Who?: Johann Sebastian Bach (J.S. Bach)

When did he live?: March 21, 1685 – July 28, 1750.

What did he do?: He was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist and violinist.

Where is he from/where did he live?: Johann Sebastian Back was born in Eisenach, Saxe-Eisenach of Germany.  His father, Johann Ambrosius Bach, was the director of the town musicians and all of his uncles were professional musicians.  His father taught him how to play violin and harpsichord, and one of his uncles introduced him to the art of organ playing.  His mother died in 1694 and his father shortly after, forcing the 10-year old orphan to move in with his oldest brother, the organist at the Michaeliskirche in nearby Ohrdruf.  There Bach copied, studied and performed music while also receiving valuable teaching from his brother.  At the age of 14, Back was awarded a choral scholarship to study at the prestigious St. Michael’s School in Luneburg.  His two years there appear to have been critical in exposing him to a wider facet of European culture.  He sang in the a cappella choir, and it’s likely that he played the School’s three-manual organ and harpsichord.  He studied French, Italian, Latin, theology, history, geography and physics.

In January 1703, Bach became a court musician in the chapel of Duke Johann Ernst in Weimar.  In 1706, he was offered a post as organist at St. Blasius’s in Muhlhausen, which he took the following year.  It included significantly higher pay and improved conditions, as well as a better choir.  After less than a year, Bach left Muhlhausen, returning to Weimar this time as organist and concert master at the ducal court.  Bach served as Kapellmeister to Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Kothen and in 1723, he was appointed Cantor of the Thomasschule at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, as well as Director of Music in the principal churches in the town.  Bach remained in Leipzig until his death in 1750.

Why is he remembered?: Bach is known for his sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments written during the Baroque period.  Bach's musical style arose from his extraordinary fluency in contrapuntal invention and theme control, his ability for improvisation on the keyboard, his exposure to South German, North German, Italian and French music, and his apparent devotion to the Lutheran liturgy. His access to musicians, scores and instruments as a child and a young man, combined with his emerging talent for writing tightly woven music that was both powerful and vibrant, set him on course to develop a diverse, energetic musical style.  He is known for his works such as the Brandenburg Concertos, The Well-Tempered Clavier (a collection of 48 preludes and fugues), Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, Mass in B Minor, much sacred choral music, and the St Matthew Passion. He wrote Cantatas, Masses and Magnificats, Chorales, Oratorios and many other styles and forms of music.

Honors and Awards?: J.S. Bach received a lot of recognition in his day, however instead of being awarded with trophy’s or plaques, his true honor was his work.  During his life, Bach worked as a musician, composer, and director for many different churches and towns.  At the time of his life, having this type of work was the most prominent honor.