Johann Sebastian BachLife and Compositions

Johann Sebastian Bach

Life

Born: March 21, 1685 in Eisenach, Germany

Life

♫ ♫ ♫Born into a family full of musical talent

Father- violin and trumpetBrother- organist and composerUncles- professional musicans

Bach mastered the following instruments:

Violin Harpsichord Organ

Instruments

•Theology

•History

•Geography

•Latin

•Italian

•French

Studies

Influence Bach was influenced by a variety of

composers:

•Jean-Babtiste Lully

•Marias

•Johann Pachelbel

•Antonio Vivaldi

Influence Bach influenced a variety of

composers:

•Ludwig van Beethoven

•Frederic Chopin

•Sergei Prokofiev

Baroque Era

• European style of classical music• “Misshapen pearl”• Elaborate musical ornamentation• Bach’s death marked the end of this

era

Compositional Language

• Studied Vivaldi• Performed music of English, French

and Italian composers• Worked as a Cantor• Taught his own children and wife

Antonio Vivaldi

Family•Maria Barbara, first wife

•Seven children with Maria

•After Maria died, Bach married Anna Magdalena

•Anna was inspiration for the “Notebook of Anna Magdalena Bach”

•Thirteen children with Anna

•Bach fathered a total of 20 children

Life• Died: July 28, 1750 in

Leipzig Germany• Buried at St. Thomas’

Church

Compositions (1 of 3)

• Bach wrote over 1,100 music compositions in all genres

• 224 cantatas still exist• Genres include: voice, violin, flute,

orchestra music, keyboard, organ, cello and orchestral music

Composition (2 of 3) “Das Wohltemperierte Clavier”

• English translation: The Well Tempered Piano• Written in 1722

• Collection of solo keyboard music• Originated in Kothen

Composition (3 of 3)

• Short and unique octaves and melodies consisting of a broad range of musical notes and tunes• Funded by the young prince, Leopold

• Original by Bach cannot be heard• Recorded by numerous artists and is readily available

to listen

Listening GuideSong: Ave Maria•Piano begins slowly and increases in tempo•Mp is the dynamics

Listening Guide• Song: Ave Maria

1:01 tempo slows downRhythm continues in 4/4Dynamics slow to pp

Listening Guide• Song: Ave Maria

2:00 Tempo slows down even moreHarmony is high and low2:17 Song ends

Listening Guide

Song: Air on a G StringRhythm begins in 4/4 common timeHarmony is being played on the pianoDynamics begin in pp

Listening Guide

• Song: Air on a G String0:30 soft textureContinues in pp1:23 chorus is repeated2:47- 2:58 song fades out and ends

Listening Guide• Song: Der Geist HilftBegins with male/female choir singing the

phrase “Der Geist Hilft”Choir composed of altos, sopranos, bass and

tenorsSong is acapella

Listening Guide• Song: Der Geist Hilft2:20 Chorus is continually repeated in harmonySopranos and altos and tenors sing different

melodies in harmony3:49 Choir ends here and there is a break in

song

Listening Guide• Song: Der Geist Hilft3:44 Song begins again softly in mpBass/tenors only at first5:17 song continually sung in harmony7:15 Chorus is continually repeated in harmony8:05 Song ends

Works Cited• Johann Sebastian Bach: Life and Work• Basic Repertoire List• Bach: A Detailed informative Biography• Johann Sebastian Bach0 IMDb• Music History 102