October 31, 2024
About the Author: Arwen
Piano music would not be the same today if there were no courageous musicians willing to go beyond the limits.
Imagine living such a compelling life, using your extraordinary talents to influence countless others.
Not many musicians can fit this description. Yet, there are some people that used their exceptional talents and skills that are still impacting lives today.
Beethoven, Mozat, Liszt and many more helped pave the way for the piano and its music.
Let us take a closer look at another brilliant composer and musician who helped shape the future of piano: Johann Sebastian Bach.
A Deeper Dive Into Bach‘s Life
In 1685, in the capital of the duchy of Saxe-Eisenach – in present-day Germany – the musical legend was born.
J.S. Bach was born into a remarkable family of musicians, also being introduced to music at a young age.
His father most likely taught him basic music theory and his uncle acquainted him with the organ.
It was most unfortunate when both his parents died at the young age of 10. Bach moved in with his eldest brother who happened to be the organist at St. Michael’s Church.
It was here where Bach studied, performed and copied music as well as his own brother’s (Which was typically forbidden at that time since scores were so valuable and private).
Bach learned a lot from his brother, teaching him on the clavichord.
At the age of 15, Bach was enrolled in the prestigious St Michael’s school situated in Lüneburg.
There he spent two years being exposed to a great deal of European culture.
After graduating, Bach became the court musician in the chapel of Johann Ernst III.
Here his reputation as keyboardist spread like a wildfire and Bach was soon invited to inspect the new organ at the New Church in Arnstadt, where he became the organist as well.
Fast forwarding to the year 1708, Bach had married and had their first child. He used his time in Weimar to continue to play and compose the organ.
A few years later the prince of Anhalt-Köthen, Leopold, hired Bach to serve as his director of music.
He worked for Leopold for a few years when his wife suddenly passed away.
Despite his hard troubles, in 1723 Bach was appointed director of church music in Leipzig, needing to provide four churches with music.
His remarkable talent left spectators speechless.
Bach led countless performances of his cantatas, having created over 300 of them in Leipzig! Bach broadened his composing, developing his astonishing skills all the more.
From around the year 1735, Bach started to compose the set of preludes and fugues for harpsichord that would become the second book of The Well tempered Clavier.
This book contains 48 works, which is made up of 24 preludes and 24 fugues in all 24 major and minor keys.
Many still use his book to this day!
In 1749, Bach’s health was declining.
Nevertheless he continued composing, transcribing and learning music until the end.
Bach became blind and unfortunately died due to undergoing treatment for his eyes, which proved unsuccessful.
Although this musical legend was lost, his music continues to live.
Bach’s Brilliant Inventions and Influence
Bach lived during the Baroque time period and is often called ‘the father of the Baroque era’.
He is even considered as one of the greatest composers of all time.
Throughout his 65 years on this earth, Bach composed 1128 pieces of music that we know of.
Some experts say that he composed significantly more than that, but it was unfortunately lost.
Looking at Bach’s style, he was constantly coming up with new melodies and techniques for his compositions and works.
He invented the counterpoint, which is the technique of setting, writing or playing a melody/melodies in conjunction with another.
Basically layering multiple melodic lines at the same time in simple terms.
Counterpoint was often used during the Baroque era and is one of its distinguishing qualities.
Bach’s music is known for its technical difficulty and polyphonic textures.
Harmonic progressions and modulation are evident throughout his compositions.
Many of his works demonstrate simplicity, clarity and elegance with a piercing tenderness.
An example would be his Italian Concerto which portrays exactly that.
Bach truly saw music as art and treated it as such.
Bach’s deep religious faith is evident in his music; which makes sense since he spent most of his time composing music for churches.
Many of Bach’s cantatas were created for the church as well as other works such as Mass in B minor, St. John Passion and more.
Although the modern piano had not yet been invented during his time, his compositions he wrote for organ, harpsichord and clavier could be easily transferred to the piano.
In fact, most of his compositions are played almost exclusively on piano!
Playing Bach’s compositions are an exceptional way at developing technical skills and refined control due to the difficulty they require.
Bach was greatly inspired by Italian music and loved to write dramatic openings for his works.
He most likely absorbed these stylistic aspects to an extent due to transcribing musician’s works like Vivaldi’s string and wind concerto for harpsichord and organ.
Many great Composers such as Mozart, Chopin and Beethoven have acknowledged Bach’s influence on their own works.
Beethoven played both volumes of Bach’s The Well- Tempered Clavier all throughout his life and composed music with a pattern occasionally hinting at Bach’s influence.
Clearly Bach inspired many composers and musicians during his time.
But did you know that for about 50 years after Bach’s death, his music was neglected and ignored!
Ironic, considering how admired he is today.
Some of his extracts that are rather popular include; Brandenburg Concertos, Air on the G string, Prelude and Fugue in C major and many more.
Conclusion
J.S. Bach is a musical genius and a hero.
Even with his short lifespan he accomplished many things – a musician who is still influencing many to this day.
The man, the icon, the legend himself… Otherwise known as Johann Sebastian Bach!
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