Bach, Johann Sebastian 1685-1750. German
composer. His appointments included positions
at the courts of Weimar and Anhalt-Kothen,
and from 1723 until his death, he was musical
director at St Thomas's choir school in
Leipzig. Bach was a master of counterpoint,
and his music epitomizes the Baroque
polyphonic style. His orchestral music
includes the six Brandenburg Concertos, other
concertos for clavier and violin, and four
orchestral suites. Bach's keyboard music, for
clavier and organ, his fugues, and his choral
music are of equal importance. He also wrote
chamber music and songs. Born at Eisenach,
Bach came from a distinguished musical
family. At 15 he became a chorister at
Luneburg, and at 19 he was organist at
Arnstadt. He married twice and had over 20
children (although several died in infancy).
His second wife, Anna Magdalena Wulkens, was
a soprano; she also acted as his amanuensis
when his sight failed in later years. Bach's
sacred music includes 200 church cantatas,
the Easter and Christmas oratorios, the two
great Passions, of St Matthew and St John,
and the Mass in B minor. His keyboard music
includes a collection of 48 preludes and
fugues known as the Well-Tempered Clavier,
the Goldberg Variations, and the Italian
Concerto. Of his organ music the finest
examples are the chorale preludes. Two works
written in his later years illustrate the
principles and potential of his polyphonic
art - the Musical Offering and The Art of
Fugue.