Johann Sebastian Bach (Germany, 1685-1750)

German composer and organist Johann Sebastian Bach (b. Eisenach, 21 March 1685, d. Leipzig, 28 July 1750) remains the culmination of the Baroque period and one of the true titans of Western classical music. A unique genius, he nonetheless regarded himself as a craftsman whose duty it was to satisfy the demands of his employers. As court organist in Weimar before 1717, he composed his monumental legacy of over 150 chorale preludes, toccatas, fantasias, preludes, fugues, etc.; then as composer of instrumental music for the Prince of Anhalt-Cöthen, he produced four orchestral suites, the six Brandenburg Concertos, and many sonatas, suites, and partitas for solo instruments; and finally as director of music at Leipzig's Thomaskirche from 1723, Bach poured out over two hundred church canta... read more