Classwork A - 3B

Nicolás Rueda

25964910

BACH

Johann Sebastian Bach (March 21, 1685-July 28, 1750) was a

German Baroque composer. He was one of the greatest composers of
all time, but during his lifetime, he was little-known and was mostly
recognized for performing on the organ. Bach composed in many
established musical forms, including, for example, the cantata and
fugue, and developed them into complex and sublime pieces. He
composed over 1,100 works in almost every musical genre (except
opera).
Bach was born and died in Germany, and spent his entire life there,
working as an organist, teacher, and composer. He had over 20
children, including four who became famous musicians in their own
right, including Carl Philipp Emanuel, Wilhelm Friedemann, Johann
Christoph Friedrich, and Johann Christian.
Bach’s Early Life:

Bach was the youngest of eight children. His father, Johann Ambrosius
Bach, had been a town musician, and probably gave Bach his early
music lessons. His mother, Maria Elisabetha, and his father died within
a year of each other (in 1694 and 1695, respectively). Orphaned at age
10, Bach moved in with his an older brother, Johann Christoph, who
was the organist at St. Michael’s Church, Ohrdruf. This brother
probably taught Bach much about the organ.
Bach’s Early Career:

Bach’s early career involved playing the violin and organ at a low-level
position in the ruling court in Weimar and in Neukirche, Arnstadt,
beginning in 1703.
Bach’s First Marriage:

In October 1707, Bach married his cousin Maria Barbara Bach;
together they would eventually have seven children (including Wilhelm
Friedemann Bach and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach).
Life in Saxe-Weimar:
In 1708, Bach was appointed organist and chamber musician to the
Duke of Saxe-Weimar. During the next nine years Bach composed
many of his finest organ compositions, and became known as a fine
organist.
During this period, Bach’s major works included Toccata and Fugue in
D Minor (1705), Cantata No. 208 (1713), and The Little Organ Book
(1714).
Kapellmeister at Anhalt-Cothen:
In 1717, Bach became Kapellmeister (the chapel master, who directed
and/or composed music for a church or chapel) in the court of the
music-lover Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cothen.
During this period, Bach’s major works included the Brandenburg

Concertos (1721), The Well-Tempered Clavier (first book, 1722). In
1721, the Prince married a woman who did not share the Prince’s
interest in music, and the Prince’s support of Bach lessened. Bach
would soon leave.
Bach’s Second Marriage:

Bach’s wife Maria had died in 1720. In 1721, he married Anna
Magdalena Wilcke (the daughter of the town trumpeter); they would
have 13 children together (including Johann Christian Bach).
Altogether, Bach had 20 children with his two wives, but 10 of his
children died in infancy. Four went on to become well-known
composers and musicians.
Life in Leipzig:
Bach left Anhalt-Cothen in 1723 for Leipzig. He became Kantor
(teacher and director of music) of St. Thomas’s in Leipzig. Bach
remained in Leipzig for the rest of his life.
During this period, Bach’s major works included St. John Passion
(1723), St. Matthew Passion (1727), Suite No. 3 in D (1729),
Magnificat in D Major (1731), Christmas Oratorio (1734), Italian
Concerto (1735), Goldberg Variations (1741-1742, originally called
“Aria With Diverse Variations,” but later nicknamed after Bach’s
student Johann Gottlieb Goldberg), The Well-Tempered Clavier
(second book, 1742), the Musical Offering (1747), and The Art of the
Fugue (unfinished, 1749).
Bach’s Death:
By 1740, Bach’s eyesight was failing. Two eye operations resulted in
Bach’s complete blindness; these operations also damaged his health
and may have hastened his death. He died of a stroke on July 28,
1750. Bach is buried at St. John’s cemetery, Leipzig. Bach’s widow
Anna lived for another ten years, dying in poverty in 1760. Bach’s
death in 1750 marked the end of the Baroque period in music.
The Re-Discovery of Bach’s Works – Bach’s Back:

Bach’s works were soon forgotten (but then again, they were hardly
known during his lifetime – many of his works were not published until
a century after his death). In March, 1829 (almost 100 years after
Bach’s death), the composer Felix Mendelssohn performed Bach’s St.
Matthew Passion, spurring a world-wide interest in Bach. Soon, Bach’s
works were appreciated by the world – essentially for the first time.
Answer the following questions ; (Give complete answers)
1. In what year was Bach born?
A. Bach was born in 1865.
2. In which country did Bach spend his entire life?
A: Bach spent his entire life in Germany.
3. Bach was best known for his performances on which musical

instrument?
A: Bach was best known for his performances by playing the organ.
4. How many children did Bach have?
A: Bach had over 20 children.

5. How many times was Bach married?
A: Bach married twice.
6. Was Bach a composer of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, or the

Baroque period?
A: Bach was a composer of the Baroque period.
7. Did Bach compose the Goldberg Variations during his early career
or later in life?
A: Bach composed the Goldberg Variations between 1741-1742 in his

later life.
8. What was Bach’s last major composition?
A: Bach last major composition was The Art of the Fugue, unfinished
in 1749.
9. In which German city did Bach live during his last decades?
A: Bach lived his last decades in Leipzig.
10. Which of Bach’s pieces was performed in 1829, spurring a world-

wide interest in his works?
A: Bach’s St. Matthew Passion performed by the composer Felix

Mendelssohn.

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Nicolás Rueda

Johann Sebastian Bach (March 21, 1685-July 28, 1750) was a

Bach’s Early Life:

Bach’s Early Career:

Bach’s First Marriage:

During this period, Bach’s major works included the Brandenburg

Bach’s Second Marriage:

The Re-Discovery of Bach’s Works – Bach’s Back:

Answer the following questions ; (Give complete answers)

1. In what year was Bach born?

A. Bach was born in 1865.

2. In which country did Bach spend his entire life?

A: Bach spent his entire life in Germany.

3. Bach was best known for his performances on which musical

4. How many children did Bach have?

A: Bach had over 20 children.

A: Bach married twice.

6. Was Bach a composer of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, or the

A: Bach was a composer of the Baroque period.

A: Bach composed the Goldberg Variations between 1741-1742 in his

8. What was Bach’s last major composition?

A: Bach lived his last decades in Leipzig.

10. Which of Bach’s pieces was performed in 1829, spurring a world-

A: Bach’s St. Matthew Passion performed by the composer Felix

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