Johann Sebastian Bach Eisenach 1685 1695 Johann Sebastian

Johann Sebastian Bach

Eisenach, 1685 -1695 • • • Johann Sebastian Bach was born March 21, 1685 in Eisenach, Germany. Parents were Johann Ambrosius and Maria Elisabeth Lammerhirt. Baptized at Georgen Kirche on March 23, 1685. Taught to play the violin and harpsichord by his father and the organ by his uncle Johann Christoph Bach. Attended Old Latin Grammar School where he joined the choir. Lost both his parents at age 9 and moved with his siblings to live with his eldest brother in Ohrduf, Germany.

Ohrduf/Luneberg, 1694 -1703 • • • Continued his study of the organ and harpsichord with his brother. Started training on compositions by copying music by famous composers. Attained a position at the Michaelis Monastery in Luneberg, Germany. Was appointed to lead a body of singers for the Mettanchor due to his excellent voice. Moved back to his hometown

Arnstadt, 1703 -1707 • • Organist at Neue Kirkein. Started out with the town excited for his music. After a trip north his music style changed spurring disappointment with the town. After confrontation with the church he accepted a post in Muhlhausen.

Muhlhausen, 1707 -1708 • • • Married his first wife Maria Barbara Bach. Organist to the town. Started to build a collection of music for the town and train a choir and orchestra. Due to worries of Pietist, Bach looked for work elsewhere. Left Muhlhausen amicably and went back in 1709 to play the

Weimar, 1708 -1717 • • • Member of the chamber orchestra and Organist to the court. Played violin and occasionally harpsichord for the Court Orchestra. Spent time in family households playing music. Rumored to have started the Brandenburg Concertos here. 1714 became leader of the orchestra and started to play a much larger role with the

Weimar, Continued • • Bach started to develop his reputation as one of the best organists throughout the country. Sought out to teach people and to try out new organs. Due to quarrels between the Duke and the Duke's nephew and losing a promotion to Capplemeister Bach started to look elsewhere for employment. After finding a new post, the Duke threw Bach in jail for a month. Once he was released, Bach was able to go to the new post in Anhalt-Cothen.

Anhalt-Cothen, 1717 -1723 • • As Capplemeister Bach was allowed more freedom here. Worked on pieces like Double Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor and his Cello concertos. Prince Leopold had a fondness for Italian music so much of his writing was influenced at the time to reflect this style. Do to the informality of this position, Bach was able to spend a lot of time working his chamber music, violin concertos, sonatas and more.

Anhalt-Cothen, Continued • • • After a three month trip with the Prince, Bach returned to find his wife had passed away. He had four children(three passing away in infancy). While writing cantatas for the prince sometimes nearby courts would come help perform. Here he met his second wife Anna Magdalena Wilcke. They married December 1721 and had 13 children together but only five survived childhood. Due to conflicts with the Prince's new wife Bach found a new job in Liepzig and was given permission by the Prince to leave.

Liepzig, 1723 -1750 • • • Performed the majority of his religious and secular cantatas here. Was Cantor of the Thomas School. Due to low wages and many responsibilities he found other projects to expand his career. Was Court Composer to the Dresden Court. Spent time outside of the city for musical appointments to support private establishments and to advise on organ building.

Liepzig, Continued • • After being reprimanded for shirking his duties, Bach almost left Liepzig to find other employment. Due to the intervention of his friend Gesner he was convinced to stay. With a new successor music and theology teachings were reduced. This allowed Bach to spend more time on other projects. In 1736 he became director of Dresden Court. He was a chief director to the cities Collegium Musicum where amateur and professional musicians would play music once a week.

Liepzig, Continued • • • 1740's Bach played at the court of King Frederick the Great. Here he produced The Musical Offering. Made frequent trips to Berlin to visit his son. Due to poor eyesight Bach got an eye surgery that caused an infection and further diminished his site. He spent the last months of his life working on pieces with his pupil and son-in law. After waking up one day being able to see, he later had a stroke followed by a severe fever and passed away later that evening.

Conclusion While Bach did not travel far and wide his musical influence was seen everywhere then and still is felt to this day. He has been one of the biggest musical influences in the Classical genre. Though he was never incredibly wealthy it didn't stop him from expanding his music into a most profound illustration of beauty. He is an example of