Johann Sebastian Bach
A composer who synthesized the entire Baroque musical language into works of profound intellectual depth and spiritual grandeur.
1685–1750 (age 65)·German composer·Birthday: March 31
Biography
Johann Sebastian Bach was born into a sprawling German family of musicians in Eisenach, a fact so expected that 'Bach' was nearly synonymous with town musician. Orphaned by age ten, he was raised by an older brother who provided his early keyboard training. Bach's career was one of restless movement between posts as a church organist, court musician, and finally Cantor of St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, where he spent his final 27 years. His primary duty was to provide music for Leipzig's churches, a relentless schedule that generated a staggering output of cantatas, passions, and masses. Working largely in obscurity beyond a reputation as a brilliant organist, Bach composed not for fame but as an act of devotion, inscribing 'S.D.G.' (Soli Deo Gloria—To God alone the glory) on his manuscripts. His music married intricate counterpoint with deep emotional expression, creating a universe of sound that later composers like Mozart and Beethoven would study as a foundational text. His death in 1750 marked the end of the Baroque era, but his work's rediscovery in the 19th century secured his place as a cornerstone of Western music.
#1 When Johann Was Born
The biggest hits of 1685
Johann's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1685Born
1690Started school
1698Became a teenager
1701Could drive
1703Could vote
1706Turned 21
1715Turned 30
1725Turned 40
1735Turned 50
1745Turned 60
1750Died at 65
Key Achievements
- Composed the 'Brandenburg Concertos,' a benchmark of Baroque orchestral music that showcases a vast array of instrumental combinations.
- Created 'The Well-Tempered Clavier,' a two-volume set of preludes and fugues in every key, a monumental pedagogical and artistic work.
- Wrote the monumental 'Mass in B Minor,' a synthesis of Lutheran and Catholic sacred music traditions considered one of the greatest choral works ever.
- Produced over 200 surviving church cantatas, providing a weekly cycle of sacred music for the Lutheran liturgy.
Did You Know?
He once walked over 200 miles to hear the famous organist Dietrich Buxtehude play.
Bach had 20 children with two wives; several of his sons, like Carl Philipp Emanuel and Johann Christian, became significant composers themselves.
He was imprisoned for a month in 1717 after trying to leave his employer, Duke Wilhelm Ernst of Weimar, for a better job.
For much of the 18th century, he was better known as an organist and father of his composing sons than for his own compositions.
“It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument plays itself.”
