Johann Sebastian Bach Essay -- Composer Musician Bach Essays Bio

Johann Sebastian bachelor Johann Sebastian bach was a German electric organist, composer, and musical theater comedy scholar of the Baroque period, and is almost univers bothy regarded as one of the sterling(prenominal) 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. J. S. bachelor was born in Eisenach, Germany, March 21, 1685. Bachs uncles were all professional musicians ranging from church service organists and courtyard chamber musicians to composers. His father, Johann Ambrosius Bach, was the town piper in Eisenach, a post that entailed organizing all the secular music in town as well as participating in church music at the direction of the church organist (p. 309, The New plantation Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Vol. 2). Bach was the youngest son of Ambrosius Bach and probably learned the fundamentals of musical theo ry and how to play the violin from him (p104, The multinational Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians). Bachs mother died when he was still a young boy and his father suddenly passed away when J. S. Bach was 9, at which time he moved in with his older brother Johann Christoph Bach, who was the organist of Ohrdruf, Germany (p105, The International Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians). While in his brothers house, J. S. Bach continued replicaing, studying, and vie music. According to one popular legend, late one night, when his brother was asleep, he found a collection of works by Johann Christophs former mentor, Johann Pachelbel, and began to copy it by the moonlight. This went on every night until Johann Christoph heard his brother playing some of the distinctive tunes from his private library, at which point he demanded to spang how Sebastian had come to learn them (www.sfsymphony.org/templates/composer). It was at Ohrdruf that Bach began to learn about organ building. The Ohrdruf churchs instrument was in constant need of minor repairs, and young J. S. Bach was often sent into the belly of the old organ to tighten, adjust, or regenerate various parts. This hands-on experience with the innards of the instrument provides a secure explanation for his unequalled skill at playing the organ (p. 11, absolute Music, the Rough Guide).From 1700 to 1702 he attended St Michaels School in Lneburg, where he sang in the church choir. After compet... ... new dimensions in around every department of creative work to which he turned, in format, musical quality and technical demands (p. 22, absolute Music, the Rough Guide). His music was so convoluted that many analysts have uncovered layers of religious and numerological significance that is seldom found in the music of other composers. Bachs chorale harmonizations and fugal works were soon adopted as models for new generations of musicians. Bach was the last great representative of the Baroque era in an suppurate wh ich was already rejecting the Baroque aesthetic in favor of a new, pundit one (www.sfsymphony.org/templates/composer). BibliographyJohann Sebastian Bach, http//www.sfsymphony.org/templates/composer. Newman, Ernest Bach, Johann Sebastian. The International Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians, 1985, 11th Edition, pp. 102-108Sadie, Stanley Bach, Johann Sebastian. The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2002, Vol. 2, pp. 309-346Slonimsky, Nicolas Bach, Johann Sebastian. Bakers Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, 2001, Vol. 1, pp. 161-172Staines, Joe Bach, Johann Sebastian. Classical Music, the Rough Guide, 1998, pp. 11-22