Biography of I.S. Bach briefly

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Biography

Johann Sebastian Bach is the great German composer of the 18th century. More than two hundred and fifty years have passed since the death of Bach, and interest in his music is growing. During his lifetime, the composer did not receive the well-deserved recognition as a songwriter, but was known as a performer and, especially, as an improviser.

Interest in Bach's music arose almost a hundred years after his death: in 1829, under the direction of the German composer Mendelssohn, Bach's greatest work, St. Matthew Passion, was publicly performed. For the first time - in Germany - a complete collection of Bach's works was published. And musicians from all over the world play Bach's music, marveling at its beauty and inspiration, skill and perfection. “Don't be a stream! “The sea should be his name,” the great Beethoven said about Bach.

Bach's ancestors have long been famous for their musicality. It is known that the composer's great-great-grandfather, a baker by profession, played the zither. From the Bach family came flutists, trumpeters, organists, violinists. Eventually every musician in Germany was called Bach and every Bach a musician.

Johann Sebastian Bach was born in 1685 in the small German town of Eisenach. He received his first violin skills from his father, a violinist and city musician. The boy had an excellent voice (soprano) and sang in the choir of the city school. No one doubted his future profession: little Bach was to become a musician. At nine years old, the child was left an orphan. His elder brother, who served as a church organist in the city of Ohrdruf, became his tutor. The brother sent the boy to the gymnasium and continued to teach music. But that was an insensitive musician. The classes were monotonous and boring. For an inquisitive ten-year-old boy, it was excruciating. Therefore, he strove for self-education. Learning that his brother kept a notebook with works of famous composers in a locked cabinet, the boy secretly took out this notebook at night and rewrote the notes in the moonlight. This tedious work lasted six months; it greatly damaged the eyes of the future composer. And what was the chagrin of the child when his brother found him one day doing this and took away the already rewritten notes.

At the age of fifteen, Johann Sebastian decided to start an independent life and moved to Luneburg. In 1703 he graduated from high school and received the right to enter the university. But Bach did not have to use this right, since he needed to get a livelihood.

During his life, Bach moved from city to city several times, changing his place of work. Almost every time the reason turned out to be the same - unsatisfactory working conditions, humiliating, dependent position. But no matter how unfavorable the situation was, he was never abandoned by the desire for new knowledge, for improvement. With tireless energy, he constantly studied the music of not only German, but also Italian and French composers. Bach did not miss the opportunity to personally get acquainted with outstanding musicians, to study the manner of their performance. Once, having no money for the trip, young Bach went to another city on foot to listen to the play of the famous organist Buxtehude.

The composer also steadfastly defended his attitude to creativity, his views on music. Despite the admiration of the court society for foreign music, Bach studied and widely used German folk songs and dances in his works. Having perfectly learned the music of composers from other countries, he did not blindly imitate them. Extensive and deep knowledge helped him improve and polish his composing skills.

Sebastian Bach's talent was not limited to this area. He was the best organ and harpsichord performer among his contemporaries. And if, as a composer, Bach did not receive recognition during his lifetime, then in improvisations on the organ his skill was unsurpassed. Even his rivals had to admit this.

It is said that Bach was invited to Dresden to compete with the then famous French organist and harpsichordist Louis Marchand. On the eve of the preliminary acquaintance of the musicians, both of them played the harpsichord. That same night, Marchand hastily left, thereby recognizing the undeniable superiority of Bach. Another time, in the city of Kassel, Bach amazed his listeners by playing a solo on the organ pedal. Such success did not turn Bach's head, he always remained a very modest and hardworking person. When asked how he achieved such perfection, the composer replied: "I had to work hard, whoever is as diligent will achieve the same."

Since 1708, Bach settled in Weimar. Here he served as court musician and city organist. During the Weimar period, the composer created his best organ works. Among them are the famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor, the famous Passacaglia in C minor. These works are significant and deep in content, grandiose in their scale.

In 1717 Bach moved with his family to Köthen. At the court of the Prince of Kothensky, where he was invited, there was no organ. Bach wrote mainly clavier and orchestral music. The composer's duties were to lead a small orchestra, accompany the prince's singing and entertain him with the harpsichord. Cope with his duties without difficulty, Bach devoted all his free time to creativity. The works for the clavier created at that time represent the second peak in his work after organ works. In Köthen, two-part and three-part inventions were written (Bach called the three-part inventions "synphonies"). The composer intended these pieces for lessons with his eldest son Wilhelm Friedemann. Bach was also guided by pedagogical goals in the creation of the "French" and "English" suites. In Köthen, Bach also completed 24 preludes and fugues, which constituted the first volume of a large work entitled The Well-Tempered Clavier. The famous Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D minor was also written during this period.

In our time, Bach's inventions and suites have become compulsory pieces in the programs of music schools, and the preludes and fugues of the Well-Tempered Clavier have become obligatory in schools and conservatories. Designed by the composer for a pedagogical purpose, these works are, moreover, of interest to a mature musician. Therefore, Bach's pieces for the clavier, starting with the relatively easy inventions and ending with the most complex Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue, can be heard at concerts and on the radio performed by the world's best pianists.

From Köthen in 1723, Bach moved to Leipzig, where he remained until the end of his life. Here he took the position of cantor (director of the choir) of the singing school at the Church of St. Thomas. Bach was obliged to serve the main churches of the city with the help of the school and be responsible for the condition and quality of church music. He had to accept conditions that were embarrassing for himself. Along with the duties of a teacher, educator and composer, there were the following instructions: "Do not leave the city without the permission of the mayor." As before, his creative possibilities were limited. Bach had to compose such music for the church, which would "not be too long, and also ... opera-like, but that aroused awe in the audience." But Bach, as always, sacrificing a lot, never compromised on the main thing - his artistic convictions. Throughout his life, he created works that are striking in their deep content and inner wealth.

So it was this time. In Leipzig, Bach created his best vocal and instrumental compositions: most of the cantatas (Bach wrote about 250 cantatas in total), St. John Passion, St. Matthew Passion, Mass in B minor. "Passion", or "passions" according to John and Matthew is a story about the suffering and death of Jesus Christ in the description of the evangelists John and Matthew. Mass is close in content to the Passion. In the past, both Mass and "Passion" were choral chants in the Catholic Church. In Bach, these works go far beyond the scope of the church service. Bach's Mass and Passion are monumental works of a concert character. They are performed by soloists, choir, orchestra, organ. In terms of their artistic significance, the cantata, Passion and Mass represent the third, highest peak of the composer's work.

The church authorities were clearly unhappy with Bach's music. As in previous years, she was found too bright, colorful, human. Indeed, Bach's music did not respond, but rather contradicted the strict church environment, the mood of detachment from everything earthly. Along with major vocal and instrumental works, Bach continued to write music for the clavier. The famous "Italian Concerto" was written almost at the same time as Mass. Bach later completed the second volume of The Well-Tempered Clavier, which included 24 new preludes and fugues.

In addition to his enormous creative work and service in the church school, Bach took an active part in the activities of the “Musical Collegium” of the city. It was a society of music lovers that organized concerts of secular, not church music, for the residents of the city. Bach performed with great success in concerts of the Musical Collegium as a soloist and conductor. Especially for the concerts of the society, he wrote many orchestral, clavier and vocal works of a secular nature.

But the main work of Bach - the head of the school of singers - brought him nothing but grief and trouble. The funds allocated by the church for the school were paltry, and the singing boys were starving and poorly dressed. The level of their musical abilities was also low. Singers were often recruited without taking into account the opinion of Bach. The school's orchestra was more than modest: four trumpets and four violins!

All petitions for help to the school, submitted by Bach to the city authorities, were ignored. The cantor was responsible for everything.

The only joy was still creativity, family. The grown up sons - Wilhelm Friedemann, Philip Emmanuel, Johann Christian - turned out to be talented musicians. During the life of their father, they became famous composers. Anna Magdalena Bach, the composer's second wife, was distinguished by great musicality. She had an excellent ear and a beautiful, strong soprano. Bach's eldest daughter also sang well. For his family, Bach composed vocal and instrumental ensembles.

The last years of the composer's life were overshadowed by a serious eye disease. After an unsuccessful operation, Bach went blind. But even then he continued to compose, dictating his works for recording. The death of Bach remained almost unnoticed by the musical community. He was soon forgotten. The fate of Bach's wife and youngest daughter was sad. Anna Magdalena died ten years later in a house of contempt for the poor. The youngest daughter Regina eked out a miserable existence. In the last years of her difficult life, Beethoven helped her. Bach died on July 28, 1750.

He is one of those rare and wonderful people who could record Divine light.

Johann Sebastian Bach- German composer, virtuoso organist, music teacher. During his life, Bach wrote over 1000 works.

Was born March 31, 1685 in the city of Eisenach, where he lived until the age of ten. Orphaned, he moved to Ohrdruf, to his older brother Johann Christoph, organist.

His brother became his first teacher on the clavier and organ. Then Bach went to study at a singing school in the city of Luneburg. There he gets acquainted with the work of modern musicians, and develops comprehensively. During the years 1700-1703, Bach's first organ music was written.

After completing his studies, Johann Sebastian was sent to Duke Ernst as a musician at court. Then he was invited to be a caretaker in the organ hall of the church in the city of Arnstadt, after which he became an organist. During this time, many works by Bach were written. He later became organist in the city of Mühlhausen.

In 1707, Bach married Maria Barbara, his cousin. Subsequently, they had seven children, three of whom died in childhood. Two of the survivors - Wilhelm Friedemann and Karl Philipp Emanuel - later became famous composers.

The authorities were pleased with his work, and the composer received a reward for publishing the work. However, Bach again decided to change jobs, this time becoming the court organist in Weimar.

Bach's music is filled with the best influences of that time thanks to the teachings of other composers. The next employer of Bach, who highly appreciated his talent, was the Duke of Anhalt-Kothensky. During the period from 1717 to 1723 magnificent Bach suites appeared (for orchestra, cello, claviers).

In 1720, Bach's wife died, but a year later the composer married again, now to a singer. The happy family had 13 children. During his stay in Köthen, Bach's Brandenburg Concertos were written.

In 1723, the musician became a teacher at the church, then - musical director in Leipzig. Johann Sebastian Bach's wide repertoire included secular, brass music. During his life, Johann Sebastian Bach managed to visit the head of the musical college. Several cycles of the composer Bach used all kinds of instruments ("Musical Offering", "The Art of the Fugue").

The last years of the composer's life were overshadowed by a serious eye disease. After an unsuccessful operation, Bach went blind. But even then he continued to compose, dictating his works for recording.

March 31 is the birthday of an outstanding German composer Johann Sebastian Bach. His musical heritage has entered the golden fund of world culture and is well known to connoisseurs of the classics, but his personal fate is rarely spoken about. But Johann Bach was a representative of one of the most "musical" families in history: all he has the family includes 56 musicians and composers. Johann Bach himself became father of 20 children!

Johann Sebastian Bach was born into the family of musician Johann Ambrosius. The boy was the youngest in the family, he had 7 brothers and sisters, among whom Johann Christoph also showed outstanding abilities. Johann Christoph served as an organist, and after the death of his father and mother, he decided to teach his younger brother music. Following in the footsteps of his father and older brother, Johann Sebastian also chose the composer's path for himself, he studied at the vocal school of St. Michael. Having started looking for work, Johann Sebastian first got a job as a court musician in Weimar, later he was an organ superintendent in Arnstadt.

In Arnstadt, Bach falls in love with his cousin Maria Barbara. Despite the family connection, the lovers decide to get married. Their life together was short-lived (Maria died at the age of 36), but 7 children were born in the marriage, four of whom survived. Among them were two future composers - Wilhelm Friedemann and Karl Philipp Emanuel.

Johann Sebastian took the loss of his wife hard, but after a little less than a year he fell in love again. This time, a very young lady, Anna Magdalena, became his chosen one. The girl was then 20 years old, and the eminent musician was 36. Despite the big age difference, Anna Magdalena coped well with her duties: she ran the house, became a caring stepmother for already grown children, and, most importantly, was sincerely interested in her husband's success. Bach saw a remarkable talent in the girl and began to give her lessons in singing and playing music. Anna enthusiastically mastered a new sphere for herself, learned the scales, was engaged in singing with children. The Bach family was gradually replenishing, in total, Anna Magdalena gave her husband 13 children. The huge family often got together in the evenings, arranging impromptu concerts.

In 1723, taking care of the future of the children, Bach moved the family to Leipzig. Here his sons were able to get a good education and start a musical career. Anna Magdalena continued to take care of her husband, in addition to household chores, she found time to rewrite notes, create copies of choral parts. Anna Magdalena undoubtedly had a musical gift, Australian scientist Martin Jarvis says about this in his studies of Bach's creative heritage. In his opinion, the composer's wife even wrote several works for him (in particular, the aria from “Goldberg Variations” and the first prelude to the cycle of works “The Well-Tempered Clavier” raise doubts). He came to such conclusions on the basis of a handwriting examination.

Be that as it may in reality, Anna Magdalena devoted all of herself to caring for her husband. At the end of his life, Bach's eyesight deteriorated sharply, an operation to remove cataracts led to complete blindness. Anna Magdalena continued to record his compositions, and her husband highly appreciated her dedication.

Johann Sebastian Bach died in 1750 and was buried near the Church of St. John. Ironically, the tomb of the genius was lost, and only in 1894 his remains were accidentally discovered during the rebuilding of the church. The reburial took place six years later.

You can find out how Johann Sebastian Bach could have looked from our photo review.

Outstanding German composer, organist and harpsichordist Johann Sebastian Bach was born on March 21, 1685 in Eisenach, Thuringia, Germany. He belonged to an extensive German family, most of which had been professional musicians in Germany for three centuries. Initial musical education (playing the violin and harpsichord) Johann Sebastian received under the guidance of his father, a court musician.

In 1695, after the death of his father (his mother had died earlier), the boy was taken into the family of his older brother Johann Christoph, who served as the church organist at St. Michaelis Church in Ohrdruf.

In the years 1700-1703, Johann Sebastian studied at the school of church singers in Lüneburg. During his studies, he visited Hamburg, Celle and Lubeck to get acquainted with the work of famous musicians of his time, new French music. During these years he wrote his first works for organ and clavier.

In 1703, Bach worked in Weimar as a court violinist, in 1703-1707 - as a church organist in Arnstadt, then from 1707 to 1708 - in the Mühlhasen church. His creative interests were then mainly focused on music for organ and clavier.

In 1708-1717, Johann Sebastian Bach served as court musician for the Duke of Weimar in Weimar. During this period, he created numerous choral preludes, organ toccata and fugue in D minor, Passacaglia in C minor. The composer wrote music for the clavier, more than 20 sacred cantatas.

In the years 1717-1723, Bach served with the Duke of Anhalt-Ketensky Leopold in Keten. There were written three sonatas and three partitas for solo violin, six suites for solo cello, English and French suites for clavier, six Brandenburg concertos for orchestra. Of particular interest is the collection "The Well-Tempered Clavier" - 24 preludes and fugues, written in all keys and in practice proving the advantages of the tempered musical system, around the approval of which there was heated debate. Subsequently, Bach created the second volume of The Well-Tempered Clavier, also consisting of 24 preludes and fugues in all keys.

The "Notebook of Anna Magdalena Bach" was started in Keten, which includes, along with plays by different authors, five of the six "French suites". In the same years, "Small Preludes and Fuguettes. English Suites, Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue" and other clavier works were created. During this period, the composer wrote a number of secular cantatas, most of which have not survived and received a second life with a new, spiritual text.

In 1723, the performance of his "Passion for John" (a vocal and dramatic work based on the Gospel texts) took place in the Church of St. Thomas in Leipzig.

In the same year, Bach received the post of cantor (regent and teacher) in the church of St. Thomas in Leipzig and the school at this church.

In 1736, Bach received the title of Royal Polish and Saxon Elector Court Composer from the Dresden court.

During this period, the composer reached the heights of skill, creating magnificent examples in different genres - sacred music: cantatas (about 200 survived), "Magnificat" (1723), masses, including the immortal "High Mass" in B minor (1733), Passion according to Matthew (1729); dozens of secular cantatas (among them - the comic "Coffee" and "Peasant"); works for organ, orchestra, harpsichord, among the latter - "Aria with 30 Variations" ("Goldberg Variations", 1742). In 1747 Bach wrote a cycle of plays "Musical Offers", dedicated to the Prussian king Frederick II. The last work of the composer was The Art of the Fugue (1749-1750) - 14 fugues and four canons on one theme.

Johann Sebastian Bach is a major figure in world musical culture, his work is one of the heights of philosophical thought in music. Freely crossing the features not only of different genres, but also of national schools, Bach created immortal masterpieces that stand above time.

In the late 1740s, Bach's health deteriorated, especially with a sudden loss of vision. Two unsuccessful cataract surgeries resulted in complete blindness.

He spent the last months of his life in a darkened room, where he composed the last chant "Before Thy throne", dictating it to his son-in-law, the organist Altnikol.

On July 28, 1750, Johann Sebastian Bach died in Leipzig. He was buried in the cemetery near St. John's Church. Due to the lack of a monument, his grave was soon lost. In 1894, the remains were found and reburied in a stone sarcophagus in the Church of St. John. After the destruction of the church by bombing during the Second World War, his remains were preserved and reburied in 1949 in the altar of the Church of St. Thomas.

During his lifetime, Johann Sebastian Bach was famous, but after the death of the composer, his name and music were forgotten. Interest in the work of Bach arose only in the late 1820s, in 1829 by the composer Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy in Berlin, a performance of St. Matthew Passion was organized. In 1850, the Bach Society was created, which sought to identify and publish all the composer's manuscripts - 46 volumes were published in half a century.

With the mediation of Mendelssohn-Bartholdy in 1842 in Leipzig, the first monument to Bach was erected in front of the building of the old school at the Church of St. Thomas.

In 1907, the Bach Museum was opened in Eisenach, where the composer was born, in 1985 - in Leipzig, where he died.

Johann Sebastian Bach was married twice. In 1707, he married his cousin Maria Barbara Bach. After her death in 1720, in 1721 the composer married Anna Magdalena Wilcken. Bach had 20 children, but only nine of them survived their father. Four sons became composers - Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (1710-1784), Karl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788), Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782), Johann Christoph Bach (1732-1795).

The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources

After the death of his father (his mother had died earlier), he was taken into the family of his older brother Johann Christophe, who served as a church organist at St. Michaeliskirche in Ohrdruf. In 1700-03. studied at the school of church singers in Lüneburg. During his studies, he visited Hamburg, Celle and Lubeck to get acquainted with the work of famous musicians of his time, new French music. Bach's first composer's experiments - works for organ and clavier - also belong to the same years.

Years of Wanderings (1703-08)

After graduation, Bach was busy looking for a job that provides daily bread and leaves time for creativity. From 1703 to 1708 he served in Weimar, Arnstadt, Mühlhausen. In 1707 he married his cousin Maria Barbara Bach. His creative interests were then focused mainly on music for organ and clavier. The most famous work of that time was Capriccio for the departure of his beloved brother (1704).

Weimar period (1708-17)

Having received in 1708 the place of court musician from the Duke of Weimar, Bach settled in Weimar, where he spent 9 years. These years were a time of intense creativity, in which the main place belonged to compositions for organ, including numerous choral preludes, organ toccata and fugue in D minor, Passacaglia in C minor. The composer wrote music for clavier, sacred cantatas (more than 20). Using traditional forms, he brought them to the highest perfection. In Weimar, Bach had sons, the future famous composers Wilhelm Friedemann and Karl Philipp Emanuel.

Service in Keten (1717-23)

In 1717 Bach accepted an invitation to the service of the Duke of Anhalt-Ketensky Leopold. Life in Keten was at first the happiest time in the composer's life: the prince, an enlightened man for his time and a good musician, appreciated Bach and did not interfere with his work, invited him on his trips. In Keten, three sonatas and three partitas for solo violin, six suites for solo cello, English and French suites for clavier, six Brandenburg concertos for orchestra were written. Of particular interest is the collection "The Well-Tempered Clavier" - 24 preludes and fugues, written in all keys and in practice proving the advantages of the tempered musical system, around the approval of which there was heated debate. Subsequently, Bach created the second volume of The Well-Tempered Clavier, also consisting of 24 preludes and fugues in all keys. But the cloudless period of Bach's life ended in 1720: his wife dies, leaving four young children. In 1721 Bach married Anna Magdalena Wilcken for the second time. In 1723, the performance of his "Passion according to John" took place in the church of St. Thomas in Leipzig, and soon Bach received the post of cantor of this church, while simultaneously fulfilling the duties of a school teacher at the church (Latin and singing).

In Leipzig (1723-50)

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Bach becomes the "music director" of all the churches in the city, watching over the personnel of musicians and singers, observing their training, assigning pieces to be performed, and performing much more. Not being able to cheat and skimp and not being able to perform everything conscientiously, the composer repeatedly found himself in conflict situations that darkened his life and distracted him from creativity. By that time, the artist had reached the heights of skill and created magnificent samples in different genres. First of all, this is sacred music: cantatas (about two hundred have survived), Magnificat (1723), masses (including the immortal High Mass in B minor, 1733), St. Matthew Passion (1729), dozens of secular cantatas (among them - the comic "Coffee" and "Peasant"), works for organ, orchestra, harpsichord (among the latter it is necessary to highlight the cycle "Aria with 30 variations", the so-called "Goldberg Variations", 1742). In 1747 Bach created a cycle of plays "Musical Offers", dedicated to the Prussian king Frederick II. The last work was a work called "The Art of the Fugue" (1749-50) - 14 fugues and 4 canons on one theme.

The fate of the creative legacy

In the late 1740s, Bach's health deteriorated, especially with a sudden loss of vision. Two unsuccessful cataract surgeries resulted in complete blindness. About ten days before his death, Bach unexpectedly regained his sight, but then a blow happened to him that brought him to his grave. The ceremonial funeral caused a huge crowd of people from different places. The composer was buried near the church of St. Thomas, in which he served for 27 years. However, later a road was laid through the territory of the cemetery, the grave was lost. Only in 1894 the remains of Bach were accidentally found during construction work, and then the reburial took place. The fate of his legacy was also difficult. During his lifetime, Bach was famous. However, after the death of the composer, his name and music began to be forgotten. Genuine interest in his work arose only in the 1820s, which was initiated by the performance of St. Matthew Passion in Berlin in 1829 (organized by F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdi). In 1850, the Bach Society was created, which sought to identify and publish all the composer's manuscripts (46 volumes were published in half a century).

Bach is the largest figure in world musical culture. His work represents one of the pinnacles of philosophical thought in music. Freely crossing the features not only of different genres, but also of national schools, Bach created immortal masterpieces that stand above time. Being the last (along with G. F. Handel) great composer of the Baroque era, Bach at the same time paved the way for the music of modern times.

Among the successors of Bach's quests are his sons. In total, he had 20 children: seven from his first wife - Maria Barbara Bach (1684 - 1720), and 13 from the second - Anna Magdalena Wilken (1701 - 1760), only nine of them survived their father. Four sons became composers. In addition to those mentioned above - Johann Christian (1735-82), Johann Christoph (1732-95).