Born:
March 21, 1685; his parents were Johann Ambrosius and Maria Elisabeth Lämmerhirt. Bach is the youngest of eight children.
Birthplace:
Eisenach, Germany
Died:
July 28, 1750 in Leipzig due to a stroke.
Also Known As:
He was a keyboard virtuoso, master of the fugue, a Konzertmeister (concert master), Kappelmeister (chapel master) and Kantor at the Thomasschule.
Type of Compositions:
Influence:
He was taught by his father how to play the violin and harpsichord. During his brother's (Johann Christoph} wedding when he was just 9 years old, Bach met Johann Pachelbel. Later on, when his father died, Johann Christoph adopted him and taught Bach how to play the organ. Bach's friend, Georg Böhm, introduced him to Hamburg's organ traditions.
Notable Works:
Some of his known works are his passions namely "St. Matthew Passion," "St. John Passion" and "St. Mark Passion." He also wrote the Brandenburg concertos (in F Major, D Major, G Major and B flat Major), orchestral suites (in C Major, D Major and B Minor) and The Well-Tempered Clavier.
Interesting Facts:
When Bach was a boy, he had a beautiful soprano voice and sang in the Michaelis monastery choir at Lüneburg and later on, with the Mattins Choir (Mettenchor). Bach had 20 children and was married twice.
Music Sample:
Listen to Bach's Brandenburg Concertos No.3 courtesy of YouTube
More Information:
For more information on Bach and the Bach family, read "Tracing Bach's Steps."