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Biography
Johann Sebastian Bach is a great German composer of the 18th century. More than two hundred and fifty years have passed since the death of Bach, and interest in his music is growing. During his lifetime, the composer did not receive the deserved recognition as a writer, but was known as a performer and, especially, as an improviser.Interest in Bach's music arose almost a hundred years after his death: in 1829, under the baton of the German composer Mendelssohn, Bach's greatest work, The Matthew Passion, was publicly performed. For the first time - in Germany - the complete collection of Bach's works was published. And musicians all over the world play Bach's music, marveling at its beauty and inspiration, mastery and perfection. "Not a stream! “The sea must be his name,” said the great Beethoven about Bach.
Bach's ancestors have long been famous for their musicality. It is known that the composer's great-great-grandfather, a baker by profession, played the zither. Flutists, trumpeters, organists, violinists came out of the Bach family. In the end, every musician in Germany began to be called Bach and every Bach a musician.
Johann Sebastian Bach was born in 1685 in the small German town of Eisenach. He received his first violin skills from his father, a violinist and city musician. The boy had an excellent voice (soprano) and sang in the choir of the city school. No one doubted his future profession: little Bach was to become a musician. For nine years, the child was left an orphan. His tutor was an older brother who served as a church organist in the city of Ohrdruf. The brother assigned the boy to the gymnasium and continued to teach music. But he was an insensitive musician. Classes were monotonous and boring. For an inquisitive ten-year-old boy, this was excruciating. Therefore, he strove for self-education. Having learned that his brother kept a notebook with works of famous composers in a locked closet, the boy secretly took out this notebook at night and copied notes in the moonlight. This tedious work lasted six months, it severely damaged the vision of the future composer. And what was the grief of the child when his brother caught him one day doing this and took away the already transcribed notes.
At the age of fifteen, Johann Sebastian decided to start an independent life and moved to Lüneburg. In 1703 he graduated from the gymnasium and received the right to enter the university. But Bach did not have to use this right, since it was necessary to earn a livelihood.
During his life, Bach moved from city to city several times, changing jobs. Almost every time the reason turned out to be the same - unsatisfactory working conditions, a humiliating, dependent position. But no matter how unfavorable the situation, he never left the desire for new knowledge, for improvement. With tireless energy, he constantly studied the music of not only German, but also Italian and French composers. Bach did not miss the opportunity to personally meet outstanding musicians, to study the manner of their performance. Once, having no money for a trip, young Bach went to another city on foot to listen to the famous organist Buxtehude play.
The composer also steadily defended his attitude to creativity, his views on music. Contrary to the admiration of court society for foreign music, Bach studied and widely used German folk songs and dances in his works with special love. Having perfectly known the music of composers from other countries, he did not blindly imitate them. Extensive and deep knowledge helped him improve and polish his composing skills.
Sebastian Bach's talent was not limited to this area. He was the best organ and harpsichord player among his contemporaries. And if, as a composer, Bach did not receive recognition during his lifetime, then in improvisations behind the organ his skill was unsurpassed. This was forced to admit even his rivals.
It is said that Bach was invited to Dresden to take part in a competition with the then famous French organist and harpsichordist Louis Marchand. The day before, a preliminary acquaintance of the musicians took place, both of them played the harpsichord. That same night, Marchand hurriedly left, thus recognizing the undeniable superiority of Bach. On another occasion, in the city of Kassel, Bach amazed his listeners by performing a solo on the organ pedal. Such success did not turn Bach's head; he always remained a very modest and hardworking person. When asked how he achieved such perfection, the composer replied: "I had to work hard, whoever is as hard will achieve the same."
From 1708 Bach settled in Weimar. Here he served as court musician and city organist. During the Weimar period, the composer created his best organ works. Among them are the famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor, the famous Passacaglia in C minor. These works are significant and deep in content, grandiose in their scope.
In 1717 Bach and his family moved to Köthen. At the court of the Prince of Köthen, where he was invited, there was no organ. Bach wrote mainly clavier and orchestral music. The composer's duties included directing a small orchestra, accompanying the prince's singing, and entertaining him by playing the harpsichord. Easily coping with his duties, Bach devoted all his free time to creativity. The works for the clavier created at that time represent the second pinnacle in his work after organ compositions. Two-part and three-part inventions were written in Köthen (Bach called three-part inventions "sinfonias"). The composer intended these pieces to study with his eldest son Wilhelm Friedemann. Pedagogical goals guided Bach in the creation of suites - "French" and "English". In Köthen, Bach also completed 24 preludes and fugues, which made up the first volume of a great work called The Well-Tempered Clavier. In the same period, the famous "Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue" in D minor was also written.
In our time, Bach's inventions and suites have become obligatory pieces in the programs of music schools, and the preludes and fugues of the Well-Tempered Clavier - in schools and conservatories. Intended by the composer for a pedagogical purpose, these works are also of interest to a mature musician. Therefore, Bach's pieces for the clavier, starting with relatively easy inventions and ending with the most complex Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue, can be heard at concerts and on the radio, performed by the world's best pianists.
From Köthen in 1723, Bach moved to Leipzig, where he remained until the end of his life. Here he took the position of cantor (choir leader) of the singing school at the Church of St. Thomas. Bach was obliged to serve the main churches of the city with the help of the school and be responsible for the state and quality of church music. He had to accept difficult conditions for himself. Along with the duties of a teacher, educator and composer, there were also such instructions: "Do not leave the city without the permission of Mr. Burgomaster." As before, his creative possibilities were limited. Bach had to compose such music for the church that "would not be too long, and also ... opera-like, but that would arouse reverence in the listeners." But Bach, as always, sacrificing a lot, never gave up the main thing - his artistic convictions. Throughout his life, he created works that are striking in their deep content and inner richness.
So it was this time. In Leipzig, Bach created his best vocal and instrumental compositions: most of the cantatas (in total, Bach wrote about 250 cantatas), the Passion according to John, the Passion according to Matthew, Mass in B minor. "Passion", or "passions" according to John and Matthew is a story about the suffering and death of Jesus Christ in the description of the evangelists John and Matthew. The Mass is close in content to the Passion. In the past, both the mass and the "passion" were choral chants in the Catholic Church. In Bach, these works go far beyond the scope of the church service. The Mass and Passion by Bach are monumental works of a concert character. Soloists, choir, orchestra, organ participate in their performance. In terms of their artistic significance, the cantatas, the Passion and the Mass represent the third and highest pinnacle of the composer's work.
The church authorities were clearly dissatisfied with Bach's music. As in previous years, she was found too bright, colorful, humane. Indeed, Bach's music did not answer, but rather contradicted the strict church atmosphere, the mood of detachment from everything earthly. Along with major vocal and instrumental works, Bach continued to write music for the clavier. Almost at the same time as the Mass, the famous "Italian Concerto" was written. Bach later completed the second volume of The Well-Tempered Clavier, which included 24 new preludes and fugues.
In addition to the enormous creative work and service in the church school, Bach took an active part in the activities of the "Music College" of the city. It was a society of music lovers, which arranged concerts of secular, not church music for the inhabitants of the city. With great success, Bach performed in concerts of the "Musical Collegium" as a soloist and conductor. Especially for the concerts of the society, he wrote many orchestral, clavier and vocal works of a secular nature.
But the main work of Bach - the head of the school of choristers - brought him nothing but grief and trouble. The funds allocated by the church for the school were negligible, and the singing boys were starving and poorly dressed. The level of their musical abilities was also low. Singers were often recruited, regardless of the opinion of Bach. The school orchestra was more than modest: four trumpets and four violins!
All petitions for help to the school, submitted by Bach to the city authorities, were ignored. The cantor was responsible for everything.
The only consolation was still creativity, family. The grown sons - Wilhelm Friedemann, Philip Emmanuel, Johann Christian - turned out to be talented musicians. Even during the life of their father, they became famous composers. Great musicality was distinguished by Anna Magdalena Bach, the second wife of the composer. She had an excellent ear and a beautiful, strong soprano voice. The eldest daughter of Bach also sang well. For his family, Bach composed vocal and instrumental ensembles.
The last years of the composer's life were overshadowed by a serious eye disease. After an unsuccessful operation, Bach became blind. But even then he continued to compose, dictating his works for recording. Bach's death remained almost unnoticed by the musical community. He was soon forgotten. The fate of Bach's wife and youngest daughter was sad. Anna Magdalena died ten years later in a house of contempt for the poor. The youngest daughter Regina eked out a beggarly existence. In the last years of her difficult life, Beethoven helped her. Bach died on July 28, 1750.
He is one of those rare and wonderful people who could record Divine light.
Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 is a work for organ by Johann Sebastian Bach, one of his most popular compositions.
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor BWV 565 is included in all editions of the authoritative BWV catalog and in the (most complete) new edition of Bach's works (Neue Bach-Ausgabe, known as NBA).
The work was supposedly written by Bach during his stay in Arnstadt between 1703 and 1707. In January 1703, after finishing his studies, he received the position of court musician from the Weimar Duke Johann Ernst. It is not known exactly what his duties were, but, most likely, this position was not related to performing activities. For seven months of service in Weimar, the fame of him as a performer spread. Bach was invited to the post of superintendent of the organ in the church of St. Boniface in Arnstadt, located 180 km from Weimar. The Bach family had long-standing ties with this oldest German city.
In August, Bach took over as organist of the church. He had to work three days a week, and the salary was relatively high. In addition, the instrument was maintained in good condition and was tuned to a new system that expanded the possibilities of the composer and performer. During this period, Bach created many organ works.
A feature of this small polyphonic cycle is the continuity of the development of musical material (without a break between the toccata and fugue). The form consists of three parts: toccatas, fugues and codas. The latter, echoing the toccata, forms a thematic arc.
Title page of BWV 565 in a manuscript copy by Johannes Ringk. Due to the fact that Bach's autograph was lost, this copy, as of 2012, is the only source close in time to creation.
Toccata (in Italian toccata - touch, blow, from toccare - touch, touch) is a virtuoso piece of music for keyboard instruments (clavier, organ).
The beginning of the toccata
Fugue (Italian fuga - running, flight, fast flow) is the most developed form of polyphonic music, which has absorbed all the richness of polyphony. The content range of the fugue is practically unlimited, but the intellectual element prevails or is always felt in it. Fugue is distinguished by emotional fullness and at the same time restraint of expression.
This work begins with an alarming, but courageous strong-willed cry. It is heard three times, falling from one octave to another, and leads to a thunderous chordal rumble in the lower register. Thus, at the beginning of the toccata, a darkly shaded, grandiose sound space is outlined.
Johann Sebastian Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor BWV 565 played by organist Hans-André Stamm on the Trost-Organ of the Stadtkirche in Waltershausen, Germany.
Further powerful "swirling" virtuoso passages are heard. The contrast between fast and slow movement is reminiscent of cautious respite between battles with violent elements. And after a free, improvisationally constructed toccata, a fugue sounds, in which the strong-willed principle, as it were, curbs elemental forces. And the last bars of the whole work are perceived as a harsh and majestic victory of the inexorable human will.
It remains to inform about Anna Magdalena. She knew the bitterness of early old age. At first, the magistrate undoubtedly provided some assistance to Bach's widow, and receipts were preserved for receiving sums of money by her. There is no reliable information about the relationship with the stepmother and mother of Bach's sons after his death. Anna Magdalena, at the age of fifty-nine, died on Wednesday, February 27, 1760 in Leipzig, on the Heinenstrasse, apparently in an orphanage for the poor.
The loving and caring wife of the cantor for many years has so often prepared the notes of the next Sunday cantata of her Sebastian in a hurry! In her husband's handwriting, after finishing the last line, she wrote in large letters on the page the words that meant "end" in Italian.
Let this sign complete both our story of life and a brief outline of the works of the great Bach:
BRIEF LIST OF WORKS OF J. S. BACH
Vocal and instrumental works: about 300 spiritual cantatas (199 have survived); 24 secular cantatas (including "Hunting", "Coffee", "Peasant"); motets, chorales; Christmas Oratorio; "Passion for John", "Passion for Matthew", "Magnificat", Mass in B minor ("High Mass"), 4 short masses.
Arias and songs - from the second Notebook of Anna Magdalena Bach.
For orchestra and orchestra with solo instruments:
6 Brandenburg concerts; 4 suites ("overtures"); 7 concertos for harpsichord (clavier) and orchestra; 3 concertos for two harpsichords and orchestra; 2 concertos for three harpsichords and orchestra; 1 concerto for four harpsichords and orchestra; 3 concertos for violin and orchestra; concerto for flute, violin and harpsichord.
Works for violin, cello, flute with clavier (harpsichord) and solo: 6 sonatas for violin and harpsichord; 6 sonatas for flute and harpsichord; 3 sonatas for viola da gamba (cello) and harpsichord; trio sonatas; 6 sonatas and partitas for solo violin; 6 suites (sonatas) for cello solo.
For clavier (harpsichord): 6 "English" suites; 6 "French" suites; 6 partitas; Chromatic fantasy and fugue; Italian concert; The Well-Tempered Clavier (2 volumes, 48 preludes and fugues); Goldberg variations; Inventions for two and three votes; fantasies, fugues, toccatas, overtures, capriccios, etc.
For organ: 18 preludes and fugues; 5 toccata and fugue; 3 fantasies and fugues; fugues; 6 concerts; Passacaglia; pastoral; fantasies, sonatas, canzone, trio; 46 Choral Preludes (from the Organ Book of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach); "Shubler's chorales"; 18 chorales ("Leipzig"); several cycles of choral variations.
Musical offering. The art of the fugue.
MAIN DATES OF LIFE
1685, March 21 (Gregorian calendar March 31) in the Thuringian city of Eisenach, Johann Sebastian Bach was born, the son of the city musician Johann Ambrose Bach.
1693-1695 - Teaching at school.
1694 - Death of mother, Elisabeth, née Lemmerhirt. Father's remarriage.
1695 - Death of father; moving to older brother Johann Christoph in Ohrdruf.
1696 - early 1700- Education in the Ordruf Lyceum; singing and music lessons.
1700 March 15- Moving to Lüneburg, enrollment as a scholarship holder (singer) in the school of the church of St. Michael.
1703 April- Moving to Weimar, service in the chapel of the Red Castle. August- Moving to Arnstadt; Bach is an organist and teacher of singing.
1705-1706, October - February- A trip to Lübeck, studying the organ art of Dietrich Buxtehude. Conflict with the consistory of Arnstadt.
1707 June 15- Appointment as organist at Mühlhausen. 17 October- Marriage to Maria Barbara Bach.
1708, spring- Publication of the first work, "Election Cantata". July- Moving to Weimar to serve as court organist of the ducal chapel.
1710 November 22- The birth of the first son, Wilhelm Friedemann (the future "Gallic Bach").
1714 March 8- The birth of the second son, Carl Philipp Emmanuel (the future "Hamburg Bach"). Trip to Kassel.
1717 July- Bach accepts the offer of the Keten prince Leopold to become the Kapellmeister of the court chapel.
September- A trip to Dresden, his success as a virtuoso.
October- Return to Weimar; resignation, by order of the duke arrest from 6 November to 2 December. Moving to Keteya. Trip to Leipzig.
1720 May- A trip with Prince Leopold to Karlsbad. Early July- Death of wife Maria Barbara.
1723 February 7- Performance in Leipzig of cantata N 22, as a test for the post of cantor of the Thomaskirche. 26 March- First performance of the Passion according to John. May- Taking office as cantor of St. Thomas and the teacher of the school.
1729 February- Performance of the "Hunting Cantata" in Weissenfels, receiving the title of Court Kapellmeister of Saxe-Weissenfels. April 15- First performance of the Matthew Passion at the Thomaskirche. Differences with the council of Thomasshule, and then with the magistrate, because of the order at the school. Bach leads the Telemann student circle, Collegium musicum.
1730 October 28- A letter to a former school friend G. Erdman describing the unbearable circumstances of life in Leipzig.
1732 - Performance of "Coffee Cantata". 21st of June- The birth of the son of Johann Christoph Friedrich (the future "Bückeburg Bach").
1734 end of December- Performance of "Christmas oratorio".
1735 June- Bach with his son Gottfried Bernhard in Mühlhausen. The son passes the test for the position of organist. September 5 the last son, Johann Christian (the future "London Bach") was born.
1736 - The beginning of a two-year "fight for the prefect" with the rector Tomasshule I. Ernesti. November 19 In Dresden, a decree was signed conferring the title of royal court composer on Bach. Friendship with the Russian Ambassador G. Keyserling. December 1- A two-hour concert in Dresden on the Silbermann organ.
1738 April 28- "Night music" in Leipzig. Bach completes his High Mass.
1740 - Bach terminates the leadership of the "Musical Collegium".
1741 - In the summer, Bach with his son Emmanuel in Berlin. Trip to Dresden.
1742 - The publication of the last, fourth volume of "Exercises for the Clavier". August 30- Performance of the "Peasant Cantata".
1745 - Test in Dresden of a new body.
1746 - Son Wilhelm Friedemann becomes director of urban music in Halle. Bach's trip to Zshortau and Naumberg.
1749, January 20- Betrothal of daughter Elisabeth to Bach's student Altnicol. Beginning of The Art of Fugue. In summer- Illness, blindness. Johann Friedirch enters the Bückeburg chapel.
1750 January- Unsuccessful operations on the eyes, complete blindness. Composition of counterpoints of The Art of Fugue and Fugue on the theme B-A-C-H. Completion of chorale processing.
He became famous as a skilled composer and virtuoso performer of organ music. In addition, the musician was also a talented teacher and led concert groups.
Briefly about the composer
During his lifetime, Johann Sebastian did not receive recognition, and only after almost a century did they begin to show interest in his works. Perhaps nothing from the music of the Baroque period is now as popular as the works of Bach. A list by year of these works should be compiled taking into account the main stages of the author's work. Subsequently, the master's works entered the golden fund of eternal classics and are still popular, firmly entering the repertoire of concert performances.
The beginning of creativity
Bach, whose list of works is the subject of an interesting review, was born into a musical family: his father, older brother and sister were musicians. From childhood, the future composer showed an amazing talent for learning to play the violin. Even in his youth, he was seriously carried away by the works of famous composers, did not miss the opportunity to listen to famous masters, constantly studied, replenishing his knowledge.
Very soon he showed himself as a talented organist. He perfectly mastered playing this instrument, so even musicians began to turn to him for advice. Bach, whose list of works can be opened by mentioning compositions for organ, imitated his time, but at the same time supplemented the scores with folk melodies, trying to give it a national sound.
The first works of the composer were chorales, hymns and preludes for organ. These works are distinguished by a solemn, majestic character. However, the works of Bach, the list of which was constantly updated, were diverse in their processing: his early toccata and fugue have a colorful, dramatic sound.
Weimar period (1708-1717)
The flowering of the composer's creative career began at his new place of work, when he received a court position as an organist and musician under one of the German dukes. Here, for the author, there were optimal conditions for creativity: he was free to choose the subject and worked with a very good orchestra.
It was during this period that he created his famous cycle of fugues, which made up the first volume of his well-known work, The Well-Tempered Clavier. None of the musicians of that time was such a virtuoso of organ art as Bach was. The list of the composer's works was constantly expanding: he worked hard, composing and reworking concertos by Italian composers. Nine years later, Johann leaves his old job and goes in search of a new one.
In Köthen
The patron of the composer was the prince, who loved music and appreciated the talent of the composer. He gave him the position of Kapellmeister and gave him great freedom of action. Bach's works, the list of which was replenished with works of a secular nature, received approval and recognition. He composed clavier music, suites on French and English themes, more than two dozen preludes, and fugues. The creation of the famous Brandenburg Concertos dates back to this time. These days they are usually performed by chamber orchestras.
He also composed several concertos. Bach, whose list of works at that time often consisted of works of an entertaining nature, created sonatas and solo performances for violin and flute that looked like funny songs. Despite this, in his concerts each instrument received an independent sound.
religious music
At this time, Johann Sebastian Bach had already become one of the most famous composers in Germany. Works, the list of which now included religious music, grew rapidly. The author wrote several masses on Gospel stories, which are considered among the best in the composer's work. As musical director of the city's churches, he created a cycle of cantatas for worship, which were based on Protestant chants. Separate mention should be made of the "Mass in B minor", in which the author partially used excerpts from his best cantatas.
secular melodies
However, compositions of a secular, entertaining nature continued to occupy a prominent place in his work: they were given special importance by Johann Sebastian Bach. The works, the list of which quickly increased due to melodies composed especially for the author's musical assembly, entered the treasury of the world repertoire. They are admired to this day. Bach, whose list of works was constantly updated with a variety of works, at that time created his famous "Coffee Cantata", as well as a number of concertos for cello and harpsichord.
In the late 1740s, the composer wrote a new cycle, consisting of a trio, ricercars and canons, which he presented as a gift to the king under the name "Musical Offering". At the same time, he composed a number of fugues, in which his art of creating polyphony was especially clearly manifested. This work did not see the light during the author's lifetime and was published after his death by the composer's sons.
Essay features
The most famous works of Bach, the list of which was presented above, reflect the characteristic features of his melodies. The composer is deservedly recognized as a master of polyphony: his fugues and sonatas amaze with their richness of sound, drama, color and variety of sounds. Even during his lifetime, he was considered an unsurpassed master of playing the organ. Then none of the composers could compare with him in this art form.
Another feature is that he worked in all known musical genres of the 18th century, with the exception of opera. However, her motives are still present in a number of his choral works. The author skillfully combined the achievements of northern and southern composers in Western Europe. He was greatly influenced by the work of German, Italian and French musicians.
Bach skillfully combined their melodies, often reworking the works of other composers. Often he edited his own works, which later became the so-called covers, independent and original. He also successfully composed clavier works. Many of them became a kind of guide for writing and performing polyphonic music: Bach's experience introduced students to the technique and more advanced methods of working with musical instruments (clavier exercises).
The value of the composer's work
There is a fairly widespread point of view that after his death Bach was forgotten. However, this is not so: his organ music and chorales continued to sound in churches and have not lost their significance to this day. But the fact is that it was replaced by classicism, which focused not on polyphony, but on harmony. Therefore, indeed, many young composers began to consider the music of Johann Sebastian obsolete.
But such famous authors as Beethoven and Mozart often admired the work of their great predecessor. Both learned from his work, which had a great influence on their work. Today, the composer's works are an integral part of concert performances, and the same work can sound in different versions, since not all of Johann's scores contain complete information about the instrumentation. The works of Bach, the list in Russian of which was presented in the article, is only a short list of the works of this outstanding composer and music teacher.
