Everything You Need to Know About Johann Sebastian Bach

Legends in the field of music have been pouring various magical pieces into the hearts of every soul. The music created by these artists has a unique touch to it that makes it relevant even after centuries of its release. Several musicians have been the milestone to the world of music at various stages of evolution. Johann Sebastian Bach was also one such musician who created pieces that have brought about a difference in the norms of music composition. Let us travel back in time to the times where Bach was creating some impressive art.

Who is Johann Sebastian Bach?

Johann Sebastian Bach was a highly celebrated member of a family of German musicians, and his compositions in the Baroque era were his career-defining works. Bach is considered as one of the greatest musicians of all time, but during his days he was primarily regarded by his contemporaries as an organist and harpsichordist. He is well known for his creations such as The Well-Tempered Clavier, Brandenburg Concertos, the Mass in B Minor, and many other instrumental music compositions. History of music had various eras that define the world of melodies, and Bach was a part of it during the propitious days. He surveyed the field to combine the principal forms and styles of traditional music that was developed in the preceding decades. All his efforts went into enriching these music styles, and most of them were successful.

Musical Journey

Since he was born into a family of musicians, he had the right amount of support to take up the career too. Bach was introduced to the organ by one of his uncles, and his older second cousin, Johann Ludwig Bach was also a part of it all. Ludwig later became a popular violinist and composer. It was in the years after 1700 that Bach explored the various sides of European culture when he joined St. Micheal’s School in Luneberg. Apart from the singing sessions at the choir, he also played harpsichords and organ.

In 1703, Bach bagged the post of the court musician in the chapel of Duke Johann Ernst III. Due to his feats in Weimar, he became more popular among the music lovers so much so that he was invited to play the inaugural piece and give the recital at the Bach Church in Ardstadt. When he was dissatisfied with the performance of the choir, he left the job and returned to Weimar in 1708. It was during the period from 1708-1717 that Bach composed his best pieces on his keyboard. Bach also got the opportunity to perform at the castle church when he got promoted to Konzertmeister. In the later years, he kept traveling from one place to another to give his best compositions.

A thematic catalogue of Bach’s compositions was published in 1950, and most of the works have been special pieces in the history of music. Everything from Cantatas, Motets, Four-part chorales, and small vocal works to the church and Capella music created by him inspired many of the aspirants.