Bach johann sebastian the most famous compositions. Johann Sebastian Bach: biography, video, interesting facts, creativity

They fall into instrumental and vocal. The former include: for organ - sonatas, preludes, fugues, fantasies and toccatas, choral preludes; for piano - 15 inventions, 15 symphonies, French and English suites, “Klavierübung” in four movements (partitas, etc.), a number of toccatas and other works, as well as “Well-Tempered Clavier” (48 preludes and fugues in all keys); "Musical Offering" (a collection of fugues on the themes of Frederick the Great) and the cycle "The Art of the Fugue". In addition, Bach has sonatas and partitas for violin (among them the famous Chaconne), for flute, cello (gamba) with piano accompaniment, concerts for piano and orchestra, as well as for two or more pianos, etc., concerts, etc. suites for strings and wind instruments, as well as a suite for the five-string viola pomposa (middle instrument between viola and cello) invented by Bach.

Portrait of Johann Sebastian Bach. Painter E. G. Haussmann, 1748

All these writings are characterized by a highly skilful polyphony, which did not occur in a similar form either before or after Bach. With amazing skill and perfection, Bach solves the most complex problems of contrapuntal technique, both in large and small forms. But it would be a mistake to deny that at the same time he has melodic ingenuity and expressiveness. Counterpoint was for Bach not something learned and difficult to use, but was his natural language and form of expression, the comprehension and understanding of which must be learned earlier in order for the manifestations of deep and versatile spiritual life expressed in this form to be fully understood and so that the gigantic the mood of his organ works, as well as the melodic charm and richness of changing moods in the fugues and piano suites were fully appreciated. Therefore, in most of the works related to this, especially in individual numbers from The Well-Tempered Clavier, we have, along with completeness of form, characteristic pieces of extremely varied content. It is this combination that determines their special and unique position in musical literature.

Despite all this, for a long time after his death, the works of Bach were known and appreciated only by a few experts, while the public almost forgot them. For a share Mendelssohn it fell, thanks to the performance in 1829 under his direction of Bach's Passion for (the Evangelist) Matthew, to re-awaken the general interest in the late composer and win his great vocal works a deserved place of honor in musical life - and not only in Germany.

Johann Sebastian Bach. The best works

These include primarily those intended for worship spiritual cantatas written by Bach (for all Sundays and holidays) in the amount of five complete annual cycles. Only about 226 cantatas have survived to us, quite authentic. Gospel texts served as the text. The cantatas are composed of recitatives, arias, polyphonic choirs and a chorale that concludes the entire piece.

This is followed by the "music of passions" ( Passions), of which Bach wrote five. Of these, unfortunately, only two have survived to us: Passion for John and Passion for Matthew; of these, the first was performed for the first time in 1724, the second in 1729. The credibility of the third - the Passion according to Luke - is subject to great doubt. Musically dramatic portrayal of the history of suffering Of Christ achieves in these works the highest completeness of forms, the greatest musical beauty and the power of expression. In a form mixed of epic, dramatic and lyrical elements, the story of Christ's sufferings plastically and convincingly passes before our eyes. The epic element appears in the person of the reciting evangelist, the dramatic element in the words interrupting the speech of biblical persons, especially Jesus himself, as well as in the lively choirs of the people, the lyric element in the arias and choirs of a contemplative nature, and the chorale opposed to the whole presentation indicates the direct relationship of the work to worship and hints at community involvement.

Bach. Passion for Matthew

A similar work, but in a lighter mood, is “ Christmas oratorio"(Weihnachtsoratorium), written in 1734. Has come down to us also" Easter oratorio". Along with these large works related to Protestant divine services, the processing of ancient Latin church texts is at the same height and just as perfect: Mass and five-part Magnificat... Among them, the first place is occupied by a large Mass in B minor(1703). Just as Bach delved deeply into the words of the Bible with faith, here with faith he took up the ancient words of the text of the Mass and depicted them in sounds with such a richness and variety of feelings, with such power of expression that they are still clothed in a strict polyphonic fabric. deeply gripping and deeply exciting. The choirs in this work are among the greatest ever created in the field of church music. The requirements for the choir here are extremely high.

(For biographies of other great musicians, see the "More on this topic ..." section below the text of the article.)

From the 19th century to the present day, interest in the works of Johann Sebastian Bach has not subsided. The creativity of the unsurpassed genius is striking in its scale. known all over the world. His name is known not only by professionals and music lovers, but also by listeners who do not show much interest in "serious" art. On the one hand, Bach's work is a kind of result. The composer relied on the experience of his predecessors. He knew very well the choral polyphony of the Renaissance, German organ music, and the peculiarities of the Italian violin style. He carefully familiarized himself with new material, developed and generalized the accumulated experience. On the other hand, Bach was an unsurpassed innovator who managed to open up new perspectives for the development of world musical culture. The work of Johann Bach had a strong influence on his followers: Brahms, Beethoven, Wagner, Glinka, Taneyev, Honegger, Shostakovich and many other great composers.

Bach's creative heritage

He has created over 1000 works. The genres to which he addressed were very diverse. Moreover, there are such works, the scale of which was exceptional for that time. Bach's work can be roughly divided into four main genre groups:

• Organ music.
• Vocal and instrumental.
• Music for various instruments (violin, flute, clavier and others).
• Music for instrumental ensembles.

The works of each of the above groups belong to a certain period. The most outstanding organ compositions were composed in Weimar. The Keten period marks the emergence of a huge number of clavier and orchestral works. In Leipzig, most of the vocal and instrumental ones are written.

Johann Sebastian Bach. Biography and creativity

The future composer was born in 1685 in the small town of Eisenach, into a musical family. It was a traditional profession for the whole family. Johann's first music teacher was his father. The boy had a great voice and sang in the choir. At the age of 9, he turned out to be an orphan. After the death of his parents, he was raised by Johann Christoph (older brother). At the age of 15, the boy graduated from the Ohrdruf Lyceum with honors and moved to Luneburg, where he began to sing in the choir of the "chosen few". By the age of 17, he learned to play different harpsichord, organ, violin. Since 1703 he has lived in different cities: Arnstadt, Weimar, Mühlhausen. The life and work of Bach during this period were full of certain difficulties. He constantly changes his place of residence, which is associated with the unwillingness to feel dependent on certain employers. He served as a musician (as organist or violinist). The working conditions also constantly did not suit him. At this time, his first compositions for clavier and organ appeared, as well as sacred cantatas.

Weimar period

In 1708, Bach began serving as court organist to the Duke of Weimar. At the same time he works as a chamber musician in the chapel. The life and work of Bach during this period are very fruitful. These are the years of the first composer's maturity. The best organ works have appeared. It:

• Prelude and fugue in c minor, a minor.
• Toccata C-dur.
• Passacaglia c-moll.
• Toccata and fugue in d-moll.
• "Organ book".

At the same time, Johann Sebastian is working on compositions in the cantata genre, on transcriptions for the clavier of Italian violin concertos. For the first time he turns to the genre of solo violin suite and sonata.

Keten period

Since 1717, the musician settled in Keten. Here he holds a high-ranking position as head of chamber music. He is, in fact, the ruler of all musical life at court. But he is not satisfied with a too small town. Bach strives to move to a larger and more promising city in order to give his children the opportunity to go to university and get a good education. There was no high-quality organ in Keten, and there was also no choir chapel. Therefore, Bach's clavier music develops here. The composer also pays a lot of attention to ensemble music. Works written in Keten:

• 1 volume "HTK".
• English suites.
• Sonatas for solo violin.
• "Brandenburg Concerts" (six pieces).

Leipzig period and last years of life

Since 1723, the maestro has lived in Leipzig, where he directs the choir (holds the position of cantor) at the school at the Church of St. Thomas in Tomaszul. Takes an active part in the public circle of music lovers. The "collegium" of the city constantly organized concerts of secular music. What masterpieces at that time enriched the work of Bach? It is worth briefly indicating the main works of the Leipzig period, which can rightfully be considered the best. It:

• Passion for John.
• Mass h-moll.
• Passion according to Matthew.
• About 300 cantatas.
• "Christmas Oratorio".

In the last years of his life, the composer focuses on musical compositions. Writes:

• 2 volume "HTK".
• Italian concert.
• Partitas.
• "The Art of the Fugue".
• Aria with different variations.
• Organ Mass.
• "Musical Offering".

After an unsuccessful operation, Bach went blind, but did not stop composing music until his death.

Style characteristic

Bach's creative style was formed on the basis of various musical schools and genres. Johann Sebastian organically weaved the best harmonies into his works. In order to understand the musical language of the Italians, he also copied their compositions. His creations were saturated with texts, rhythms and forms of French and Italian music, North German counterpoint style, and Lutheran liturgy. The synthesis of various styles and genres was harmoniously combined with the deep penetration of human experiences. His musical idea stood out for its special uniqueness, versatility and a certain cosmic character. Bach's work belongs to a style that is firmly established in the art of music. This is the classicism of the high baroque era. Bach's musical style is characterized by possession of an extraordinary melodic system, where the main idea dominates in the music. Thanks to the mastery of the counterpoint technique, several melodies can interact at the same time. was a true master of polyphony. He was characterized by a penchant for improvisation and brilliant virtuosity.

Main genres

Bach's work includes various traditional genres. It:

• Cantatas and oratorios.
• Passions and masses.
• Preludes and Fugues.
• Choral arrangements.
• Dance suites and concerts.

Of course, he borrowed the listed genres from his predecessors. However, he gave them the broadest scope. The maestro skillfully updated them with new musical and expressive means, enriched with features of other genres. The clearest example is Chromatic Fantasy in D minor. The work was created for the clavier, but it contains dramatic recitation of theatrical origin and expressive properties of large organ improvisations. It is easy to see that Bach's work "bypassed" opera, which, by the way, was one of the leading genres of its time. However, it is worth noting that many of the composer's secular cantatas are difficult to distinguish from comedy sideshows (at that time in Italy they were reborn into an opera buffa). Some cantatas by Bach, created in the spirit of witty genre scenes, anticipated the German singspiel.

Ideological content and range of images of Johann Sebastian Bach

The composer's work is rich in its figurative content. From the pen of a real master, both extremely simple and extremely majestic creations come out. Bach's art contains simple-minded humor, deep sorrow, philosophical reflection, and sharpest drama. The genius Johann Sebastian in his music reflected such significant aspects of his era as religious and philosophical problems. With the help of the amazing world of sounds, he reflects on the eternal and very important issues of human life:

• About the moral duty of a person.
• About his role in this world and his purpose.
• About life and death.

These reflections are directly related to religious topics. And this is not surprising. The composer served at the church almost all his life, so he wrote most of the music for it. At the same time, he was a believer, knew the Holy Scriptures. His reference book was the Bible, written in two languages ​​(Latin and German). He adhered to fasts, confessed, and observed church holidays. A few days before his death, he took the sacrament. The main character of the composer is Jesus Christ. In this ideal image, Bach saw the embodiment of the best qualities inherent in man: purity of thoughts, fortitude, loyalty to the chosen path. The sacrificial feat of Jesus Christ for the salvation of mankind was the most intimate for Bach. In the work of the composer, this topic was the most important.

Bach's symbolism

In the Baroque era, musical symbols appeared. It is through her that the complex and wonderful world of the composer is revealed. Bach's music was perceived by his contemporaries as transparent and understandable speech. This was due to the presence of stable melodic turns in it, expressing certain emotions and ideas. Such sound formulas are called musical rhetorical figures. Some conveyed the affect, others imitated the intonations of human speech, and still others were of a pictorial nature. Here is some of them:

• anabasis - climbing;
• circulatio - rotation;
• catabasis - descent;
• exclamatio - exclamation, ascending sixth;
• fuga - running;
• passus duriusculus - a chromatic move used to express suffering or grief;
• suspiratio - sigh;
• tirata - arrow.

Gradually, musical-rhetorical figures become a kind of "signs" of certain concepts and feelings. So, for example, the descending figure of catabasis was often used to convey sadness, sadness, grief, death, position in the coffin. A gradual upward movement (anabasis) was used to express ascension, uplifted spirit and other moments. Motives-symbols are observed in all the works of the composer. In the works of Bach, the Protestant chorale prevailed, to which the maestro addressed throughout his life. It also has a symbolic meaning. The work with the chorale was carried out in a wide variety of genres - cantatas, passions, preludes. Therefore, it is quite logical that the Protestant chant is an integral part of Bach's musical language. Among the important symbols found in the music of this artist, it should be noted the stable combinations of sounds that have constant meanings. The symbol of the cross predominated in Bach's work. It consists of four multidirectional notes. It is noteworthy that if you decipher the composer's surname (BACH) with notes, then the same graphic pattern is formed. B - B flat, A - A, C - C, H - B. Such researchers as F. Busoni, A. Schweitzer, M. Yudina, B. Yavorsky and others made a great contribution to the development of Bach's musical symbols.

"Second birth"

During his lifetime, the work of Sebastian Bach was not appreciated at its true worth. Contemporaries knew him more as an organist than a composer. Not a single serious book has been written about him. Of the vast number of his works, only a few have been published. After his death, the composer's name was soon forgotten, and the surviving manuscripts were gathering dust in the archives. Perhaps we would never have learned anything about this brilliant man. But, fortunately, this did not happen. True interest in Bach arose in the 19th century. Once F. Mendelssohn discovered in the library the sheet music of "St. Matthew Passion", which interested him very much. Under his direction, this work was successfully performed in Leipzig. Many listeners were delighted with the music of a still little-known author. We can say that this was the second birth of Johann Sebastian Bach. In 1850 (on the 100th anniversary of the composer's death) the Bach Society was founded in Leipzig. The purpose of this organization was to publish all found Bach manuscripts in the form of a complete collection. As a result, 46 volumes were collected.

Bach's Organ Works. Summary

The composer has created excellent works for the organ. This instrument is a real element for Bach. Here he was able to liberate his thoughts, feelings and emotions and convey all this to the listener. Hence the enlargement of lines, concertness, virtuosity, dramatic images. The compositions created for the organ are reminiscent of frescoes in painting. Everything in them is presented mainly in close-up. In preludes, toccata and fantasies, there is a pathos of musical images in free, improvisational forms. Fugues are characterized by a special virtuosity and an unusually powerful development. Bach's organ work conveys the high poetry of his lyrics and the grandiose scope of magnificent improvisations.

Unlike clavier works, organ fugues are much larger in volume and content. The movement of the musical image and its development proceed with increasing activity. The unfolding of the material is presented in the form of a layering of large layers of music, but there is no particular discreteness and breaks. On the contrary, continuity (continuity of movement) prevails. Each phrase follows from the previous one with increasing tension. The climaxes are constructed in the same way. The emotional uplift eventually intensifies to its highest point. Bach is the first composer who showed the laws of symphonic development in large forms of instrumental polyphonic music. Bach's organ work seems to split into two poles. The first is preludes, toccatas, fugues, fantasies (large musical cycles). The second - one-part. They are written mainly in a chamber plan. They reveal mainly lyrical images: intimate and sorrowful and sublimely contemplative. The best works for organ by Johann Sebastian Bach - fugue in D minor, prelude and fugue in A minor and many other works.

Works for clavier

When writing compositions, Bach relied on the experience of his predecessors. However, here, too, he proved himself to be an innovator. Bach's keyboard work is characterized by scale, exceptional versatility, and a search for expressive means. He was the first composer to experience the versatility of this instrument. When composing his works, he was not afraid to experiment and implement the most daring ideas and projects. When writing, he was guided by the entire world musical culture. Thanks to him, the claviers have expanded significantly. He enriches the instrument with new virtuoso technique and changes the essence of musical images.

Among his works for organ stand out in particular:

• Two-part and three-part inventions.
• "English" and "French" suites.
• "Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue".
• "The Well-Tempered Clavier".

Thus, Bach's work is striking in its scope. The composer is widely known all over the world. His works make you think and reflect. Listening to his compositions, you involuntarily immerse yourself in them, reflecting on the deep meaning underlying them. The genres to which the maestro turned throughout his life were very diverse. This is organ music, vocal and instrumental music for various instruments (violin, flute, clavier and others) and for instrumental ensembles.

INSTRUMENTAL WORKS

For organ

Preludes and fugues: C major, D major, e minor, f minor, g minor, A major, d minor, G major, a minor, h minor, C major, c- moll, C major, e rnoll, c minor, G major, a minor, Es major.
Fantasies and fugues: g-moll, c-moll, a-moll.
Toccata with fugues: F major, E major, d minor (Dorian), C major, d minor.
Eight small preludes and fugues: C major, d minor, e minor, F major, G major, g minor, a minor, B major.
Preludes: C major, G major, a minor.
Fugues: c-minor, c-minor, G-major, G-major, g-minor, h-minor (on the theme of Corelli).
Fantasies: C major, G major, G major, h minor, C major (unfinished).
Pastoral F-dur. Trio.
Passacaglia c-moll.
Concerts of Vivaldi (a-moll, C-dur, d-moll) and other authors. Konzertsatz C-dur.
Sonatas: E major, c minor, d minor, e minor, C major, G major.
Orgelbuchlein - 46 short chorale preludes.
Choral variations: “Christ, der du bist der helle Tag (“ You are all like a bright, clear day ”); "Oh Gott, du frommer Gott" ("Oh you, sweetest"); “Sei gegriisset, jesu gutig” (“I send greetings to you, welcome one”) and others.
Canonical variations "Vom Himmel hoch, da Komm" ich her ("From the Heights of Heaven").
Six Chorales ("Schuebler").
13 chorales (the so-called "big"; the last of them is the death one: "Vor deinen Thron tret" ich ("At the throne").
Choral arrangements "Preludes to the Catechism and Other Chants" (12 major and 9 minor). We entered the III part of the "Klavieriibung".
Choral arrangements (mainly of the adolescent period) that were not included in these collections.
24 choral arrangements (Kirnberger collection).

For harpsichord

Small preludes (parts I, II) and fugues.
15 two-part inventions and 15 three-part symphonies.
Das Wohltemperierte Klavier (The Well-Tempered Clavier)
Part I 24 preludes and fugues. Part II of 24 preludes and fugues. Fantasies and fugues (fughettes): a-minor, d-minor, c-minor, B-major, D-major. Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D minor. The Art of the Fugue (Die Kunst der Fuge).
Selected preludes and fugues.
Toccata: fis-moll, c-moll, D-major, d-moll, e-moll, g-moll, G-dur.
Fantasies: g-moll, c-moll, g-moll.
Fantasy rondo c-moll.
Preludes (fantasies) c-minor, a-minor.
Suites: 6 French suites: d-moll, c-moll, h-moll, E-dur, G-dur, E-dur.
6 English suites: A major, a minor, g minor, F major, e minor, d minor.

Klavierubung ("Keyboard School"):
Part I. Partitas: B major, c minor, a minor, D major, G major, e minor.
Part II. Italian Concerto and Partita (French Overture) h-moll.
Part III. 21 Chorale Prelude (also for organ), Prelude and triple fugue E-major, 4 duos: e-minor, F-major, G-major, a-minor.
Part IV. Aria with 30 Variations (Goldberg Variations). "Capriccio for the departure of his beloved brother" B major. Capriccio E-dur. (in honor of J.K.Bach). Aria variata alia maniera italiana
manner) a-moll. Minuets: G-dur, g-moll, G-dur (from the keyboard book by Wilhelm Friedemann Bach). Sonatas. Scherzo in d-moll (e-moll variant).

CLAVESE PROCESSING OF OWN WORKS

Sonata in d minor (arrangement of the 2nd violin sonata in a minor).

Suite E-dur (arrangement of the 3rd violin partita). Adagio G-dur (from 3rd Violin Sonata).

PROCESSING FOR CLAVIER OF WORKS BY OTHER AUTHORS

Sonata in a-moll (from "Hortus musicus" - "Musical Garden" by I. A. Rein-ken).
Sonata in C major (from the same place).
Fugue B-dur (from the same place).
Fugue B-dur (arrangement of Erzelius's fugues).
16 concerts by Vivaldi, Marcello, Telemann, Johann Ernest Weimar.

ORCHESTRAL COMPOSITIONS

Overtures (suites).
No. 1, C-dur; No. 2, h-moll; No. 3, D-dur; No. 4, D-dur; No. 5, g-moll. Symphony in F major.

6 Brandenburg Concerts: No. 1, F major; No. 2, F-dur; No. 3, G-dur;
No. 4, G-dur; No. 5, D-dur; No. 6, B-dur.

Concerts for harpsichord with accompaniment of orchestra: No. 1, d-moll; No. 2, E-dur; No. 3, D-dur; No. 4, A-dur; No. 5, f-moll; No. 6, F-dur; N ° 7, g-molL

Concerts for two harpsichords with accompaniment of an orchestra: No. 1, c-moll; No. 2, C-dur; No. 3, c-moll.
Concerts for three harpsichords with orchestra accompaniment: No. 1, d-moll; No. 2, C-dur.
Concerts for violin with accompaniment of orchestra: No. 1, a-moll; No. 2, E-dur; No. 3, d-moll.
Concerto for two violins with accompaniment of the orchestra in d-moll.
Triple concerto for harpsichord, flute and violin, accompanied by orchestra in a minor.
Concerto for violin and orchestra D-dur (excerpt).

CHAMBER PIECES FOR STRINGS, WIND INSTRUMENTS AND ENSEMBLES

Sonatas and partitas for solo violin: g minor, h minor, a minor, d minor, C major,
E-dur. Suites (sonatas) for cello: G-dur, d-moll, C-dur, E-dur, c-moll,
D-dur.
Sonata for two violins with numbers, bass C-dur. Four sonatas ("inventions") for violin and harpsichord: g minor, G major, F major, c minor.
Trio for two violins and harpsichord, d-moll. Sonatas for harpsichord and violin: h minor, A major, E major, c minor, f minor, G major.
Suite for harpsichord and violin in A-dur.
Sonatas for harpsichord and viola da gamba: G major, D major, g minor. For lute (arranged for harpsichord): 3 partitas: g-moll, e-moll, c-moll. Little prelude in c-moll. Prelude, Fugue and Allegro Es-dur. Fugue in g-moll Sonatas for flute: solo - a-moll; for flute with numbers, bass: C-dur,
e-moll, E-dur.
Sonata for flute and violin with numbers, bass G-dur. Sonata for two flutes with numbers, bass G-dur. Sonatas for Harpsichord and Flute: h-minor, E-major, A-major. "Musical Offering".

LIGHT VOCAL INSTRUMENTAL GENRE

"Musical dramas" ("Dramma per musica") and cantatas:

"Glide, playfully, waves" ("Schleicht, spielende Wellen").

"Discord defeated by shifting strings" ("Vereinigte Zwietrachb).

"Rise up, thundering sounds!" ("Auf, schmetternde Tone!").

"Sound, timpani, and trumpets, blow!" ("Tonet, ihr Pauken, erschallet, Trompeten!").
"Cupid the traitor" ("Amore traditore"). For the bass.

"Phoebus's contest with Pan" ("Der Streit zwischen Phobus und Pan").
"On a life of contentment" ("Von der Vergnugsamkeit").
"Aeolus the Peaceful" ("Der zufriedengestellte Aeolus").
"The Choice of Hercules" ("Die Wahl des Herkules").
"We have a new leadership" ("Meg hahn en neue Oberkeet") - Peasant cantata.
"Crowned with the glory of the heavenly century" ("Mil Gnaden bekronet").
“Not knowing the sorrows of life” (“Non sa che sia dolore”).
"Let us stay awake in cares" ("Lasst uns sorgen").
"Oh, wondrous song!" ("About angenehme Melodei").
"About a wonderful day, a welcome age" ("About holder Tag, erwunschte Zeit").
"Glory, Saxony, blessed" ("Preise dein Glticke, gesegnetes
Sachsen ").

"Let the chatter stop" ("Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht") - Coffee cantata.

"In a fit, all ahead" ("Schwingt freudig euch empor!").

“One hunt only invigorates me” (“Was mir behagt”).

"You dissipate, shadows of grief!" ("Weichet nur, betrubte Schatten").

"Open up a grave, destroy that crypt!" ("Zerreisset, zersprenget, zerstoret
die Gruft! ").

"The Most Serene Leopold" ("Durchlauchster Leopold").

SPIRITUAL WORKS

Masses: h-moll (High Mass); F major, A major, g minor, G major (short).
"Magnificat" ("My soul magnifies"), D major.
"Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus" ("Holy, holy, holy"): C-dur, D-dur, d-moll,
G-dur, D-dur.
Passion according to Matthew, according to John, according to Luke, according to Mark. Oratorios: "Christmas" (in 6 parts); "Easter" ("Kommt, eilet und laufet" - "Hurry, people!"); "To the Ascension" (cantata no. 11). Motes: "Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied" (Sing a new song to him), for 8 voices, B major. "Der Geist hilft unsrer Schwachheit auf" ("A high spirit will strengthen us"), for
8 votes, B-dur.
“Furchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir” (“He’s afraid, I’m with you!”), For 8 voices.
"Komm, Jesu, Komm!" “Come Jesus!” For 8 votes. Jesu, meine Freude, for 5 voices, e-moll. “Lobet den Herrri” (“Praise the Lord”), for 4 voices, C-dur. Spiritual cantatas (199 total).
185 chorales for four voices from the collection of C.F.E.Bach. Spiritual songs and arias from "Gesangbuch Schemellis" - "Book of Songs" by G. Shemelli (21) and from the 2nd "Notebook" (Notenbuch) by Anna Magdalene Bach (10).

Born (21) March 31, 1685 in the city of Eisenach. Little Bach originally had a passion for music, because his ancestors were professional musicians.

Music teaching

At the age of ten after the death of his parents, Johann Bach was raised by his brother Johann Christoph. He taught the future composer to play the clavier and organ.

At the age of 15, Bach entered the vocal school named after St. Michael, in the city of Luneburg. There he gets acquainted with the work of modern musicians, and develops comprehensively. During 1700-1703 the musical biography of Johann Sebastian Bach begins. He wrote the first organ music.

In service

After graduation, Johann Sebastian was sent to Duke Ernst as a musician at court. Dissatisfaction with the dependent position makes him change jobs. In 1704, Bach was appointed organist of the New Church in Arndstadt. The summary of the article does not make it possible to dwell in detail on the work of the great composer, but it was at this time that he created many talented works. Collaboration with the poet Christian Friedrich Henrici, the court musician Telemachus, enriched the music with new motives. In 1707 Bach moved to Mühlhusen, continued to work as a church musician and to be engaged in creative work. The authorities are pleased with his work, the composer receives a reward.

Personal life

In 1707, Bach married his cousin Maria Barbara. He again decided to change jobs, this time becoming the court organist in Weimar. In this city, six children are born to the musician's family. Three died in infancy, and three become famous musicians in the future.

In 1720, Bach's wife died, but a year later the composer married again, now to the famous singer Anna Magdalene Wilhelm. The happy family had 13 children.

Continuation of the creative path

In 1717, Bach entered the service of the Duke of Anhalt - Kothensky, who highly appreciated his talent. During the period from 1717 to 1723 magnificent Bach suites appeared (for orchestra, cello, claviers).

Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, English and French suites were written in Köthen.

In 1723, the musician received the position of cantor and teacher of music and Latin in the church of St. Thomas, then became music director in Leipzig. Johann Sebastian Bach's wide repertoire included both secular and 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")

last years of life

In the last years of his life, Bach quickly lost his sight. His music was then considered unfashionable, outdated. Despite this, the composer continued to work. In 1747 he created a cycle of plays entitled "Music of the Offering", dedicated to the Prussian king Frederick II. The last work was the collection of works "The Art of the Fugue", which included 14 fugues and 4 canons.

Johann Sebastian Bach died on July 28, 1750 in Leipzig, but his musical legacy remains immortal.

Bach's short biography does not give a complete picture of the composer's complex life path, of his personality. You can learn more about his fate and work by reading the books of Johann Forkel, Robert Franz, Albert Schweitzer.

Johann Sebastian Bach is the greatest figure in world culture. The creative work of the universal musician who lived in the 18th century is all-encompassing genre: the German composer combined and generalized the traditions of Protestant chant with the traditions of the musical schools of Austria, Italy and France.

200 years after the death of the musician and composer, interest in his work and biography has not cooled down, and contemporaries use the works of Bach in the twentieth century, finding relevance and depth in them. The composer's choral prelude is performed in Solaris. The music of Johann Bach, as the best creation of humanity, is recorded on the Voyager Golden Record, attached to a spacecraft launched from Earth in 1977. According to The New York Times, Johann Sebastian Bach is the first in the top ten world composers who have created masterpieces that stand above time.

Childhood and youth

Johann Sebastian Bach was born on March 31, 1685 in the Thuringian city of Eisenach, located between the hills of the Heinig National Park and the Thuringian Forest. The boy became the youngest and eighth child in the family of the professional musician Johann Ambrosius Bach.

There are five generations of musicians in the Bach family. Researchers have counted fifty relatives of Johann Sebastian who linked life with music. Among them is the great-great-grandfather of the composer Faith Bach, a baker who carried zither everywhere - a plucked musical instrument in the form of a box.

The head of the family, Ambrosius Bach, played violin in churches and organized secular concerts, so he taught his youngest son the first music lessons. Johann Bach sang in the choir from an early age and delighted his father with his abilities and greed for musical knowledge.

At the age of 9, Johann Sebastian's mother, Elizabeth Lemmerhirt, died, and a year later the boy became an orphan. The younger brother was taken into the care of the elder, Johann Christoph, a church organist and music teacher in the neighboring town of Ohrdruf. Christophe sent Sebastian to the gymnasium, where he taught theology, Latin, history.

The elder brother taught the younger one to play the clavier and organ, but these lessons were not enough for an inquisitive boy: secretly from Christoph, he took out a notebook with works of famous composers from the closet and rewrote the sheet music on moonlit nights. But his brother found Sebastian for an illegal occupation and took away the records.

At the age of 15, Johann Bach became independent: he got a job in Luneburg and brilliantly graduated from a vocal gymnasium, opening his way to the university. But poverty and the need to earn a livelihood put an end to their studies.

In Luneburg, curiosity pushed Bach to travel: he visited Hamburg, Celle and Lübeck, where he got acquainted with the work of eminent musicians Reinken and Georg Böhm.

Music

In 1703, after graduating from high school in Lüneburg, Johann Bach got a job as a court musician in the chapel of the Weimar Duke Johann Ernst. Bach played the violin for six months and gained his first popularity as a performer. But soon Johann Sebastian got tired of pleasing the ear of the gentlemen by playing the violin - he dreamed of developing and opening new horizons in art. Therefore, without hesitation, he agreed to take the vacated position of court organist at the Church of St. Boniface in Arnstadt, which is 200 kilometers from Weimar.

Johann Bach worked three days a week and received a high salary. The church organ, tuned according to the new system, expanded the capabilities of the young performer and composer: in Arnstadt, Bach wrote three dozen organ works, capriccios, cantatas and suites. But tensions with the authorities pushed Johann Bach to leave the city after three years.

The last straw that outweighed the patience of the church authorities was the long excommunication of the musician from Arnstadt. The inert churchmen, who already disliked the musician for his innovative approach to performing cult spiritual works, arranged a humiliating trial for Bach for his trip to Lubeck.

The famous organist Dietrich Buxtehude lived and worked in the city, whose improvisations on the organ Bach dreamed of listening to since childhood. Lacking money for a carriage, Johann set off for Lubeck on foot in the fall of 1705. The master's play shocked the musician: instead of the released month, he stayed in the city for four.

After returning to Arnstadt and litigation with his superiors, Johann Bach left his "home" and went to the Thuringian city of Mühlhausen, where he found a job as an organist in the Church of St. Blasius.

The city authorities and the church authorities favored the talented musician, his earnings turned out to be higher than in Arnstadt. Johann Bach proposed an economical plan for the restoration of the old organ, approved by the authorities, and wrote the festive cantata "The Lord is My Tsar", dedicated to the inauguration of the new consul.

But a year later, the wind of wanderings "took" Johann Sebastian from his place and transferred to the previously abandoned Weimar. In 1708, Bach took the place of the court organist and settled in a house next to the ducal palace.

The “Weimar period” of Johann Bach's biography turned out to be fruitful: the composer composed dozens of clavier and orchestral works, got acquainted with the work of Corelli, learned to use dynamic rhythms and harmonic schemes. Communication with the employer - Crown Duke Johann Ernst, composer and musician, influenced the work of Bach. In 1713, the Duke brought from Italy sheet music of musical works by local composers, who opened new horizons in art for Johann Bach.

In Weimar, Johann Bach began work on the Book of Organ, a collection of choral preludes for organ, composed the majestic organ Toccata and Fugue in D minor, Passacaglia in C minor and 20 sacred cantatas.

By the end of his service in Weimar, Johann Sebastian Bach had become a well-known harpsichord master and organist. In 1717, the famous French harpsichordist Louis Marchand arrived in Dresden. Concertmaster Volumier, having heard about Bach's talent, invited the musician to compete with Marchand. But on the day of the competition, Louis ran away from the city, afraid of failure.

The desire for change called Bach on the road in the fall of 1717. The Duke dismissed his beloved musician "with an expression of disfavor." The organist was hired as Kapellmeister by Prince Anhalt-Ketensky, who was well versed in music. But the prince's adherence to Calvinism did not allow Bach to compose sophisticated music for divine services, so Johann Sebastian wrote mostly secular works.

During the Ketenian period, Johann Bach composed six suites for cello, French and English clavier suites, and three sonatas for violin solos. The famous Brandenburg Concertos and a cycle of works including 48 preludes and fugues called The Well-Tempered Clavier appeared in Keten. At the same time, Bach wrote two-part and three-part inventions, which he called "symphonies".

In 1723, Johann Bach got a job as cantor of the choir of St. Thomas in the Leipzig church. In the same year, the audience heard the work of the composer "Passion for John". Bach soon took over as the "music director" of all the city's churches. For 6 years of the "Leipzig period" Johann Bach wrote 5 annual cycles of cantatas, two of which have been lost.

The city council gave the composer 8 choral performers at the disposal of the composer, but this number was extremely small, so Bach hired up to 20 musicians himself, which caused frequent clashes with the authorities.

In the 1720s, Johann Bach composed mainly cantatas for performance in the churches of Leipzig. Wishing to expand his repertoire, the composer wrote secular works. In the spring of 1729, the musician was appointed head of the Collegium of Music, a secular ensemble founded by Bach's friend Georg Philipp Telemann. The ensemble held two-hour concerts twice a week throughout the year at the Zimmermann coffee shop next to the market square.

Most of the secular works written by the composer from 1730 to 1750 were written by Johann Bach for performance in a coffee shop.

These include the playful Coffee Cantata, the comic Peasant Cantata, clavier pieces and concertos for cello and harpsichord. During these years, the famous "Mass in B minor" was written, which is called the best choral work of all time.

For spiritual performance, Bach created "High Mass in B minor" and "St. Matthew Passion", having received from the court as a reward for creativity the title of royal Polish and Saxon court composer.

In 1747, Johann Bach visited the courtyard of King Frederick II of Prussia. The nobleman offered the composer a musical theme and asked him to write an improvisation. Bach, a master of improvisation, immediately composed a three-part fugue. Soon he supplemented it with a cycle of variations on this theme, called it "A Musical Offering" and sent it as a gift to Frederick II.

Johann Bach did not finish another large cycle, entitled The Art of the Fugue. The sons published the cycle after the death of their father.

In the last decade, the composer's fame faded: classicism flourished, contemporaries considered Bach's style old-fashioned. But young composers, brought up on the works of Johann Bach, revered him. The work of the great organist was loved by and.

The surge of interest in the music of Johann Bach and the revival of the composer's fame began in 1829. In March, the pianist and composer Felix Mendelssohn organized a concert in Berlin, where the work Matthew Passion was performed. An unexpectedly loud resonance followed, the performance attracted thousands of spectators. Mendelssohn went to concerts in Dresden, Königsberg and Frankfurt.

The work of Johann Bach "Musical Joke" is still one of the favorites for thousands of performers in the world. Playful, melodic, gentle music sounds in different variations, adapted for playing on modern instruments.

Western and Russian musicians popularize Bach's music. Vocal ensemble The Swingle Singers released their debut album Jazz Sebastian Bach, which brought the group of eight vocalists worldwide fame and a Grammy award.

The music was processed by Johann Bach and jazz musicians Jacques Lussier and Joel Spiegelmann. The Russian performer tried to pay tribute to the genius.

Personal life

In October 1707, Johann Sebastian Bach married a young cousin from Arnstadt, Maria Barbara. The couple had seven children, but three died in infancy. Three sons - Wilhelm Friedemann, Karl Philipp Emanuel and Johann Christian - followed in their father's footsteps and became famous musicians and composers.

In the summer of 1720, when Johann Bach was abroad with the prince of Anhalt-Ketensky, Maria Barbara died, leaving four babies.

The composer's personal life improved a year later: at the court of the Duke, Bach met a young beauty and talented singer Anna Magdalena Wilke. Johann married Anna in December 1721. They had 13 children, but 9 survived their father.

In his advanced years, the family was the only joy for the composer. For his wife and children, Johann Bach composed vocal ensembles, arranged chamber concerts, enjoying the songs of his wife (Anna Bach had a beautiful soprano) and the playing of grown-up sons.

The fate of Johann Bach's wife and youngest daughter was sad. Anna Magdalena died ten years later in a house of contempt for the poor, and the youngest daughter Regina eked out a half-beggarly existence. In the last years of her life, Ludwig van Beethoven helped the woman.

Death

In the last 5 years, Johann Bach's eyesight was rapidly deteriorating, but the composer composed music, dictating works to his son-in-law.

In 1750, the British ophthalmologist John Taylor came to Leipzig. The doctor's reputation can hardly be called impeccable, but Bach clung to a straw and took a chance. After the operation, the musician's eyesight did not return. Taylor operated on the composer for the second time, but after the short-term return of vision, deterioration occurred. On July 18, 1750, there was a stroke, and on July 28, 65-year-old Johann Bach died.

The composer was buried in Leipzig at the church cemetery. The lost grave and remains were found in 1894 and reburied in a stone sarcophagus in the Church of St. John, where the musician served for 27 years. The temple was destroyed by bombing during the Second World War, but the remains of Johann Bach were found and moved in 1949, buried at the altar of the Church of St. Thomas.

In 1907, a museum was opened in Eisenach, where the composer was born, and in 1985 a museum appeared in Leipzig.

• Johann Bach's favorite pastime was visiting provincial churches in the clothes of a poor teacher.
• Thanks to the composer, both men and women sing in church choirs. Johann Bach's wife became the first church choir.
• Johann Bach did not take money for private lessons.
• The surname Bach is translated from German as "stream".

• Johann Bach spent a month in prison for constantly asking for his resignation.
• Georg Friedrich Handel is a contemporary of Bach, but the composers did not meet. The fates of the two musicians are similar: both were blinded as a result of an unsuccessful operation performed by the charlatan doctor Taylor.
• The complete catalog of Johann Bach's works was published 200 years after his death.
• A German nobleman ordered the composer to write a piece, listening to which he could fall asleep soundly. Johann Bach fulfilled the request: the famous Goldberg variations are still a good "sleeping pill".

Bach's aphorisms

• "To get a good night's sleep, you should not go to bed on the same day you need to wake up."
• "Playing keyboards is easy: you just need to know which keys to hit."
• "The purpose of music is to touch hearts."

Discography

• "Ave Maria"
• "English suite N3"
• "Brandenburg Concert N3"
• "Italian Influence"
• "Concert N5 F-Minor"
• "Concert N1"
• "Concerto for cello and orchestra D-Minor"
• "Concerto for flute, cello and harp"
• "Sonata N2"
• "Sonata N4"
• "Sonata N1"
• "Suite N2 B-Minor"
• "Suite N2"
• "Suite for Orchestra N3 D-Major"
• "Toccata and Fugue D-Minor"