. In 1703 he got his 1st appointment. He was invited to test paly
an organ in Amstadt and then was offered a spot to play and became a
profesor to unruly boys. He became frustrated and even got into a fight
with a bassoon player.
He asked for a leave of absence to go to Lubeck to hear a famous
organist known as Buxtehude. He had his close cousin Maria Barbara to
stand in for him during this time.

He was suppose to only be gone for 6 weeks and ended up staying four
months. He wrote new music that was not welcomed.
In Mulhausen he played an organ that lacked what he wanted but he
was offered a job and that didnt workout good either.
He then married his Cousin Maria.
The Duke of Saxe Weimar loved music and offered Bach a position in
which was perfect for Bach.
Bachs wife bored hm 5 children but 2 died.
Carl Phillip Emanuel the last child of Bach came known as a good
composer.
Bach was known as being good with the mechanics of an organ.At
Weimar he had the organ modifie to his likings. He was invite to try
organs and was considered a good person to do business with.
During his time at Weimar bach was still studying works of other
composers. He liked Italian style. He would get drawn into controversy.
The dukes heir did not like Bach and his Cantatas and it offened Bach,
which may have caused him not to write anymore in his life time.
The brother of prince Leopold hired Bach at Kothen whichs music was
based on psalm singing.
This was an exceptional post. The Kothen catered to his needs. He also
was friends with the prince and they valued each other respectively.
He began to help at the Lutheran school and began to have many
pupils. He would teach them simple and orderly methods to teach
keyboard. These teachings would be recorded by his sons.
In 1720 Maria Barbara died while Bach was away with Prince.
He was left with 4 small chilfren. He waited 18 months then remarried.
Anna Madalena who was daughter of a court trumpeter, she was a
singer who earned half of Bachs salary. She bore him 13 children. She
wrote some music to help her children learn keys.
The prince married a woman who hated music and Bahc couldnt stand
her. He looked for a new position.
St.Thomaskirche in Leipzig was at the center of a strong musical and
Lutheran tradition and the post of cantor was important and influential.
Unfortunately it was a post also subject to no less than three
authorities, the school rector, the city council and the church board
each jealous of it's influence and power, and each with different ideas
on the importance of music.
His wife Anna would have no jobs because only males were allowed to
sing.
Salary was also lower here. he could be able to write church music
again and would have bachs kids could go to good schools and a
university to go to.

Bach arrived at the school and it as in a sorry state. Troubles arose

because demands of the job and not suiting Bach's talents, the
incompetence of the musicians he had to work with, and very
frequently jealousies and musical ignorance amongst collogues and
employers.
However his post was consider prestigious.
His posts at most jobs would eventually fall due to many events.
Seven children were born in twelve years though three died in infancy. In 1733
Augustus the first died and the new elector Augustus the second was petitioned
by Bach for the title of court composer.
Bach was a supreme keyboard player and in particular an organ player and he
wrote some preludes/fugues or toccatas and fugues for the organ, twenty-six
of which still exist.