Few of his works were even published during his lifetime. He died in Leipzig on July 28, 1750.ĭuring his lifetime, Bach was better known as an organist than a composer. He tried to fix his failing sight by having surgery the following year, but the operation ended up leaving him completely blind. In 1749, Bach started a new composition called "The Art of Fugue," but he did not complete it. Back in Leipzig, Bach refined the piece and gave Frederick a set of fugues called "Musical Offering." He played for the king, making up a new composition on the spot. He was even well enough to travel and perform, visiting Frederick the Great, the king of Prussia in 1747. The piece was performed as part of a Good Friday service.īy 1740, Bach was struggling with his eyesight, but he continued to work despite his vision problems. Matthew." This musical composition, written in 1727 or 1729, tells the story of chapters 26 and 27 of the Gospel of Matthew. These works are referred to as his "Passions," the most famous of which is "Passion According to St.
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The "Christmas Oratorio," for example, is a series of six cantatas that reflect on the holiday.īach also created musical interpretations of the Bible using choruses, arias and recitatives. With new music needed for services each week, Bach threw himself into writing cantatas. He was required to teach at the Thomas School as a part of his position as well. Later Works in LeipzigĪfter auditioning for a new position in Leipzig, Bach signed a contract to become the new organist and teacher at St. Bach had to turn his attentions to finding work when the prince dissolved his orchestra in 1723. With students in mind, he put together this collection of keyboard pieces to help them learn certain techniques and methods. Bach completed the first book of "The Well-Tempered Clavier" around this time. That same year, Prince Leopold got married, and his new bride discouraged the prince's interest in music. These concertos are considered to be some of Bach's greatest works. In tribute to the Duke of Brandenburg, Bach created a series of orchestra concertos, which became known as the "Brandenburg Concertos," in 1721. for the Latin In Nomine Jesu, or "in the name of Jesus," on his sheet music. His secular compositions still reflected his deep commitment to his faith with Bach often writing the initials I.N.J. He also wrote pieces for solo instruments, including some of his finest violin works. While at Cöthen, Bach devoted much of his time to instrumental music, composing concertos for orchestras, dance suites and sonatas for multiple instruments. He played the violin and often bought musical scores while traveling abroad. In early December, Bach was released and allowed to go to Cöthen. But Duke Wilhelm Ernst had no interest in letting Bach go and even imprisoned him for several weeks when he tried to leave. In 1717, Bach accepted a position with Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen. One section of this cantata, called "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" in English, is especially famous. He also composed the cantata "Herz und Mund und Tat," or Heart and Mouth and Deed. During his time at Weimar, Bach wrote "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor," one of his most popular pieces for the organ. He wrote many church cantatas and some of his best compositions for the organ while working for the duke. While he only officially received a few weeks' leave from the church, he traveled to Lübeck to hear famed organist Dietrich Buxtehude and extended his stay without informing anyone back in Arnstadt.Īfter a year in Mühlhausen, Bach won the post of organist at the court of the Duke Wilhelm Ernst in Weimar. An independent and sometimes arrogant young man, Bach did not get along well with his students and was scolded by church officials for not rehearsing them frequently enough.īach did not help his situation when he disappeared for several months in 1705. He was responsible for providing music for religious services and special events as well as giving music instruction. Early Careerīach had a growing reputation as a great performer, and it was his great technical skill that landed him the position of organist at the New Church in Arnstadt. There he was a jack-of-all-trades, serving as a violinist and at times, filling in for the official organist. In 1703, he landed his first job as a musician at the court of Duke Johann Ernst in Weimar. Bach was greatly influenced by a local organist named George Böhm. Sometime after his arrival, his voice changed and Bach switched to playing the violin and the harpsichord. Bach had a beautiful soprano singing voice, which helped him land a place at a school in Lüneburg.