By Ian Wilson (Rated G)
One of the greatest composers of both church and secular music, Johann Sebastian Bach, was born into a musical family in Eisenbach in what is now Germany in the year 1685.
At a young age, Johann Sebastian was tragically orphaned, and was thereafter cared for by his older brother, Johann Christoph. The elder Bach was an accomplished keyboard player, and taught his little brother to play the organ; an instrument the younger Bach would play throughout his life. Johann Sebastian was a talented singer as well, and he became a member of a boys’ choir at St. Michael’s Church in Lüneburg.
Bach studied sacred music through his youth and continued to practice the organ through his youth. At the age of 18, he caught the ear of the Duke of Weimar, Johann Ernst, and became a member of his orchestra. Later that same year, he was appointed organist at New Church in Arnstadt. There he continued to study the organ extensively, even traveling more than 200 miles on foot to hear the work of composer Dietrich Buxtehude. Bach’s compositions combined German folk music with the more formalized church music, creating a synthesis of high and low art that even peasants could appreciate.
Bach had many conflicts with his fellow musicians at Arnstadt and decided perhaps it was time to move onto another position. He obtained a post in Mülhausen, where he married his cousin (a common practice at the time) Maria Barbara Bach. Bach wrote a number of church cantatas during this time, based on traditional and Biblical texts.
However, a year later, Bach resigned his position in Mülhausen, citing insufficient pay. The real reason may have been a theological and artistic disagreement. Whatever the reason, Bach moved back to Weimar, where he became court musician of Duke Wilhelm Ernst. His style of composition changed at this time, being influenced by Italian composers.
Due to another interpersonal conflict, Bach moved yet again, this time becoming the musical director for Prince Leopold of Köthen. This was perhaps his most prolific period. Unfortunately, in the year 1720, Bach’s wife Maria passed away. This troubled Bach greatly, and he considered leaving his post at Köthen, but ended up staying there a few more years. He married again to Anna Magdalana Wilcken the next year. This was a happy time for Bach.
Later in 1721, Prince Leopold married. Bach and the princess competed for the Prince’s attention, and eventually the tension became so intense, that Bach moved away to Leipzig in 1728, where he became director of music for the parish churches. There, he composed a huge number of cantatas, and his famous Mass in B Minor.
Johann Sebastian Bach was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church, and avid Bible reader. His personal study Bible is covered with his own handwritten notes, making observations, and corrections wherever the printer had made a typographical error. He believed that the Holy Spirit was present in sacred music, and made it his mission to make it a worthy dwelling-place. Many historical critics erroneously believed that Bach chose traditional and Biblical texts for his vocal music because his employers required it. In truth, Bach chose these texts on purpose, and strongly believed them.
In his final years, Bach developed an unknown illness, which apparently affected his vision. He had two unsuccessful eye surgeries performed by John Taylor, an English quack doctor. His health deteriorated further until his death on July 28, 1750. He was remembered as a great artist, loving father and husband, and a great composer, who contributed much to the artful worship of God.
May we, like Bach, give our very best to God.
LogoSophia Magazine 
Thank you!
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