Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach was a German organist, composer, and musical scholar of the Baroque period, and is almost universally regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time. His works, noted for their intellectual depth, technical command, and artistic beauty, have provided inspiration to nearly every musician after him, from Mozart to Schoenberg.

Organ is one of the most complex of all musical instruments; has the longest and most involved history and the largest and oldest existing collection of any instrument in Western music. There are other instruments as well on which different artists have performed the Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. Such as, on Glass-Harp, Guitar or Piano etc.The first part of Bach’s piece is a “toccata”, is derived from the Italian word “toccare”, which means “to touch.” It represents a musical form for instruments that is designed to reveal the virtuosity of the performer’s touch. In Bach’s Toccata a great many fast harmonies (notes of a chord played in a series than simultaneously) and runs up and down the keyboard but otherwise is generally free form and gives the composer much latitude for personal expression.

The fugue is often regarded as a genre defined by strict procedural guidelines. It is notable that three historically important composers, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759), and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), all employed a closely related fugue subject in three different works. An analysis of each of these works individually, and a comparison of these works collectively reveal numerous latent and salient features, and a reflection of the composers’ style within these works. Analyses also provide an outlook into the fluidity in certain aspects and rigidity in others of the form itself, reflected historically. The three composers analyzed fall closely together in history. J.S. Bach and G.F. Handel were contemporaries, whereas Mozart was born six years after Bach’s death and three years before Handel’s death. Analytically, the angularity of these similar fugue subjects presupposes a treatment regardless of the composer. Because of the shared intervallic content among the subjects of these fugues, despite being written by several different composers, a surprising number of similarities arise. Therefore, it is reasonable to assert that compositional choices made in the construction of the fugue subjects limit the number of results possible.

Bach’s complex compositional style incorporates religious and numerological symbols that fit perfectly together in a puzzle of musical code. Demanding unfaltering facility in dexterity, precise pitch, particularly in the multiple stoppings, as well as sensitivity to implied polyphonic and harmonic textures. These exceptional works may be the closest thing we have to a “perfect” composition, so why is it that musicians have drastically different alterations and interpretations of his works? It is as if quality, intensity, duration, and even pitch are subject to the performer’s adaptation. By mapping out these alterations performers make to Bach’s music, it becomes possible to map out their respective musical personalities.

From the beginning of times, music has played an important role in everyone’s life. At first, it started with drum-based and percussion instruments made out of what was available as rocks and sticks. Our ancestors proved that human beings have an innate need of music. Nowadays, no one teaches a baby to follow the beat of a song, he just naturally lets his body get involved with the rhythm. Since the prehistoric era to Christian times, several forms of music have developed leaving a trail to new genres of music. For Christianity, hymns and plainchants were the first forms of music considered as a worship to God. As time passed by, Christian music has evolved giving way to new and fresh sounds.

If we are to evaluate Bach’s significance as a tutor, should we then assess the success of his students? Bach had taught numerous pupils during his life, particularly since c. 1706/7, where most primary sources are dated from. Johann Casper Vogler was one of Bach’s ‘successful’ students who became a nationally known organist and won an exclusive examination performance in the Markt-Kirche at Hanover. In 1721 he moved to take Bach’s former post as Organist for the Weimar Court. Vogler, previously known as “Anonymous 18”, is of significance today through his hand copies of Bach’s works. His copy of Bach’s Prelude and Fughetta in C Major, BWV 870a, is of particular influence, being highly regarded within performance study practices for having the fingerings written out. It is seen that Bach’s teaching methods went beyond the scope of influencing his direct pupils. Johann Tobias Krebs was another of Bach’s ‘acclaimed’ students who in 1721 accepted the post as Organist at Buttelstedt. Here he was expected to play the organ of Michaeliskirche and instruct at the school. Although J. T. Krebs remained at Buttelstedt for the rest of his life, he is mostly acknowledged as being the father of Johann Ludwig Krebs, also a student of Bach. Johann Ludwig Krebs became to be considered comparable to Bach; continuing the genius particularly through his keyboard technique and counterpoint. The names of some other notable pupils of Bach include Johann Martin Schubart, who in 1717 succeeded Bach at his organist post in Weimar. Another student was Johann Schneider who became organist of St.

Bach’s attention was the music in the text. There was singing, the playing of cymbals, harps,

1. Discuss the use of music in Catholic and Protestant worship practice, from the development of polyphony, through the music of J.S. Bach. In so doing, discuss the shift in responsibility for musical development from the Catholic Church to the Lutheran Church.

Bach was born into a musical family whose legacy traced back a few generations. Johann Ambrosius, Bach’s father, had a lot to do with his success in the music industry. He was also a musician and therefor took it upon himself to teach Bach how to play the violin and the harpsichord. Needless to say that from an early age, Bach had music imbedded within. Bach was the youngest son of Lutheran parents. His music career began early on his life when he joined the church’s choir and sang. However, Bach had to move to Ohrdruf, Germany when he was left an orphan. It is said that this was when his oldest brother, Johann Christoph Bach, taught him to play the organ and who introduced him to the keyboard instruments. He continued to be part of the church’s choir which ultimately led to him receiving a scholarship for his amazing voice. In this time, fine voices were crucial. Since it’s hard to keep a man’s voice the same forever, Bach had to transfer over to playing the violin; his voice

Moving on into his early adulthood, Bach was hired to play in special services at a church

At age seven, Bach attended school where he gained religious instruction and studied various subjects, such as Latin. However, Bach’s Lutheran faith subjective his work as a musician. By

In the mystifying world of the modern orchestra, an oboist is a neurotic alternative to their woodwind counterparts. They border on obsessive and often wander with a crazed look in their eyes. To most people, this would dissuade anyone from picking up the instrument. But, it lures innocent children with the curve of the bell. The sleek streamline of the wood, and the glimmer of the silver keys under the concert hall lights. The sound of a well-played oboe is life changing. Romantic, warm, and vibrant. It soars through the cacophony of strings players, the low rumble of the timpani, and straight into the hearts and souls of the audience. Chasing any hint of logic from their brains.

Johann Sebastian Bach was born into a family of musicians. It was only natural for him to pick up an instrument and excel in it. His father taught him how to play the violin and harpsichord at a very young age. All of Bach’s uncles were professional musicians, one of them; Johann Christoph Bach introduced him to the organ. Bach hit a turning point in his life when both of his parents died at the age of ten years old. Bach’s older brother Johann Christoph Bach took him in and immediately expanded his knowledge in the world of music. He taught him how to play the clavichord and exposed him to great composers at the time. At the age of fourteen, Bach and his good friend George Erdmann were awarded a choral scholarship to the prestigious

J.S. Bach, short for Johann Sebastian Bach, is a prominent composer during the Baroque Era. Bach was born in Eisenach, Thuringia, Germany on March 31, 1685. He is the youngest son of his parents, Johann Ambrosius Bach and Elizabeth Lammerhirt Bach. Because he came from seven generations of musicians, it was not unusual that Bach became a musician and composer himself. In fact, Bach’s father and brother are both church organist. Although Bach is well known for his organ skills, his musical career did not start with an organ. In fact, it started with violin lessons with

Johann Sebastian Bach was born on March 21st 1685. He is the son of Johann Ambrosius. For many years, members of the Bach family had held positions such as organists, town instrumentalists, or Cantors.