Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Bach came from a family of musicians; his father and brother were his early teachers. Bach composed in all genres of the late Baroque except opera . His music was composed for particular occasions, therefore, his works are appropriate to his jobs--organ music early (and late), at Cöthen he had nothing to do with the church and his compositions during that period reflected the position. He was trained as violinist and organist and he studied music by copying scores of others or writing fugues on themes of others composers (Corelli, Legrenzi).

Positions:: 1. Arnstadt as organist: 1703-07; 2. Mühlhausen as organist: 1707-08; 3. Weimar as court organist and concertmaster to Duke of Weimar: 1708-17; 4. Cöthen as music director to a prince: 1717-23; 5. Leipzig as cantor at St. Thomas Church and Music Director in Leipzig: 1723-50

Some of Bach's major works:

Weimar (1708-17)

He was an organist at Weimar. When he left Weimar his career as an organist came to an end, but he often played for organ dedications.

Compositions at Weimar: Most Toccatas and Fugues were composed at Weimar; Toccata and Fugue in D Minor; Passacaglia in C Minor; "Orgelbüchlein" (Little Book for the Organ) The Orgelbüchlein title page says "..wherein the beginner may learn to perform every kind of choral, and acquire skill in the use of the pedal...The book is incomplete, containing only 46 of the planned 164 choral preludes.
He composed a few organ works in later years at Leipzig, but for the most part his organ composition ended when he left Weimar.

Chamber Music Period at Cöthen (1717-1723)

The largest portion of his chamber music comes from this period of composition. His interest in church music was in abeyance. The musical establishment he directed consisted of a small body of instrumentalists. With a few exceptions the music of this period was secular.

Chamber Music

Brandenburg Concertos": #1 Violino Piccolo (Hns,Obs,Bssn,Str) F Major; #2 Vln,Trmp,Fl,Ob (Str) F Major; #3 Strings G Major; #4 Violin (Fl,Str) G Major; #5 Cembalo,Fl,Vln (Str) D Major; #6 Strings B Flat Major
Orchestral Suites (2 of the 4): C Major, BWV 1066; B Minor, BWV 1067
Well-Tempered Clavier: Part I was written at Cöthen in 1722. Each part consists of 24 preludes and fugues.
French and English Suites: These keyboard suites are in sets of six suites each. The designation French and Englsh have no descriptive significance. The suites usually consist of four standard movements (allemande, courante, sarabande, gigue) with additional short movements. The English suites open with preludes.

Leipzig (1723-50)

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

The Art of the Fugue: Composed 1749-50, and apparently left unfinished at Bach's death, is a summary of all types of fugal writing. It consists of 18 canons and fugues in the strictest, all based on the same subject or transformation of the subject.
A Musical Offering: Composed on a theme of King Frederick of Prussia in 1747. It contains a 3 and 6-part ricercar for keyboard and a trio sonata in 4 movements for flute, violin and continuo; also ten canons.
Well-Tempered Clavier: Part 2
Goldberg Variations: He summarized another Baroque form in this work: the theme and variations.
Orchestal Suites (2 D Major Suites)

THE VOCAL COMPOSITIONS

SACRED CANTATAS: Bach was most prolific in the cantata. The composition of church cantatas was obligation for most of his career. His earliest cantata dates from 1704, the latest 1744. He wrote about 30 cantatas prior to Leipzig, and an average of one a month from 1723 until 1744. About 200 cantatas have survived.
SECULAR CANTATAS: The composition of secular cantatas was not in the regular routine of Bach's official duty. The titles of about forty are know while only half have survived. These works are as close to opera as he came. He gives the title "drama per musica" to some of the scores. The "Coffee Cantata" comes closest to opera. The libretto is a skit upon the coffee-drinking habit.
BACH'S PASSION MUSIC: The culmination of his work as a church musician was reached in the St. John and St. Matthew Passions. St. John was written at end of the Cothen period and first performed in Leipzig a month before Bach's appointment. The masterpiece is the St. Matthew Passion written for double chorus, soloists, double orchestra and two organs.
THE LATIN MUSIC: Bach's Latin music includes a Magnificat and the High Mass in B Minor. The Magnificat is concise and scored for orchestra (trumpets, drums, woodwinds, strings). The B Minor Mass is too long to be used in a church service. It rises to the height of a universal statement of faith.

17 Nov 97 by Professor Tim Cordell (Cordell@edinboro.edu)