Johann Sebastian Bach Impact

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.

When thinking of composers, whose works changed the world of music forever, many names may come to mind. Among those on that list, both Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel are figures whose effect on music has been felt worldwide. Born in the same year, these composers have much in common and many differences that illustrate their importance to their era and music as we see it today. Their individualism and creativity influenced much of their time and together, their works defined the Baroque Period as we know it today.

In his compositions he gave no mind to breaks or regular breathing intervals for vocalists, demanding only the best from everyone always. His largest and most celebrated work, Mass in B Minor, was the majority of his most famous works which remained unperformed in his lifetime. Bach was able to use the best melodies and vocal standards from both secular and sacred music to create masterful works all for the glory of God. Although blind in the last two years of his life he was still able to compose and did so right up until his death in 1750. His last fugue was filled with all of the greatest parts of his style but seems to end abruptly just as his life did. Buried and remembered more as a keyboard and organist, Bach became one of the greatest musicians to have ever lived having graced us with several works that were way ahead of their

The next two years were ones of sufficient production of original pieces for organ by Bach. His talent definitely did not go unnoticed. He was even given a diamond ring by the Crown Prince Fredrick of Sweden when he heard Bach perform. His fame came from his amazing ability to play the organ and not his compositions, yet. A few years later the Prince Leopold of Cothen Germany offered him a position to conduct the court orchestra. Although Bach had to spend a month in jail before starting his job, this opportunity led to the prime years of not only his musical career but also his

Early on, he provided music for religious services and special events. He also worked at the court of the Duke Wilhelm Ernst, who then later imprisoned him for weeks when he tried to leave to work for Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cothen because the Duke didn’t want him to leave. While working for the Duke, he was able to write some of his best compositions for the organ. His time there, he wrote “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor”, “Herz und Mund und Tat”, and one section of a cantata called “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”. Years later, Bach signed a contract to become the new organist and teacher and St. Thomas Church in Leipzig. He taught part time at the Thomas School. During this time he worked on several

In 1706 Bach decided that he wanted to further his career in music and made the first change by leaving his organ playing position at the church and took upon a new position in Munhlhausen at the St. Blasius as an organist there (Johann Sebastian BACH). This change was for the best because the church was larger and located in a city that was important to the north. A few months after being an organist at the St. Blasius church he married his second cousin Maria Barbara Bach. After a year of Bach being a organist for St. Blasius, he was offered a better position in Weimar. Bach took the offer with pride and became their new court organist and concertmaster at the ducal court. Johann and Maria Bach decided to start their family, after their first born child, Marias unwed sister moved into their home to help with raising their children. Maria and Johann Bach had a total of seven children. The gifted musically talented family continued as two of Bach children, Wilhelm Friedemann Bach and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach became vital composers following the baroque period.

Not much is known about Bach’s private life however, they were able to gather information and put it together based on official documents (Marshall, 99). Johann Sebastian Bach was born on March 21, 1685 in Eisenach into a musical family. Bach learned to play the organ, harpsichord, and violin from an early age. He was given a very religious education at St. Michael School in Germany. Therefore, as a composer, he saw everything as an act of prayer. Bach composed “Passions” which were sacred works based on the bible. In 1703, he worked as a court musician, which allowed him to compose various church cantatas. During his time there he wrote one of his famous pieces the “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor”. It became very popular and was featured in the Disney’s animated film “Fantasia”. Bach was appointed the director of music for the four main churches in Leipzig, Germany. His music was so great that he performed for various different kings and royal people. By 1740, Bach was having problems with his eyesight, but still

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy was one of the great composers in the early romantic era. He influenced by Baroque and Classical composers. He became the pioneer for reviving the music of Bach or Handel as well as one of the leading composers. The “Elijah” was the significant contribution to religious music in the 19th century.

Johann Sebastian Bach was born on March 21, 1685 in Eisenach, Germany. He was the son of Johann Ambrosius, who was a court trumpeter for the Duke of Eisenach. The Bach family held many positons as organists and instrumentalists throughout Eisenach. Their family name had a wide reputation for their musical talent (Sartorius, 1996). He was taught various instruments by his father and uncle over his younger years. His father taught him how to play the violin and the harpsichord. His uncle, Johann Christoph Bach taught him to play the organ. Johann Sebastian was an excellent pupil and quickly progress with his skill. He was 8 years old when he attended the Old Latin Grammar School. There he was taught reading, writing, grammar, and scripture in

Johann Sebastian Bach was born into a musically gifted family on March 31, 1685 in Eisenach, Germany. Bach’s father was his first teacher and gave him lessons up until his death. His father passed way in 1685 and he was sent to Ohrdruf, where he lived with his brother Johann Christoph and studied organ. His brother was also a helpful mentor for him growing up. He received his education from various schools in Eisenach, Ohrdruf, and Lüneburg. Bach got married to his cousin Maria Barbara bach in 1706, having seven children with her. Though, not all of the children survived after birth complications. Bach's first musical employment was for the Prince of Weimar in 1707. He left Weimar within a year and traveled to Arnstadt to become an organist. From there he went to Muhlhausen from 1708-1717, where he was employed by Duke Wilhelm Ernst of Weimar, his first employment there was as the court organist.

s was probably the beginning of Bach’s individual experience with choral music, and for several years he continued to sing in choirs.

John Rutter and Johann Sebastian Bach are both well known composers throughout the world. Each of them were gifted with the ability to create brilliant musical compositions that became widely popular. They both use different techniques and instruments making their compositions unique. Rutter and Bach are from different time periods allowing their music to be tastefully different and unique. John Rutter was born in London in the year of 1945.

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.

Bach went on in 1744 to comprise two volumes of piano music those were eventually comprised into all musical keys. A little fun fact that you may not know is that Bach once walked 13 miles to a hear a performance by an organist whom he had admired after hearing the concert he turned around and walked the same distance home. It was said that his popularity was fading out into about 1829 when Mendelssohn had performed the St Matthew Passion which eventually rescued Bach from oblivion. One other important thing to also mention is the fact that besides the opera Bach composed towering masterpieces in every inch of the baroque genre they included sonatas, concertos, suites and cantatas as well as keyboard and organ work plus choral work. Bach’s death was a highly debatable issue the debate was over whether it was a botched eye operation or a stroke that could cause pneumonia that eventually caused his death. I guess we will never know what really caused Bach’s death we can only guess what we think. I honestly think Bach was one of the most interesting composers of his day. He grew up from humble beginnings and learn his fair share of

     By this stage in his life, Bach had developed a reputation as a brilliant musical talent. His profiency on the organ was unequalled in Europe and he toured regularly as a solo virtuoso. In 1717, Bach left Weimar to take a job as a court conductor in Anhalt-Cothen (1717-1723). There is where he started concentrating on instrumental music. The Cothen period produced, among other masterpieces, the Brandenburg Concerti.