Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach was a German Baroque composer. He was born on March 21, 1685, in Eisenach, Germany. He was a member of one of the most superior musical families of all time. For over 200 years, the Bach family had some of the most excellent composers and performers. His father, Johann Ambrosius Bach (1645-1695) lived in Eisenach since 1671 as string player, town piper and court trumpeter. In 1668, Bach’s father married Elisabeth Lämmerhirt (1644-1694) from Erfurt, who also grew up in a musical family. Johann Sebastian was born as their eighth child. Being born into this musical family, it was only natural for him to pick up an instrument and excel in it. His father taught him how to play the violin and harpsichord at a very young age. Bach’s mother died in 1694 and his father passed away in 1695, so, at the age of 10, he lost both parents in one year. Of the five surviving children, Johann Sebastian and his brother Johann Jacob went to live with their eldest brother, Johann Christoph, who was the organist at St. Michael's Church, Ohrdruf. Bach’s older brother immediately expanded Johann Sebastian’s knowledge in the world of music. He taught him how to play the clavichord and exposed him to great composers at the time. At the age of 14, Bach and his good friend George Erdmann were awarded a choral scholarship to the prestigious musical school St. Michael’s in Luneburg. His first two years at the school he sang in the school’s acappella choir. From then on, Bach began to build his career in the music industry. In October 1707, Bach married his cousin Maria Barbara Bach. Together they had seven children. In 1708, Bach was appointed organist and chamber musician to the Duke of Saxe-Weimar. During the next nine years, Bach composed many of his finest organ compositions, and became known as a fine organist. During this period, a couple of Bach's major works included Cantata No. 208 (1713) and The Little Organ Book (1714). Bach's wife Maria had died in