J. S. BACH Project

I decide to share my homeworks. Here is the J. S. BACH bio.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Biography

Eisenach, 21 March 1685

Young Sebastian had this flawless soprano voice, which gave him the chance to join the choir in Kurrende primary school. He was given his first serious music lessons by his older brother Johann Ambrosius Bach. In the year 1700, he left his home to enter the music school of Michaelis in Lüneburg.

Bach’s first works were written in Lüneburg. Among them, there are some variations and preludes. In the year 1702, he applies to Church of Jacobi as an organist, but he gets refused. A year after, he enters the private orchestra of Duke Johann Ernst in Weimar.  After a short period working here, he is brought to be the organist of the church of Bonaficus in Arnstadt. In 1704, he composed his first church cantata, (no:15) and he also started his Re major sonata this year. Do minor prelude and fugue was composed in this period, Do major Tocaata and fugue was also played first time in this church. although these pieces were not his superiors, he was distinguished from contemporary musicians in terms of melodic features of his fugues. Soon, he had his place amongst famous organists in Germany. Seeking for more, Bach left his duty in Arnstad and moved to Mühlhausen, and entered the Chuch of Blasius. Mühlhausen was a city that can give him more oppurtunities in terms of music tradition. Also, same year he married with his relative Maria Barbara. The only cantata which was published within his healthy years; “God is my king” was also composed in this city.

In 1708, he started working with Wilhelm Ernst as a chamber musician. He was given duties as a violist, organist and violinist. This year he had the chance to make studies of Italian musicians. With this knowledge, he applied some of Vivaldi’s concerto for his harpsichord.

In the year 1717, he was brought to be the chief of the orchestra of Anhalt Preose Leopold. Bach’s art has been the peak of religuous and secular polyphony since the renaissance. He valued horizontal writing in his system, and led all forms that were used before to perfection. Knowing the importance of double theme, he operated with an understanding of mathematical work.

Bach was forgotten after his death. Only after 50 years, with efforts of Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Schumann, he gained popularity. Chopin, Liszt and Frank, played his pieces and ensured his re-recognition.

Bach’s Understanding of Counterpoint

As well as his effort in reflecting thoughts into note series, he applied counterpoint firmly. Although his works, being more complex in terms of the science of harmony, he developed and decorated a simple and natural sketch easily. The concept of a theme to reverse side have revealed an alive and agitated musical style. As one of the most successful musicians, Johann Sebastian Bach had all the aspects of his art under control. As well as being rigorous in artistic sense, he was very diligent, and productive. The genius of Bach, appears itself in his counterpoints. Playing one of his fugues reverse and forward simultaneously, and still having perfect harmony as well as playing them reverse or forward and still having a good sound was his uniqueness.