JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

1680-1750 On Marc 21st 1685 Johann Sebastian Bach was born. A German composer an organist and one of the greatest composers of the western world. He was the son of Johann Ambrosius, court trumpeter for the duke of Eisenach and director of the musicians of the town of Eisenach in Thuringia.

The members of the Bach family had positions such as organists, town instrumentalists, or cantors and the family name enjoyed a wide reputation for musical talent. The family lived in a spacious home. Just with rooms for learning musicians and a large grain store.

J.S Bach was devoted to music from childhood. It was at his house young Johann Sebastian was taught by his father to play the violin and the harpsichord. He was also admitted into organ playing by his famous uncle, Johann Christoph Bach who was the organist at the Georgenkirche in Eisenach.

Sebastian was a very hard working pupil and soon he became very talented with these instruments. By eight years old he went to the old Latin grammar school where he was taught reading and writing. His mother died when he was nine. Less than 10 months later his father also died.

In October 1705 the church council allowed Bach to leave to visit the city of Lubeck to hear the organist Dietrich Buxtehude and Adam Reinken to play. Johann was so fascinated by these concerts.

In 1707 Bach married his cousin Maria Barbara Bach. Who was to give birth to seven children. In 1720 his wife died and remarried in 1721 to Anna Magdalena Wulken who eventually had thirteen children. Some pieces the Bach composed are Air, Little Prelude and Fudge III and Brandenburg Concerto I.

On the 22nd of May 1723 he moved to Leipzig and lived there for the remaining twenty-seven years...