Anthony Vu
Mrs. Gunter
History and Music, Period 3B
6 December 2016
An Examination of the Life of Johann Sebastian Bach The Baroque era of European music is intrinsically connected to one essential man:
Johann Sebastian Bach. The breadth and achievements of his career and unrivaled musical influence to this very day marks him as a man of remarkable talent and undisputed genius.
Bach’s command of a variety of instruments, combined with his distinctive compositional voice and his mastery of technique, produced hundreds of compositions, including the famous cantata
“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” and the organ piece “Toccata and Fugue in D minor.” Indeed,
Bach is a historic figure to which music owes a great debt.
Born on March 21, 1685, in Eisenach, …show more content…
However, he quickly transferred to the position of organist of a church in Arnstad, where he wrote some of his first church cantatas (i.e. Denn du wirst meine Seele nicht in der Hölle lassen). Unfortunately, Bach regarded his choir as disgustingly incompetent, and, after neglecting his duties for four months to travel to hear the renowned Dietrich Buxtehude (without explanation), he was severely reprimanded and encouraged to move elsewhere. As fate would have it, Bach was appointed organist at the Church of St. Blaise in Mühlhausen in 1707, only to come in conflict with his pastor, who, as a supporter of Lutheran Pietism, advocated for simplicity over Bach’s ornate style. Bach married his second cousin, Maria Barbara, that same year but quickly moved on to Duke Wilhelm Ernst’s court in Weimar. From 1708-1717, Bach composed a wealth of organ music, from preludes and fugues to chorales and toccatas, including the famous Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor. Once again, however, conflict drove him to Cöthen, where he married his second wife, Anna Magdalena Wülken, and composed some of his most famous instrumental and orchestral works—from sonatas and partitas to overtures and concertos. In the final phase of his career, Bach accepted in 1723 the position of cantor of Leipzig, where, after a 27-year tenure and countless choral …show more content…
As with much of his other sacred works, Bach composed this during his time in Weimar, although the work lacks the ornament and sophistication its counterparts so flaunted. Its instrumentation is also quite sparse, including only violins, violas, trumpets, and a choir. “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” is a choral prelude and thus prompts exchange between the choir and the musicians, who alternate in prominence. All of these elements, combined with the regular rise and fall of the music, create a majestic yet soothing effect on the listener. This piece was perhaps one of the most indicative of the Baroque period; as evidenced by its Christian message, religion continued to play a major role in society and the arts, although composers and instrumentalists were allowed more artistic liberty as indicated by the work’s capacity for embellishment and improvisation (although not directly notated). “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” remains wildly popular today as both church music and a Christmas
Mrs. Gunter
History and Music, Period 3B
6 December 2016
An Examination of the Life of Johann Sebastian Bach The Baroque era of European music is intrinsically connected to one essential man:
Johann Sebastian Bach. The breadth and achievements of his career and unrivaled musical influence to this very day marks him as a man of remarkable talent and undisputed genius.
Bach’s command of a variety of instruments, combined with his distinctive compositional voice and his mastery of technique, produced hundreds of compositions, including the famous cantata
“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” and the organ piece “Toccata and Fugue in D minor.” Indeed,
Bach is a historic figure to which music owes a great debt.
Born on March 21, 1685, in Eisenach, …show more content…
However, he quickly transferred to the position of organist of a church in Arnstad, where he wrote some of his first church cantatas (i.e. Denn du wirst meine Seele nicht in der Hölle lassen). Unfortunately, Bach regarded his choir as disgustingly incompetent, and, after neglecting his duties for four months to travel to hear the renowned Dietrich Buxtehude (without explanation), he was severely reprimanded and encouraged to move elsewhere. As fate would have it, Bach was appointed organist at the Church of St. Blaise in Mühlhausen in 1707, only to come in conflict with his pastor, who, as a supporter of Lutheran Pietism, advocated for simplicity over Bach’s ornate style. Bach married his second cousin, Maria Barbara, that same year but quickly moved on to Duke Wilhelm Ernst’s court in Weimar. From 1708-1717, Bach composed a wealth of organ music, from preludes and fugues to chorales and toccatas, including the famous Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor. Once again, however, conflict drove him to Cöthen, where he married his second wife, Anna Magdalena Wülken, and composed some of his most famous instrumental and orchestral works—from sonatas and partitas to overtures and concertos. In the final phase of his career, Bach accepted in 1723 the position of cantor of Leipzig, where, after a 27-year tenure and countless choral …show more content…
As with much of his other sacred works, Bach composed this during his time in Weimar, although the work lacks the ornament and sophistication its counterparts so flaunted. Its instrumentation is also quite sparse, including only violins, violas, trumpets, and a choir. “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” is a choral prelude and thus prompts exchange between the choir and the musicians, who alternate in prominence. All of these elements, combined with the regular rise and fall of the music, create a majestic yet soothing effect on the listener. This piece was perhaps one of the most indicative of the Baroque period; as evidenced by its Christian message, religion continued to play a major role in society and the arts, although composers and instrumentalists were allowed more artistic liberty as indicated by the work’s capacity for embellishment and improvisation (although not directly notated). “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” remains wildly popular today as both church music and a Christmas