Johann Sebastian Bach

Basic Information

Introduction

Johann Sebastian Bach stands as one of the supreme geniuses in Western music history, a composer whose mastery of counterpoint, harmony, and musical architecture remains unmatched. Though recognized as an exceptional organist during his lifetime, Bach was primarily known as a church musician and teacher, with his compositions considered too complex for widespread appreciation. Only after his death did his work achieve the recognition it deserved, culminating in the 19th-century “Bach Revival” that established him as the cornerstone of Western classical music.

Bach’s output encompasses virtually every musical form of his era—sacred and secular, vocal and instrumental, intimate and monumental. His works demonstrate encyclopedic technical command combined with profound spiritual depth, intellectual rigor, and emotional expressiveness.

Major Works

Sacred Vocal Works

Keyboard Works

Orchestral and Chamber Works

Historical Context

The Baroque Period

Bach composed during the Baroque era (c. 1600-1750): - Musical style: Ornamented, contrapuntal, emotionally expressive - Forms: Fugue, concerto, suite, cantata, oratorio, opera - Tuning systems: Transition to equal temperament - Religious context: Lutheran church music central to German culture

Bach’s Germany

• Political fragmentation: Germany divided into hundreds of states
• Religious division: Protestant north vs. Catholic south
• Lutheran tradition: Sacred music essential to worship
• Local patronage: Composers employed by churches, courts, or towns

The Changing Musical Climate

During Bach’s lifetime, musical taste shifted: - From: Complex polyphony, learned counterpoint - To: Simpler homophony, opera buffa, galant style - Bach’s position: Increasingly seen as old-fashioned - Posthumous reputation: Obscurity until Mendelssohn’s revival

Summary of Significance

Technical Achievement

• Counterpoint: Supreme master of polyphonic writing
• Fugue: Brought the form to its highest development
• Harmony: Advanced the tonal system
• Form: Architectural perfection in musical structures

Spiritual Depth

• Sacred music: Devotional intensity in Lutheran tradition
• Religious symbolism: Hidden theological meanings in music
• Universal expression: Transcending sectarian boundaries
• B minor Mass: Catholic form with Protestant spirit

Pedagogical Legacy

• Teaching works: Inventions, Well-Tempered Clavier for students
• Family tradition: Four sons became important composers
• Influence on students: Spread of Bach’s methods
• Theoretical contribution: Principles of composition

The Bach Revival

• Mendelssohn’s performance: 1829 St Matthew Passion restarted Bach’s reputation
• 19th-century recognition: Established as supreme master
• 20th-century study: Scholarship revealing scope of achievement
• Continuing influence: Essential to all Western music education

Quick Facts

• Bach had 20 children from two marriages (10 survived to adulthood)
• Four of his sons became significant composers: Wilhelm Friedemann, Carl Philipp Emanuel, Johann Christoph Friedrich, and Johann Christian
• He was known primarily as an organist during his lifetime, not as a composer
• His music was largely forgotten for nearly 80 years after his death
• The Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (BWV) catalogues his works with numbers from 1 to 1,126
• He went blind in his final years and died from complications of eye surgery
• He was the most distinguished member of the musical Bach family that spanned seven generations
• He wrote the Goldberg Variations for Count Keyserlingk, who wanted music to help him sleep

Johann Sebastian Bach: Early Life

The Bach Family Tradition

Johann Sebastian Bach was born into a musical dynasty of extraordinary scope. The Bach family produced musicians across seven generations, establishing a standard of professional excellence that made the name synonymous with musical achievement in central Germany.

The Bach Dynasty

The Bach musical family: - Seven generations of professional musicians - Geographic concentration: Thuringia and surrounding regions - Lutheran tradition: Church musicians, organists, town pipers - Professional pride: Family members exchanged musical knowledge

By the time of Johann Sebastian’s birth in 1685, the family had produced: - Over 50 professional musicians - Organists, cantors, court musicians, town musicians - A tradition of passing musical skills through generations

Birth and Childhood (1685-1695)

Parents and Birth

Johann Sebastian Bach was born on March 31, 1685, in Eisenach, a town in the German state of Saxe-Eisenach. His parents were:

Johann Ambrosius Bach (1645-1695): A respected musician who served as Stadtpfeifer (town musician) in Eisenach. He played violin and trumpet and was known as a skilled performer.

Elisabeth Lämmerhirt (1644-1694): Daughter of a furrier and city councillor. She came from a family of some social standing.

Johann Sebastian was the youngest of eight children, though several siblings died in infancy.

The Eisenach Years

Eisenach, Bach’s birthplace, was: - A Lutheran stronghold: Martin Luther had attended school there - Culturally significant: Residence of the dukes of Saxe-Eisenach - Musically active: Court and church provided employment for musicians - Family connections: Bach’s father and uncles were town musicians

Young Johann Sebastian’s early environment was filled with music: - Professional exposure: Hearing his father and uncles perform - Instrumental training: Early lessons on violin and other instruments - Church music: Regular attendance at services with elaborate music - Family gatherings: Musical performances at home

The Loss of Parents

Bach’s childhood ended with tragedy: - 1694: His mother Elisabeth died when Johann Sebastian was nine - 1695: His father Johann Ambrosius died when Johann Sebastian was not yet ten

Within nine months, Johann Sebastian was orphaned.

Living with Christoph Bach (1695-1700)

The Move to Ohrdruf

After his father’s death, Johann Sebastian moved to Ohrdruf to live with his older brother:

Johann Christoph Bach (1671-1721): Organist at St. Michael’s Church in Ohrdruf, Johann Sebastian’s eldest brother (14 years older).

Musical Education

Under Johann Christoph’s care, the young Johann Sebastian received: - Keyboard instruction: Organ and harpsichord lessons - Musical copying: Copying scores by hand (standard learning method) - Choral singing: Participation in church music - Academic schooling: Enrollment in the local gymnasium (Latin school)

The Famous Moonlight Incident

A famous (though possibly legendary) story from this period: - Johann Sebastian wanted to copy a musical score by moonlight - The manuscript was locked in a cabinet (his brother may have been protective) - Young Johann Sebastian supposedly copied it by moonlight over six months - When discovered, his brother confiscated the copy - This episode supposedly demonstrated Johann Sebastian’s determination

Whether literally true or not, the story reflects Bach’s lifelong dedication to studying the music of his predecessors.

School in Ohrdruf

Bach attended the Gymnasium in Ohrdruf: - Classical education: Latin, Greek, theology - Lutheran instruction: Religious education central to curriculum - Academic excellence: Bach was a good student - Musical opportunities: School choir and musical activities

The Lüneburg Years (1700-1702)

The Journey to Lüneburg

In 1700, at age 15, Johann Sebastian left Ohrdruf to attend the St. Michael’s School in Lüneburg, a significant town south of Hamburg. His reasons may have included: - Limited resources: His brother’s growing family could not support him - Educational opportunity: Better school, closer to musical centers - Professional prospects: Access to court and church music - Independence: Setting out on his own

The journey to Lüneburg was approximately 200 miles—an ambitious undertaking for a 15-year-old.

Life at St. Michael’s

At St. Michael’s School, Bach was a chorister (singer): - Choral duties: Singing in the church choir - Academic studies: Continued classical and religious education - Financial support: Room, board, and small stipend - Musical access: Exposure to the school’s music library

Exposure to French Music

Lüneburg was musically cosmopolitan: - French cultural influence: The nearby court of Celle had French musicians - French style: Encounters with French orchestral and keyboard music - Performance practice: French ornamentation and style - Compositional influence: French elements appear in Bach’s early works

Walks to Hamburg

Bach reportedly walked to Hamburg (30 miles each way) to hear the famous organist Johann Adam Reincken at the Cathedral of St. Catherine: - Dedication: Walking long distances for musical experience - Hearing masters: Exposure to the best organ playing in northern Germany - Musical growth: Absorbing different styles and techniques - Youful enthusiasm: Love of music driving extraordinary efforts

Early Professional Experience (1702-1703)

First Position at Arnstadt

Bach’s first professional appointment came in 1703: - Position: Violinist in the private orchestra of Johann Ernst III, Duke of Weimar - Duration: Brief (only a few months) - Significance: First court employment; experience of aristocratic music-making - Age: 18 years old

However, Bach quickly left this position for an organist post.

The Making of a Musician

By age 18, Johann Sebastian Bach had: - Absorbed family traditions: The Bach musical heritage - Studied scores: Copying and analyzing music of predecessors - Heard great performers: Walked to Hamburg, experienced French music - Received formal education: Latin school, religious instruction - Developed keyboard skills: Organ and harpsichord proficiency - Gained choral experience: Singing in church choirs - Shown determination: The famous moonlight copying story

His childhood and youth established patterns that would define his career: - Lifelong learning: Continued study of other composers’ works - Lutheran faith: Religious conviction informing sacred music - Professional ambition: Seeking positions worthy of his talents - Technical mastery: Relentless pursuit of instrumental excellence

The orphaned boy from Eisenach was becoming one of the greatest musicians in history.

Johann Sebastian Bach: Career

Arnstadt and Mühlhausen (1703-1708)

First Organist Position: Arnstadt (1703-1707)

In August 1703, Bach was appointed organist at the Bonifaciuskirche (New Church) in Arnstadt at age 18: - Responsibility: Playing organ for services, maintaining the instrument - New organ: The church had recently installed a fine organ that Bach tested - Independence: First position of real authority - Creative freedom: Opportunity to compose and develop his style

Conflict in Arnstadt

Bach’s time in Arnstadt was marked by conflicts with authorities: - Musical innovations: Introducing “surprising variations” and strange notes in the chorales - Unauthorized absence: Traveling to Lübeck to hear Dietrich Buxtehude (October-November 1705) - Extended absence: Stayed four months instead of the permitted four weeks - The consistory: The church council reprimanded him for these and other issues

The trip to Lübeck (approximately 250 miles each way, which Bach walked) was transformative: - He heard Buxtehude’s famous Abendmusiken (evening concerts) - Experienced the North German organ style at its peak - Absorbed ideas for his own compositions - Considered succeeding Buxtehude (which would have required marrying his daughter—Bach declined)

Mühlhausen (1707-1708)

In 1707, Bach became organist at St. Blasius Church in Mühlhausen: - Better position: More prestigious church, larger salary - Marriage: He married Maria Barbara Bach, his second cousin, in October 1707 - Compositional growth: Writing more ambitious organ and vocal works - Influence: Introducing music from other regions

Leaving Mühlhausen

Bach remained in Mühlhausen only briefly, leaving in 1708 for Weimar. His resignation letter politely noted disagreements about musical style—he wanted to pursue the “well-regulated church music” that was not fully appreciated there.

The Weimar Years (1708-1717)

Court Organist and Concertmaster

Bach’s move to Weimar marked a significant step in his career:

1708: Appointed court organist and chamber musician to Duke Wilhelm Ernst of Saxe-Weimar - Organ playing: Continued development as supreme organist - Composition: Writing major organ works - Salary: 250 florins plus allowances—substantial for his age

1714: Promoted to Concertmaster (leader of the court orchestra) - Increased responsibilities: Composing cantatas monthly - Orchestral composition: Writing violin concertos and orchestral suites - Prestige: Leading musical establishment of a major court

Major Works from Weimar

The Weimar period produced many of Bach’s greatest organ works:

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I

Around 1722, Bach completed the first book of The Well-Tempered Clavier: - 24 preludes and fugues: In all major and minor keys - Pedagogical purpose: For teaching and practice - Exploration of temperament: Demonstrating equal temperament possibilities - Compositional mastery: Each piece a masterpiece of contrapuntal art

Conflict and Imprisonment

In 1717, Bach accepted a position as Kapellmeister (music director) at Cöthen, but the Duke of Weimar refused to release him: - Contractual dispute: Bach wanted to leave; Duke refused permission - Duke’s anger: Bach was arrested and imprisoned for almost a month - Dishonorable discharge: Finally released under duress - Lesson learned: Bach would be more careful in future contractual arrangements

The Cöthen Period (1717-1723)

Kapellmeister to Prince Leopold

The move to Cöthen represented a new chapter in Bach’s career:

Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen was: - A Calvinist: His court did not require elaborate church music - A musician: He played violin, viola da gamba, and harpsichord - A patron: Generous supporter of Bach and the court orchestra - A friend: Possibly Bach’s closest relationship with an employer

Secular Music at Cöthen

Without church music obligations, Bach focused on: - Instrumental composition: Orchestral suites, concertos, sonatas - Chamber music: Violin sonatas, cello suites, keyboard works - Pedagogical works: For teaching his children and students - The Brandenburg Concertos: Dedicated to the Margrave of Brandenburg (1721)

Major Works from Cöthen

Personal Tragedy: Maria Barbara’s Death

In July 1720, while Bach was away with Prince Leopold, tragedy struck: - His wife Maria Barbara died suddenly - Cause unknown (possibly complications from pregnancy or illness) - Bach returned to find her already buried - He was left a widower with four surviving children

The Leipzig Years (1723-1750)

Cantor at St. Thomas School

In 1723, Bach was appointed Cantor of the St. Thomas School and Director of Music for the main churches in Leipzig after a protracted selection process: - The position: Prestigious but demanding; some preferred other candidates - Responsibilities: Teaching, composing, performing for city churches - Challenges: Difficult relations with authorities, heavy workload - Salary: 1,000 talers plus various allowances and perquisites

Bach remained in Leipzig for the rest of his life—27 years—longer than any other position.

The Collegium Musicum

From 1729, Bach directed the Collegium Musicum, a student musical society: - Performance venue: Coffee house of Gottfried Zimmermann - Secular repertoire: Instrumental music, concertos, chamber works - Compositional output: Harpsichord concertos, orchestral works - Social music: For Leipzig’s educated middle class

Major Compositional Cycles

The Leipzig years saw Bach’s most ambitious sacred works:

The Church Cantatas (1723-1729)

Bach composed five complete cycles of cantatas for church services: - Annual cycles: One cantata for each Sunday and feast day - Total output: Approximately 300 cantatas (200 survive) - Systematic approach: Comprehensive setting of the church year - Compositional peak: The first three years especially productive

The Passions

The St Matthew Passion represents Bach’s largest single work and is considered one of the supreme achievements of Western music.

The B Minor Mass

Bach assembled the Mass in B minor in his final years: - Compilation: Assembled from earlier compositions - Completeness: Setting of the complete Ordinary of the Mass - Synthesis: Summa of his compositional techniques - Scale: Requires large forces; never performed complete in Bach’s lifetime

Final Works

Bach’s last years were marked by: - The Art of Fugue (1749-1750): Unfinished exploration of contrapuntal possibilities - The Musical Offering (1747): Canons and fugues based on Frederick the Great’s theme - Canonic variations: On “Vom Himmel hoch” for organ - Increasing blindness: Eye problems hampering his work

Career Summary

Professional Relationships

Throughout his career, Bach: - Sought the best instruments: Testing organs, working with builders - Maintained professional networks: Corresponded with other musicians - Trained students: Taught keyboard, composition, performance - Engaged with patrons: From princes to town councils - Family musical enterprise: Employed sons, nephews, and relations

Johann Sebastian Bach’s career demonstrates a steady progression from talented young provincial organist to the supreme master of Baroque music, culminating in the Leipzig years where he synthesized his lifelong learning into works of unparalleled depth and complexity.

Johann Sebastian Bach: Major Achievements

Supreme Master of Counterpoint

Johann Sebastian Bach’s major achievement lies in his unparalleled mastery of counterpoint—the art of combining independent melodic lines into harmonious polyphony. While polyphonic composition had been developing for centuries, Bach brought it to its highest expression, demonstrating possibilities that have never been surpassed.

The Art of Fugue: Encyclopedic Mastery

The Work

The Art of Fugue (Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080) represents Bach’s most systematic exploration of contrapuntal technique:

• Composed: 1749-1750, left unfinished at his death
• Structure: Series of fugues and canons on a single theme
• Increasing complexity: From simple fugues to double, triple, and mirror fugues
• Final fugue: Unfinished; introduces B-A-C-H motif (B-flat, A, C, B-natural in German notation)

Technical Innovations

The work demonstrates: - Stretto fugue: Subject entering before previous voice completes it - Double and triple fugue: Multiple subjects combined - Mirror (invertible) counterpoint: Intervals inverted while maintaining harmony - Augmentation and diminution: Subject lengthened or shortened - Canonic writing: Strict imitative counterpoint

Significance

The Art of Fugue stands as: - The summa of fugal technique - A pedagogical resource for understanding counterpoint - A monument to musical intellect - An unfinished masterpiece adding to its mystique

The Well-Tempered Clavier

Revolutionizing Keyboard Music

The Well-Tempered Clavier (Das Wohltemperierte Klavier) consists of two books:

Historical Importance

Before this work, keyboard music was limited to keys with simpler key signatures because of tuning problems: - Meantone temperament: Sounded good in some keys, terrible in others - Well temperament: Allowed all keys to be usable - Equal temperament: Eventually adopted, making all keys equivalent

Bach’s work demonstrated the possibility and beauty of all 24 keys.

Pedagogical Legacy

The Well-Tempered Clavier has been: - The keyboard player’s bible: Essential study material for 300 years - Teacher of composition: Models of harmonic progression and voice leading - Concert repertoire: Frequently performed masterpieces - Inspiration for composers: From Mozart and Beethoven to Shostakovich

The Passions: Dramatic Synthesis

St Matthew Passion

The St Matthew Passion (BWV 244) represents Bach’s largest single work and one of the supreme achievements of Western music:

Structure

• Double choir and orchestra: Creating dramatic space
• Evangelist: Tenor narrator singing Gospel text
• Solos: Christ (bass), Pilate, Peter, Judas, etc.
• Chorales: Lutheran hymns for congregation identification
• Arias: Reflective meditations on the action

Musical Innovations

• Dramatic continuity: Seamless narrative flow
• Emotional depth: Unprecedented expressiveness
• Structural complexity: Multiple layers of meaning
• Spiritual intensity: Profound theological statement

The Bach Revival

Mendelssohn’s 1829 performance of the St Matthew Passion initiated the “Bach Revival” that established Bach’s reputation as the supreme master of Western music.

St John Passion

The St John Passion (BWV 245), composed earlier (1724), is more dramatic and concise: - Dramatic urgency: More action, less reflection - Tighter structure: Shorter overall - Different theological emphasis: More focused on Christ’s glory - Equal artistic value: Different but comparable achievement

The B Minor Mass: Universal Sacred Music

Synthesis of a Lifetime

The Mass in B minor (BWV 232) represents Bach’s synthesis of sacred composition:

Structure

• Kyrie and Gloria: Composed 1733 for the Dresden court
• Credo, Sanctus, Osanna, Agnus Dei: Added from earlier works in 1748-1749
• Complete Ordinary: All parts of the Catholic Mass
• Protestant composer: Catholic form, Lutheran spirit

Technical Achievements

• Old and new: Stile antico counterpoint alongside modern styles
• Vocal and instrumental mastery: Complete command of all resources
• Architectural unity: Massive work held together by thematic connections
• Spiritual depth: Universal expression transcending denomination

Significance

The B Minor Mass: - Was never performed complete in Bach’s lifetime - Remains one of the most demanding works in the choral repertoire - Demonstrates Bach’s command of sacred text setting - Serves as a musical summa of his art

The Brandenburg Concertos

Orchestral Innovation

The Brandenburg Concertos (BWV 1046-1051, 1721) represent the pinnacle of Baroque concerto writing:

Historical Context

• Dedication: To Christian Ludwig, Margrave of Brandenburg (who may never have heard them)
• Diversity: Each concerto explores different instrumental combinations
• Genre development: Culmination of the Italian concerto grosso
• Virtuosity: Demanding solo parts showcasing performers

Solo Instrumental Masterworks

Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin

The three Sonatas and three Partitas for Solo Violin (BWV 1001-1006, c. 1720) are unprecedented:

• Technical demands: Pushing violin technique to its limits
• Polyphony on solo instrument: Creating harmony through arpeggios and double stops
• Chaconne in D minor: The final movement of the D minor Partita, one of the greatest solo violin works

Cello Suites

The six Cello Suites (BWV 1007-1012, c. 1720) are the foundation of solo cello literature: - Technical exploration: Full range of cello possibilities - Dance movements: Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gigue - Preludes: Each suite opens with an improvisatory prelude - Popularity: The first suite’s Prelude is among the most recognized classical pieces

Goldberg Variations

The Goldberg Variations (BWV 988, 1741) represent Bach’s keyboard art at its most refined: - Aria and 30 variations: On a ground bass pattern - Every third variation: A canon (intervals increasing from unison to ninth) - Variety of forms: Dance, virtuoso display, character pieces - Return: The aria returns unchanged at the end

Sacred Cantatas: The Church Year

The Cantata Cycles

Bach composed approximately 300 church cantatas, with about 200 surviving:

The First Leipzig Cycle (1723-1724)

• Compositional method: Often using existing works with new text
• Dramatic expression: Theatrical elements in sacred context
• Variety: Different forms for different liturgical occasions

The Chorale Cantata Cycle (1724-1725)

• Systematic approach: Each cantata based on a Lutheran chorale
• Integration: Chorale melody permeating entire composition
• Theological depth: Exploring chorale texts musically

The Third Cycle (1725-1727)

• Diverse sources: Borrowing from earlier works, adapting secular pieces
• Experimental forms: Expanding cantata possibilities

Notable Cantatas

Pedagogical Legacy

Teaching Works

Bach composed systematic works for teaching:

Influence on Students and Family

Bach’s teaching influenced: - His four composer sons (W.F., C.P.E., J.C.F., J.C.) - Students who became organists and cantors - The transmission of his style and methods - The next generation of German musicians

The Bach Revival

Mendelssohn’s Performance (1829)

Felix Mendelssohn’s performance of the St Matthew Passion in Berlin: - First performance since Bach’s death: Almost 80 years later - Public sensation: Rediscovery of a forgotten master - Beginning of revival: Growing interest in Bach’s music - Recognition: Bach established as supreme master

19th-Century Reception

Bach’s reputation grew throughout the 19th century: - Performances: Increasing frequency of Bach concerts - Editions: Scholarly editions of his works - Biographies: Studies of his life and music - Influence on composers: Chopin, Schumann, Brahms studied Bach

The Bach-Gesellschaft

Founded in 1850 (centenary of Bach’s death): - Complete edition: Systematic publication of all works - Scholarly standards: Critical editions based on manuscripts - Ongoing project: Continues today in various forms - Accessibility: Made Bach’s complete works available

Modern Significance

Today Bach is: - Universal: Transcending national and stylistic boundaries - Essential: Core of classical music education - Influential: Continues to inspire composers across genres - Performable: His works remain central to concert life

The Complete Achievement

Bach’s major achievements can be summarized as:

1. Counterpoint: Bringing polyphonic composition to its highest development
2. Fugue: Creating the supreme models of the form
3. Keyboard music: Establishing literature for organ and harpsichord
4. Sacred music: Synthesizing Lutheran tradition with universal expression
5. Pedagogy: Creating systematic teaching works still in use
6. Synthesis: Combining German, Italian, and French styles
7. Spiritual depth: Expressing profound religious faith through abstract music

As the musicologist Charles Rosen observed, Bach “is the first composer whose works never become old-fashioned.” His achievement remains the foundation of Western musical art.

Personal Life

Overview

Beyond their public achievements, Johann Sebastian Bach’s personal life reveals a complex and multifaceted individual whose private experiences have shaped their public persona.

Key Points

The details of this aspect of Johann Sebastian Bach’s story reveal important dimensions of their character, achievements, and impact. Understanding these elements provides a more complete picture of Johann Sebastian Bach’s significance.

Significance

This dimension of Johann Sebastian Bach’s life and work contributes to the larger narrative of their enduring importance and continuing relevance in the modern world.

Contemporaries and Relationships

Overview

Johann Sebastian Bach’s relationships with contemporaries provide insight into the social and intellectual networks that shaped their era. These connections influenced their work and legacy.

Key Points

The details of this aspect of Johann Sebastian Bach’s story reveal important dimensions of their character, achievements, and impact. Understanding these elements provides a more complete picture of Johann Sebastian Bach’s significance.

Significance

This dimension of Johann Sebastian Bach’s life and work contributes to the larger narrative of their enduring importance and continuing relevance in the modern world.

Johann Sebastian Bach: Legacy

From Obscurity to Supreme Mastery

Johann Sebastian Bach’s posthumous reputation represents one of the most dramatic transformations in musical history. Largely forgotten within decades of his death, he was resurrected in the 19th century to become recognized as the cornerstone of Western classical music—a position he has maintained for nearly two centuries.

The Period of Neglect (1750-1800)

Immediate Aftermath

After Bach’s death in 1750: - Family legacy: His sons spread his influence, but the style changed - Musical evolution: Taste shifted toward simpler, more homophonic styles - Baroque decline: Polyphony seemed old-fashioned - Manuscript dispersal: Many works lost or scattered

The Galant and Classical Eras

During the mid-to-late 18th century: - C.P.E. and J.C. Bach: His sons more famous than the father - New styles: Classical period aesthetic different from Baroque - Limited performance: Some organ works played, but major works neglected - Pedagogical use: Some teaching works remained in use

Mozart and Beethoven

Even great composers knew only a fraction of Bach’s output: - Mozart: Discovered Bach’s music in the 1780s; arranged some fugues - Beethoven: Studied Bach from youth; called him the “immortal god of harmony” - Limited access: Complete works not available; only selected pieces known - Growing awareness: Recognition that Bach represented something unique

The Bach Revival (1800-1850)

Early 19th Century Interest

Growing curiosity about Bach: - Forkel’s biography: First major biography (1802) - Publishing efforts: New editions of keyboard works - Professional study: Musicians recognizing Bach’s technical mastery - Romantic interest: fascination with the “learned” style

Mendelssohn’s Revolutionary Performance

March 11, 1829: Felix Mendelssohn conducted the St Matthew Passion in Berlin: - First performance since 1750: Nearly 80 years of silence - Mendelssohn’s initiative: Just 20 years old, deeply committed to Bach - Public sensation: Sold-out performances; enormous enthusiasm - Revival launched: Recognition of Bach’s greatness accelerated

Mendelssohn repeated the performance and continued championing Bach throughout his career.

Establishment of the Canon

By mid-century, Bach was established as: - The supreme master: Recognized by musicians and educated public - Study requirement: Essential for all serious musicians - Concert repertoire: Regularly performed (if selectively) - National treasure: German cultural pride

The Bach-Gesellschaft (1850-1900)

Founding and Purpose

Founded on the centenary of Bach’s death (1850): - Complete edition: Systematic publication of all known works - Scholarly standards: Critical editions based on manuscript study - International collaboration: Scholars across Europe - Long-term project: Continued for 50 years

The Edition’s Impact

The Bach-Gesellschaft edition: - Made works accessible: Complete works available for first time - Established scholarship: Methods for studying Bach’s music - Discovered works: Recovered lost compositions - Created BWV numbers: Wolfgang Schmieder’s catalogue system

19th-Century Reception

Bach’s influence on Romantic composers: - Chopin: Studied Well-Tempered Clavier; Bach preludes in recitals - Schumann: Founded Bach society in Dresden; advocated Bach study - Brahms: Lifelong Bach study; incorporated contrapuntal techniques - Wagner: Praised Bach’s expressive depth

The 20th Century: Universal Recognition

Performance Revolution

The Early Music Movement

• Historical instruments: Return to Baroque performance practice
• Smaller forces: Chamber-sized orchestras for Bach
• Faster tempos: Rejecting 19th-century romantic slowdown
• Different sound: Harpsichords, gut strings, lighter touch

Landmark Recordings

• Landowska: First to record Goldberg Variations on harpsichord (1933)
• Schweitzer: Organ recordings spread Bach’s organ works
• Casals: Cello Suites became standard repertoire
• Glenn Gould: 1955 Goldberg Variations recording revolutionized Bach performance

Scholarly Advances

Global Dissemination

Bach became truly universal: - Transcending nationality: No longer just German, but world heritage - Jazz adaptations: Jacques Loussier, Modern Jazz Quartet - Popular culture: Appearances in films, television, advertising - Space: Goldberg Variations included on Voyager Golden Record (1977)

Influence on Later Music

Direct Compositional Influence

The Classical Period

• Mozart: Arranged Bach fugues; studied counterpoint
• Beethoven: Bach study essential to his development
• Haydn: Incorporating contrapuntal techniques

The 19th Century

• Chopin: Preludes influenced by WTC
• Schumann: Canon and fugue study
• Brahms: Master of counterpoint after Bach
• Wagner: Harmonic complexity and continuity

The 20th Century

• Schoenberg: “Biblical” authority; twelve-tone technique’s contrapuntal basis
• Stravinsky: Neoclassicism’s Bach influence
• Webern: Pointillistic counterpoint
• Shostakovich: 24 Preludes and Fugues as homage to WTC

Jazz and Popular Music

Bach’s influence extends beyond classical: - Jazz musicians: Bach’s harmonic progressions, voice-leading - Popular songs: “Whiter Shade of Pale” (Bach-inspired) - Progressive rock: Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s adaptations - Film scores: Bach quoted in countless soundtracks

Pedagogical Legacy

Essential Study

Bach remains central to music education:

Technical Foundations

Music students study Bach for: - Voice leading: Correct part-writing - Harmony: Understanding tonal functions - Counterpoint: Combining independent lines - Form: Architectural principles - Performance technique: Technical mastery

Cultural Impact

Bach in Popular Culture

Bach’s music appears in: - Films: The Godfather, The Silence of the Lambs, Hannah and Her Sisters - Television: Themes, background music, cultural signifier - Advertising: Used to suggest quality, sophistication - Space exploration: Voyager Golden Record carries Brandenburg Concerto No. 2

Religious and Spiritual Significance

Bach’s sacred music transcends denomination: - Ecumenical: Performed by Christians, Jews, atheists - Spiritual depth: Communicating religious experience - Universal: Transcending specific theological content - Worship: Still used in church services worldwide

Scientific and Mathematical Interest

Bach’s music attracts non-musical scholars: - Mathematicians: Fugue structure, symmetry, pattern - Cognitive scientists: Study of musical complexity - Computer scientists: Algorithmic analysis of counterpoint - Neuroscientists: Brain response to Bach’s music

The Modern Bach

Recordings and Performance

Bach is among the most recorded composers: - Complete works cycles: Multiple recordings of entire output - Diverse interpretations: From historically informed to modern instrument - Global reach: Performers from all nations - Constant availability: Streaming, downloads, traditional media

Scholarship and Discovery

Research continues: - New sources: Manuscripts still discovered - Performance practice: Evolving understanding of Baroque style - Theological studies: Religious meaning in the music - Digital humanities: Computer analysis of compositions

Living Tradition

Bach’s music remains vital: - Concert repertoire: Essential to orchestral, choral, chamber programs - Educational necessity: No musician’s training complete without Bach - Sacred use: Church music traditions - Jazz and crossover: Continuous creative adaptation

Distinctions and Honors

Posthumous Recognition

• Bach-Gesellschaft (1850): Founded on centenary of death
• Leipzig Bach Archive: Major research center
• Bach festivals: Worldwide (Leipzig, Pasadena, London, etc.)
• UNESCO Memory of the World: Original manuscripts protected

Space

• Voyager Golden Record (1977): Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 represents human achievement
• Meaning: Bach as representative of Earth’s highest cultural expression

Popular Recognition

• Name recognition: Among the best-known classical composers
• “Air on the G String”: One of the most recognized classical pieces
• Toccata and Fugue in D minor: Iconic opening, widely referenced
• Cello Suite No. 1 Prelude: Instantly recognizable

The Enduring Achievement

Bach’s legacy can be summarized as:

Technical

• Supreme mastery of counterpoint: Never surpassed
• Foundation of tonal harmony: Model for correct practice
• Architectural perfection: Structural principles
• Pedagogical resources: Essential teaching works

Cultural

• Universal recognition: Beyond national or stylistic boundaries
• Continuous performance: Never out of the repertoire
• Influence on all subsequent music: Direct and indirect impact
• Transcendence of time: Remains modern while being historical

Spiritual

• Religious depth: Profound expression of faith
• Universal appeal: Moving to believers and non-believers
• Human expression: Communicating through abstract means
• Consolation and inspiration: Music for all human circumstances

Conclusion

Johann Sebastian Bach died in 1750, mourned by his family and respected by his peers, but with no recognition of his extraordinary achievement. Within a century, he was recognized as the supreme master of Western music. Two and a half centuries later, his position remains unchallenged.

From the Goldberg Variations played on Voyager’s journey to the stars, to the chorales sung in churches worldwide, from the Well-Tempered Clavier practiced by every piano student to the St Matthew Passion performed in concert halls, Bach’s music continues to speak with undiminished power.

As the philosopher Goethe observed: “When we listen to Bach, it is as if we were present when God created the world.” This sense of encountering something fundamental, something universal, something perfect—this is the legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach.