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Johann Sebastian
Bach
(1685– 1750)
Baroque Era Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach came from a
large family of musicians. More
than seventy of his uncles, cousins,
brothers and other relatives made
their living with music. Once a year
all the relatives would get together
and have a big family party. They
were all musicians, so there was lots
of singing and musical fun.
J.S. Bach (who usually went by
Sebatian) was born March 31, 1685
to Johann Ambrosius Bach and
Maria Elisabeth Lammerhirt. His
father was a town musician and
taught Sebastian about music.
Unfortuanately, Sebatian’s mother
died when he was nine years old
and his father died the next year.
Johann Ambrosius Bach
father of J.S. Bach
Sebastian went to live with his
older brother, Christoph, in
the nearby town of
Ohrdruf. Christoph was
known as an excellent
church organist. He not
only taught Sebastian how
to play the harpsichord and
organ, but also how to tune
and fix broken organs.
Sebastian tested and repaired
organs in different towns
around Germany.
Baroque Era Organ
Sebastian was fifteen years
old when he left his
brother’s home to look for
a job. He would often go
from town to town looking
for work as a musician.
Some jobs were better than
others. When he was
seventeen he got a great
job as a violinist in the royal
court at Celle, Germany.
However as part of the job
he has to clean the kitchen
every morning.
Baroque Era Violinist
It wasn’t long before J.S. Bach
became well known for his
remarkable talent as an organist
and composer of church music.
One of his most famous organ
compositions is called Little
Organ Fugue in G minor. This
piece is filled with big, powerful
sounds. It had an energy and
force that was known to cause
church rafters and windows to
shake.
Sebastian also wrote pieces for
church services called a cantata.
A cantata usually has a lead singer
and a choir accompanied by an
orchestra.
Bach playing the organ
J.S. Bach played and
composed his music during
a time known as the
Baroque period. In the
1600s and 1700s,
everything in Europe
seemed to have grand
fancy, and decorative
feeling to it. Art and
architecture were created
to show off the palaces and
homes of kings, queens,
dukes and wealthy
businessmen.
Baroque Architecture
Baroque music also had kind of a grand decorative feeling. It
was often filled with the sounds of voices, violins,
trumpets, and flutes, each playing different melodies at
the same time. J.S.Bach was an expert at making
complicated Baroque pieces sound natural and pleasing.
Example of Baroque Art
Sebastian married Maria Barbara Bach a distant relative. Maria was
happy to travel around with her husband and raise their four
children. Sadly, she died after thirteen years of marriage. A year
later he married Anna Magdalena. Together they had thirteen
children.
Johann Sebastian Bach and Family
Sebastian was a loving father and made sure his children got good
grades, learned to play musical instruments and helped out
around the house. Four of Bach’s sons became famous
composers and musicians.
Wilhelm
Friedemann Bach
Johann
Christian Bach
Carl Phillip
Emmanuel Bach
Johann Christoph
Friedrich Bach
Later in his life Sebastian knew things were changing musically,
but he decided to stick with his favorite Baroque style.
When he died in 1750 he had composed some of the world’s
most beautiful music ever.
J. S. Bach Memorial
Johann Sebastian Bach