Professional Documents
Culture Documents
"He who knows a fugue by Bach knows really only one." Kinnberger, one of Bach's pupils
once said these words attesting to his virtuosity. Bach has been called "the Great Master of
the Fugue."
Bach came from a family of musicians who often occupied important musical positions in
Eisenach, Germany. When Bach was only 10 years old he went to live with his brother
Christoph upon the death of his parents.
Christoph taught Johann to play the harpsichord, the organ, and the violin. At 18, Bach
accepted his first musical position as a court violinist. He soon exchanged this for a position
as a church organist. During this period Bach wrote many cantatas for the church, as well
as suites for the harpsichord and fugues for the piano.
In 1717, Bach became the court conductor to the Prince of Anhalt at Cothen. Here, Bach
composed much of his orchestral music including the Brandenburg Concertos. In 1723
Bach assumed the position of music director of Thomaschule in Leipzig. It was here that
Bach wrote his famous "Christmas Oratorio."
By 1749, Bach was totally blind. He died the following year at Leipzig on July 28, 1750.
Much of Bach's music was not published or performed during his lifetime. The composers
Mendelssohn and Schumann helped to make Bach's music well known almost 100 years
after his death. In 1977, 3 pieces by Bach along with special record-playing equipment were
launched into the solar system on the 2 Voyager spacecraft.