Johann Sebastian Bach By: Brittney Metzmeier

Johann Sebastian BachBorn: Wednesday, March 21, 1685 in Eisenach, GermanyDied: Tuesday, July 28, 1750 in Leipzip, Germany.

Bach was:• A German composer• An organist• A Harpsichordist• Violist and violinist

Life• Parents were Johann Ambrosius Bach and

Maria Elisabeth Lammerhirt • Was the youngest son• His mother died in 1694 and then his father

eight months later.• At age 9, Bach and his brother were

adopted by Christoph their older brother• At age 14 Bach and a school friend George

Erdmann was awarded a choral scholarship to ST. Michael’s School

• Had three brothers and one sister

While in school he studied:• Orthodox Lutheranism• Logic• Rhetoric• Latin and Greek• Arithmetic• History• Geography• German poetryAt Lyceum he learned: (he was at this school till 1700)• Reading• Writing• Arithmetic• Singing• History• Natural science• religion

In this picture is Johann Sebastian and his two brothers and his father.

Leipzig: Cantor and Director of Music

• “Bach moved to Leipzig on May 22, 1723 he spent the remaining 27 years of his life he was to live and work as cantor or director of choir and music in Leipzig”

• Cantor’s duties is to organize the music in the four principal churches of Leipzig and to form choirs for these churches.

• His opening choruses represent some of his finest and most compelling compositions.

• He crafted the mood to reflect the biblical text.

Leipzig: The Collegium Musicum• Bach was respected as a composer, musician,

teacher, organist, and specialist in organ construction

• He spent more time on activities to examine for musical appointments, to advise on organ building, to lend support.

• He became famous as an organ construction expert

• He was asked to advise on new organ specification

Leipzig: Continued• he tested newly completed instruments with a

detailed examination or report• Two types of concerts given: ordinaire and

extraordinaire • It cost to get into extraordinaire concerts and for

the occasional “special sports” the regular concerts were most likely free.

Marriages• Bach was married twice!• His first wife was his second cousin Maria Barbara Bach.• His second wife Anna Magdalena Wilcke

Maria BarbaraAnna

Life with Maria Barbara BachBach married Maria when he was 22 years old. He had many children with her, but only four survived. Maria died suddenly in May of 1720.

Life with Anna Magdalena WilckeHe married Anna the following year after Maria’s death. She was the daughter of a musician. She took care of the four children and produced a further 13.

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"Johann Sebastian Bach." Classical.net. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://classical.net/music/comp.lst/backjs.php>.

"Johann Sebastian Bach." Baroque Music. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://www.baroquemusic.org>.

"Johann Sebastian Bach." Wikipedia. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. <http://wiki.answers.com>.