It is impossible to underestimate the contribution of the composer Johann Sebastian Bach to the world musical culture. His compositions are ingenious. He combined the best traditions of the Protestant chant with the traditions of the Austrian, Italian and French musical schools.
Despite the fact that the composer worked more than 200 years ago, interest in his rich heritage has not decreased. The composer's compositions are used in productions of modern operas and performances. Moreover, they can be heard in modern movies and TV shows.
Johann Sebastian Bach: Childhood and youth
The Creator was born on March 31, 1685 in the small town of Eisenach (Germany). He was brought up in a large family, which consisted of 8 children. Sebastian had every chance of becoming a famous person. The head of the family also left behind a rich legacy. Ambrosius Bach (father of the musician) was a popular composer. There were several generations of musicians in their family.
It was the head of the family who taught his son musical notation. Father Johann provided a large family with the organization of social events and playing in churches. From early childhood, Bach Jr. sang in the church choir and knew how to play several musical instruments.
When Bach was 9 years old, he experienced a strong emotional shock due to the death of his mother. A year later, the boy became an orphan. Johann was not easy. He was raised by his older brother, who soon assigned the guy to the gymnasium. In an educational institution, he studied Latin, theology and history.
Soon he mastered playing the organ. But the boy always wanted more. His interest in music was like a piece of bread for a hungry man. Secretly from his older brother, young Sebastian took compositions and copied notes into his notebook. When the guardian saw what his brother was doing, he was dissatisfied with such tricks and simply selected a draft.
He had to grow up early. In order to earn his living in adolescence, he got a job. In addition, Bach graduated with honors from the vocal gymnasium, after which he wanted to enter a higher educational institution. He failed to enter the university. It's all because of the lack of money.
The creative path of the musician Johann Sebastian Bach
After graduating from an educational institution, he got a job with Duke Johann Ernst. For some time Bach delighted his host and his guests with his delightful violin playing. Soon the musician got tired of this occupation. He wanted to open new horizons for himself. He took up the position of organist at the church of St. Boniface.
Bach was delighted with the new position. Three out of seven days he worked tirelessly. The rest of the time the musician devoted to expanding his own repertoire. It was then that he wrote a significant number of organ compositions, capriccios, cantatas and suites. Three years later, he left the post and left the city of Arnstadt. All the fault - difficult relations with local authorities. During this time, Bach traveled a lot.
The fact that Bach dared to leave work in the church for a long time angered the local authorities. The churchmen, who already hated the musician for his individual approach to creating musical works, organized a humiliating showdown for him for an ordinary trip to Lübeck.
The musician visited this small town for a reason. The fact is that his idol Dietrich Buxtehude lived there. Bach from his youth dreamed of hearing the improvised organ playing of this particular musician. Sebastian did not have the funds to pay for the trip to Lübeck. He had no choice but to go to the city on foot. The composer was so impressed with Dietrich's playing that instead of the planned trip (lasting one month), he stayed there for three months.
After Bach returned to the city, a real raid was already being prepared for him. He listened to the accusations against him, after which he decided to leave this place forever. The composer went to Mühlhausen. In the city, he took a job as an organist in the local church choir.
The authorities doted on the new musician. Unlike the previous government, here he was received warmly and rosy. Moreover, the locals were pleasantly surprised by the creations of the famous maestro. During this period of time, he wrote a beautiful solemn cantata "The Lord is my king."
Changes in the composer's life
A year later, he had to move to the territory of Weimar. The musician was hired in the ducal palace. There he worked as court organist. It is this period of time that biographers consider the most fruitful in Bach's creative biography. He wrote many clavier and orchestral compositions. But, most importantly, the composer used dynamic rhythms and harmonic schemes while writing new compositions.
Around the same time, the maestro began work on the famous collection "Organ Book". This collection includes chorale preludes for organ. In addition, he presented the composition Passacaglia Minor and two dozen cantatas. In Weimar, he became a cult figure.
Bach wanted a change, so in 1717 he asked the duke for mercy to leave his palace. Bach took a position with Prince Anhalt-Köthensky, who was well versed in classical compositions. From that moment on, Sebastian wrote compositions for social events.
Soon the musician took the position of cantor of the choir of St. Thomas in the church of Leipzig. Then he introduced the fans to the new composition "Passion according to John". He soon became the musical director of several city churches. At the same time he wrote five cycles of cantatas.
During this period of time, Bach wrote compositions for performance in local churches. The musician wanted more, so he also wrote compositions for social events. Soon he took the position of head of the music board. The secular ensemble put on a two-hour concert several times a week at Zimmerman's place. It was during this period that Bach wrote most of his secular works.
Composer's decline in popularity
Soon the popularity of the famous musician began to decline. There was a time of classicism, so contemporaries attributed Bach's compositions to old-fashioned ones. Despite this, young composers were still interested in the maestro's compositions, even looking up to him.
In 1829, Bach's compositions again began to be interested. Musician Mendelssohn organized a concert in the center of Berlin, where the song of the famous maestro "Passion according to Matthew" sounded.
"Musical Joke" is one of the most beloved compositions of contemporary classical music fans. Rhythmic and gentle music today sounds in different variations on modern musical instruments.
Details of privacy
In 1707, the famous composer married Maria Barbara. The family raised seven children, not all of them survived to adulthood. Three children died in infancy. Bach's children followed in the footsteps of their famous father. 13 years after a happy marriage, the composer's wife died. He is widowed.
Bach did not stay in the status of a widower for long. At the court of the duke, he met a charming girl, whose name was Anna Magdalena Wilke. A year later, the musician asked the woman to marry him. In the second marriage, Sebastian had 13 children.
In the last years of his life, the family for Bach became a real joy. He enjoyed the company of his lovely wife and children. Sebastian composed new compositions for the family and arranged impromptu concert numbers. His wife sang well, and his sons played several musical instruments.
Interesting facts about the composer
- On the territory of Germany, 11 monuments were erected in memory of the musician.
- The best lullaby for a composer is music. He loved to sleep with music.
- He could not be called a complaisant and calm person. He often lost his temper, he could even raise his hand to his subordinates.
- The musician cannot be called a gourmet. For example, he liked to eat herring heads.
- Bach needed only once to listen to the melody in order to reproduce it by ear.
- He had perfect pitch and a good memory.
- The first wife of the composer was a cousin.
- He knew several foreign languages, namely English and French.
- The musician worked in all genres except opera.
- Beethoven adored the composer's compositions.
Death of composer Johann Sebastian Bach
In recent years, the vision of the famous maestro has been deteriorating. He could not even write notes, and this was done for him by his relative.
Bach took a chance and lay down on the operating table. Two surgeries performed by a local ophthalmologist were successful. But the composer's vision did not improve. After a while he got worse. Bach died on July 18, 1750.
