"Great people in world history. Haydn's Revenge, Bach's Jokes, Beethoven's Intolerance: Funny Cases from the Life of Great Composers Johann Sebastian Bach 5 Interesting Facts

Bach was not the only one creative personality in your family. It is believed that he belonged to the fifth generation of musicians. About 50 of his close relatives were also engaged in musical creativity, his two children were able to become quite famous composers. In total, Bach had twenty children from two marriages (by the way, the second time the musician married his own cousin and was happy with her for 29 long years). He can rightly be considered the most prolific composer in direct and figuratively this word. However, only 9 children out of 20 survived their father. Bach himself played beautifully on many musical instruments. For example, on the organ, harpsichord and accordion. Bach had a unique ear. He could perform a piece he heard once without a single mistake. During his life, he changed his place of residence eight times, moving from city to city. Bach was a brilliant music teacher who did not take money for his lessons. His favorite pastime was visiting some small church, where he would come disguised as a poor music teacher. Bach was a believer, often reread the Bible and regularly went to confession. An interesting fact about Bach is that only thanks to his efforts in churches, in the choirs, not only men, but also women can sing (for a long time this was an unacceptable freemen for Catholics and Protestants). By the way, the composer's wife became the first female chorus girl. When Bach's chorales were performed in churches, he himself or one of his sons sat at the organ or harpsichord (he tried to give his children a quality musical education) . Bach was a very quick-tempered man, often lashing out at his colleagues. He could yell at them, tear notes and break instruments. Bach loved free creativity and once even spent a month in prison for constantly asking for his resignation. For my long musical career Bach wrote over 1000 pieces of music, the first of which he created at the age of 15. The composer liked to found different societies(for example, the Bach Society, the College of Musicians). The composer's favorite dish was herring heads. Once he found real golden ducats inside them. Bach loved to fall asleep to music and generally loved a sound and healthy sleep. His favorite saying was this: "To get a good night's sleep, you need to go to bed on the wrong day on which you need to wake up." It is known that several clients ordered him compositions that would be good to fall asleep to. AT last years During his life, the great composer was almost blind, and although he had operations more than once, they did not help him. Johann Bach and Friedrich Handel were contemporaries, but during their lifetime these two great composers never met, although they wanted to. For a long time there was no tombstone on the composer's grave. His heirs did not have enough time to equip it. There is also an opinion that there are no remains of the composer in the grave. Some researchers believe that they were moved from place to place many times. Bach left a very large legacy (it was money, real estate, and a collection of musical instruments, and a collection of unique church books).

Bach is a great German musician and composer who wrote more than 1000 works in various genres. Interesting Facts about Bach will be discussed here.

1. Johann Sebastian Bach was born in March 1685 in a large family - he was the eighth, youngest child. His father was a musician. It is worth noting that many of Bach's relatives were also associated with music.

2. The composer perfectly mastered several musical instruments, among which were the accordion, harpsichord and organ.

3. Bach had a unique ear, because he could perform a piece he once heard without a single mistake.

4. Bach is also known as an outstanding music teacher. He often held classes for which he did not take.

5. The composer was a believer, he regularly went to church and read the Bible. When attending church, Bach could dress up as a teacher and give music lessons.

6. Thanks to Bach, women began to be allowed into church choirs. Previously Catholic Church did not allow females to sing in the choir. The composer was able to overcome this ban, and Bach's wife became the first female chorus girl.

Johann Sebastian Bach, whose biography is still being carefully studied, is included, according to the New York Times, in the top 10 most interesting biographies of composers.

In the same row with his name are such names as Beethoven, Wagner, Schubert, Debussy, etc.

Let us also get acquainted with this great musician in order to understand why his work has become one of the pillars of classical music.

J. S. Bach - German composer and virtuoso

The name of Bach comes to our minds one of the first when listing the great composers. Indeed, he was outstanding, as evidenced by the more than 1,000 pieces of music left over from his lifetime.

But do not forget about the second Bach - a musician. After all, both of them were true masters of their craft.

In both incarnations, Bach honed his skills throughout his life. With the end of the vocal school, the training did not end. It continued throughout life.

Proof of professionalism, in addition to surviving musical compositions, is an impressive career as a musician: from organist in the first position to director of music.

It is all the more surprising to realize that many contemporaries negatively perceived musical compositions composer. At the same time, the names of musicians popular in those years have practically not been preserved to this day. Only later did Mozart and Beethoven rave about the composer's work. From the beginning of the 19th century, the work of the virtuoso musician began to revive thanks to the propaganda of Liszt, Mendelssohn and Schumann.

Now, no one doubts the skill and great talent of Johann Sebastian. Bach's music is an example classical school. Books are written about the composer and films are made. The details of life are still the subject of research and study.

Brief biography of Bach

The first mention of the Bach family appeared in the 16th century. Among them were many famous musicians. Therefore, the choice of a profession by little Johann was expected. By the 18th century, when the composer lived and worked, they knew about 5 generations of the musical family.

Father and mother

Father - Johann Ambrosius Bach was born in 1645 in Erfurt. He had a twin brother, Johann Christoph. Along with most members of his family, Johann Ambrosius worked as a court musician and music teacher.

Mother - Maria Elisabeth Lemmerhirt was born in 1644. She was also from Erfurt. Maria was the daughter of a city councilor, a respected person in the city. The dowry left by him for his daughter was solid, thanks to which she could live comfortably in marriage.

The parents of the future musician got married in 1668. The couple had eight children.

Johann Sebastian Bach was born on March 31, 1685, becoming younger child in family. They lived then in the picturesque city of Eisenach with a population of about 6,000 people. Johann's mother and father are Germans, therefore the son is also German by nationality.

When little Johann was 9 years old, Maria Elisabeth died. A year later, a few months after the registration of the second marriage, the father dies.

Childhood

The orphaned 10-year-old boy was taken in by his older brother, Johann Christoph. He worked as a music teacher and church organist.

Johann Christoph taught little Johann to play the clavier and organ. It is the latter that is considered the composer's favorite instrument.

Little is known about this period of life. The boy studied at a city school, which he graduated at the age of 15, although usually young people 2-3 years older became her graduates. So we can conclude that the study was given to the boy easily.

Another fact from the biography is often mentioned. At night, the boy often rewrote the notes of the works of other musicians. One day, the elder brother discovered this and strictly forbade doing such things in the future.

Music training

After leaving school at the age of 15, future composer entered the vocal school named after St. Michael, which was located in the city of Lüneburg.

During these years, the biography of Bach, the composer, begins. During his studies from 1700 to 1703 he writes the first organ music, gains knowledge about contemporary composers.

In the same period, for the first time, he travels to the cities of Germany. In the future, he will have this passion for travel. Moreover, all of them were made for the sake of acquaintance with the work of other composers.

After graduating from a vocal school, the young man could go to university, but the need to earn a living forced him to abandon this opportunity.

Service

After graduating, J.S. Bach received a position as a musician at the court of Duke Ernst. He was just a performer, he played the violin. Their musical compositions haven't started writing yet.

However, dissatisfied with the work, after a few months he decides to change it and becomes the organist of the Church of St. Boniface in Arndstadt. During these years, the composer created many works, mainly for the organ. That is, for the first time in the service I got the opportunity to be not only a performer, but also a composer.

Bach received a high salary, but after 3 years he decided to move because of tense relations with the authorities. Problems arose due to the fact that the musician was absent for a long time due to a trip to Lübeck. According to available information, he was released to this German city for 1 month, and he returned only after 4. In addition, the community expressed complaints about the ability to lead the choir. All this together prompted the musician to change jobs.

In 1707, the musician moved to Mühlhusen, where he continued to work. In the Church of St. Blaise, he had a higher salary. Relations with the authorities developed successfully. The city government was satisfied with the performance of the new worker.

Yet a year later, Bach again moved to Weimar. In this city, he received a more prestigious position as a concert organizer. 9 years spent in Weimar became a fruitful period for the virtuoso, here he wrote dozens of works. For example, he composed "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" for organ.

Personal life

Before moving to Weimar, in 1707, Bach married his cousin Maria Barbare. For 13 years life together they had seven children, of whom three died in infancy.

After 13 years of marriage, his wife died, and the composer remarried 17 months later. This time Anna Magdalena Wilke became his wife.

She was talented singer and subsequently sang in a choir led by her husband. They had 13 children.

Two sons from his first marriage - Wilhelm Friedemann and Carl Philipp Emmanuel - became famous composers, continuing the musical dynasty.

creative path

Since 1717, he has been working for the Duke of Anhalt-Köthen as a bandmaster. Numerous suites were written over the next 6 years. The Brandenburg Concertos also belong to this period. If we evaluate the direction as a whole creative activity composer, it is worth noting that during this period he wrote mainly secular works.

In 1723, Bach became a cantor (that is, organist and choir conductor), as well as a teacher of music and Latin at the Church of St. Thomas. For the sake of this, he again moves to Leipzig. In the same year, the work "Passion according to John" was performed for the first time, thanks to which the high position was received.

The composer wrote both secular and sacred music. He performed classical spiritual works in a new way. The Coffee Cantata, the Mass in B minor and many other works were composed.

If we briefly characterize the work of a musical virtuoso, then it is impossible to do without mentioning Bach's polyphony. This concept in music was known even before him, but it was during the composer's life that they began to talk about the polyphony of a free style.

In general, polyphony means polyphony. In music, two equal voices sound simultaneously, and not just melody and accompaniment. The skill of the musician is evidenced by the fact that students-musicians are still studying according to his works.

Last years of life and death

For the last 5 years of his life, the virtuoso was rapidly losing his sight. To keep composing, he had to dictate the music.

There were also problems with public opinion. Contemporaries did not appreciate Bach's music, they considered it obsolete. This was due to the flowering of classicism, which began in that period.

In 1747, three years before his death, the Music of the Offering cycle was created. It was written after the composer visited the court of Frederick II, King of Prussia. This music was meant for him.

The last work of the outstanding musician - "The Art of the Fugue" - consisted of 14 fugues and 4 canons. But he didn't get to finish it. After his death, his sons did it for him.

Several interesting moments from the life and work of the composer, musician and virtuoso:

1. After studying the history of the family, 56 musicians were found among the relatives of the virtuoso.
2. The musician's surname is translated from German as "stream".
3. Having once heard a work, the composer could repeat it without error, which he did repeatedly.
4. Throughout his life, the musician moved eight times.
5. Thanks to Bach church choirs women were allowed to sing. His second wife became the first chorus girl.
6. He wrote more than 1000 works in his entire life, therefore he is rightfully considered the most "prolific" author.
7. In the last years of his life, the composer was almost blind, and the operations performed on his eyes did not help.
8. The grave of the composer for a long time remained without a tombstone.
9. Until now, not all the facts of the biography are known, some of them are not confirmed by documents. Therefore, the study of his life continues.
10. Two museums dedicated to him were opened in the homeland of the musician. In 1907 a museum was opened in Eisenach, and in 1985 in Leipzig. By the way, the first museum contains lifetime portrait musicians, made in pastel, about which long years nothing was known.

Bach's most famous musical compositions

All works of his authorship were combined into single list– BWV catalog. Each composition is assigned a number from 1 to 1127.

The catalog is convenient in that all works are divided by types of works, and not by year of writing.

To count how many suites Bach wrote, just look at their numbering in the catalog. For example, French suites assigned numbers from 812 to 817. This means that a total of 6 suites were written within this cycle. In total, 21 suites and 15 parts of suites can be counted.

The most recognizable piece is the Scherzo in B minor from Suite for Flute and string orchestra No. 2", dubbed "The Joke". This melody was often used for calling on mobile devices, but despite this, unfortunately, not everyone will be able to name its author.

Indeed, the titles of many of Bach's works are not well known, but their melodies will seem familiar to many. For example, Brandenburg Concertos, Goldberg Variations, Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.

Johann Sebastian Bach wrote more than 1000 works during his life, which became world leaders. The composer was not an easy person, he possessed an incredible musical talent. In his life there were both tragedies and memorable moments. This man became famous as an unsurpassed organist of the 30s.

1. Johann Sebastian Bach's favorite activity was to visit some church in the outback. He went there, dressing as a poor teacher.

2. Bach is the only one of the musicians who played the accordion well.

3. More than 50 Bach relatives were famous musicians.

4. Bach played the organ.

5. Interesting facts about Bach say that at the age of 9 he lost his mother, and a year later his father died.

7. Of the four surviving children of Bach, only 2 were able to become famous composers.

8. Bach is considered a representative of the Baroque era.

9. Bach was a music teacher.

10. In 1717, Johann Sebastian Bach was invited to a musical duel with Marchand, but as a result he had to perform alone.

11. During his life, Johann Sebastian Bach wrote more than 1000 works.

12. Bach was the youngest of 8 children in the family.

13. Only thanks to Bach, not only men, but also women can sing in the choirs at the church.

14. Johann Sebastian Bach studied at vocal school Saint Michael. This happened when the famous composer was 15 years old.

15. Bach gained fame, bringing him a good income.

16. This composer never took money for his private lessons.

17. In January 1703, Johann Sebastian Bach received the position of court musician from Johann Ernst.

18. Facts from the life of Johann Sebastian Bach claim that in the last years of his life he lost his sight, and numerous operations did not give a positive result.

19. Georg Friedrich Handel became a contemporary of Bach, but these great composers never met.

20. Johann Sebastian Bach lived in 8 cities throughout his life.

21. Bach's father died suddenly when the great musician was 9 years old.

22. In the town of Weimar, Bach received a position as court organist.

23. Quite often, Bach could break loose and yell at his colleagues.

24. Wilhelm Friedemann and Carl Philipp Emmanuel were born to Bach in the city of Weimar.

25. Johann Sebastian Bach appreciated the possibility of free creativity. This is reminiscent of facts from the life of Bach.

26. Bach spent 1 month in prison for constantly asking for his resignation.

26. Bach's wife became the first chorus girl in the church.

27. Bach was very fond of falling asleep to music.

28. Johann Sebastian Bach considered himself one of the most religious people.

29. Bach played not only the organ, but also the harpsichord.

30. Bach's creativity is striking in its scope.

31. Bach composed music not only for individual instruments, but also for ensembles.

32. In 1720, Bach's wife died suddenly, but a year later he married again.

33. With his second wife, Bach had 13 children.

34. In 1850, the Bach Society was founded. This is evidenced by interesting facts about Bach.

35. In Leipzig there is a monument to this great musician.

36. In 1723, Johann Sebastian Bach became a teacher at the singing school at the Church of St. Thomas.

37. In 1729 famous composer became the head of the "Musician's College" circle.

38. In 1707, Bach married his own cousin, Maria Barbara Bach.

39. Johann Sebastian Bach decided to be buried in the Johannis cemetery.

40. One day, young Bach went from Lüneburg to Hamburg to listen to the then-famous composer and organist I.A. Reinken.

41. At the end of July 1949, the remains of Bach were transferred to the choirs of the Church of St. Thomas.

42. Johann Sebastian Bach spent quite a lot of time on the musical education of his own children.

43. The musician found gold ducats in herring heads.

44. Bach entered the top 10 greatest composers of all time.

45. In total, Bach had 17 children: from the first wife - 4 children, and from the second - 13.

46. ​​Bach's creativity is highest point era of polyphony in Western European music.

47. Bach's first composing experiences took place at the age of 15.

48. Bach lived for 65 years.

49. Bach died in Leipzig.

50. Johann Sebastian Bach never boasted of his successes and achievements.

51. Nobody bothered to put a tombstone on Bach's grave.

52. Johann Sebastian Bach is one of the greatest representatives world culture.

53. Until now, there is no exact evidence that Bach Johann lies in the grave. Interesting facts about this person confirm that his remains were transferred many times from place to place.

54. Only 200 years after Bach's death was a complete catalog of his works published.

55. Bach belonged to a musical family.

56. Bach is considered the representative of the 5th generation of musicians.

57. Having heard Marchand's composition only once, Johann Sebastian Bach performed it without a single mistake.

58. He wrote 8 choral concertos.

59. Bach was the first to feel the versatility of playing the clavier.

60. Bach left a legacy after his death, which consisted of a significant amount of money, 52 church books and many musical instruments.

61. Only in Germany there are 12 monuments to the composer.

62. During execution famous works Bach in the churches behind the organ was usually either Johann himself or one of his sons.

63. Several sons of the musician also became quite famous composers.

64. In order to protect his own independence, Johann Sebastian Bach tried with all his might to get the position of court musician.

65. The surname Bach literally translates from German as "stream".

66. One person ordered Bach to write such a work so that after listening to it, one could fall asleep in a sound and healthy sleep.

67. At the beginning of the 14s, Bach creates the second volume of The Well-Tempered Clavier.

69. In the last years of his life, Johann Sebastian Bach's interest in musical activity, so he refuses various concerts and meetings.

70. Bach's pedagogical activity during his lifetime did not receive due appreciation.

Johann Sebastian Bach - German composer and musician of the Baroque era, who collected and combined in his work the traditions and the most significant achievements of the European musical art, as well as enriching all this with a virtuoso use of counterpoint and a subtle sense of perfect harmony. Bach is greatest classic, who left a huge legacy that has become the golden fund of world culture. This is a universal musician, in his work he covered almost all famous genres. Creating immortal masterpieces, he turned each measure of his compositions into small works, then combining them into priceless creations of exceptional beauty and expressiveness, perfect in form, which vividly displayed the diverse spiritual world person.

Read a brief biography of Johann Sebastian Bach and many interesting facts about the composer on our page.

Brief biography of Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach was born in the German town of Eisenach in the fifth generation of a family of musicians on March 21, 1685. It should be noted that musical dynasties were quite common at that time in Germany, and talented parents sought to develop appropriate talents in their children. The boy's father, Johann Ambrosius, was an organist in the church of Eisenach and a court accompanist. Obviously, it was he who gave the first lessons in playing the violin and harpsichord little son.

From the biography of Bach, we learn that at the age of 10 the boy lost his parents, but was not left without a roof over his head, because he was the eighth and youngest child in the family. Ohrdruf's respected organist Johann Christoph Bach, Johann Sebastian's older brother, took care of the little orphan. Among his other students, Johann Christoph taught his brother to play the clavier, but the manuscripts contemporary composers a strict teacher safely hid under lock and key, so as not to spoil the taste of young performers. However, the castle did not prevent little Bach from getting acquainted with forbidden works.

Lüneburg

At the age of 15, Bach entered the prestigious Lüneburg school of church choristers, which was located at the church of St. Michael, and at the same time, thanks to his beautiful voice, young Bach was able to earn some money in the church choir. In addition, in Lüneburg, the young man met Georg Böhm, a famous organist, communication with whom had an impact on early work composer. He also repeatedly traveled to Hamburg to listen to the play of the largest representative of the German organ school, A. Reinken. The first works by Bach for clavier and organ belong to the same period. After successfully completing school, Johann Sebastian receives the right to enter the university, but due to a lack Money he was unable to continue his education.

Weimar and Arnstadt

My labor activity Johann began in Weimar, where he was accepted into the court chapel of Duke Johann Ernst of Saxony as a violinist. However, this did not last long, as such work did not satisfy creative impulses. young musician. Bach in 1703, without hesitation, agrees to move to the city of Arnstadt, where he was in the church of St. Boniface was initially offered the post of superintendent of the organ, and later the post of organist. Good pay, only three days a week, nice upgraded tool set to latest system, all this created conditions for the expansion creative possibilities musician not only as a performer, but also as a composer.

During this period he creates a large number of organ works, as well as capriccios, cantatas and suites. Here Johann becomes a true organ expert and a brilliant virtuoso, whose playing aroused unbridled delight among the listeners. It is in Arnstadt that his gift for improvisation is revealed, which the church leadership did not like very much. Bach always strived for perfection and did not miss the opportunity to get acquainted with famous musicians, for example, with the organist Dietrich Buxtehude, who served in the city of Lübeck. After receiving a four-week vacation, Bach went to listen to the great musician, whose playing impressed Johann so much that, forgetting about his duties, he stayed in Lübeck for four months. Upon returning to Arndstadt, the indignant leadership gave Bach a humiliating trial, after which he had to leave the city and look for a new job.

Mühlhausen

The next city on life path Bach was Mühlhausen. Here in 1706 he won a competition for the position of organist in the church of St. Vlasia. He was accepted with a good salary, but also with a certain condition: musical accompaniment chorales should be strict, without any kind of "decorations". The city authorities later treated the new organist with respect: they approved the plan for the reconstruction of the church organ, and also paid a good reward for the festive cantata “The Lord is my Tsar” composed by Bach, which was dedicated to the inauguration ceremony of the new consul. Staying in Mühlhausen in Bach's life was marked by a happy event: he married his beloved cousin Maria Barbara, who later gave him seven children.

Weimar

In 1708, Duke Ernst of Saxe-Weimar heard the magnificent game of the Mühlhausen organist. Impressed by what he heard, the noble nobleman immediately offered Bach the positions of court musician and city organist with a salary much higher than before. Johann Sebastian began the Weimar period, which is characterized as one of the most fruitful in creative life composer. At this time, he created a large number of compositions for clavier and organ, including a collection of choral preludes, Passacaglia in c-moll, the famous " Toccata and Fugue in d-moll ”, “Fantasy and Fugue C-dur” and many others greatest works. It should also be noted that the composition of more than two dozen spiritual cantatas also belongs to this period. Such efficiency in composer's work Bach was associated with his appointment in 1714 as vice-kapellmeister, whose duties included regular monthly updating of church music.

At the same time, Johann Sebastian's contemporaries were more admired by his performing arts, and he constantly heard remarks of admiration for his game. The fame of Bach as a virtuoso musician quickly spread not only in Weimar, but also beyond. Once the Dresden royal Kapellmeister invited him to compete with the famous French musician L. Marchand. However, the musical competition did not work out, since the Frenchman, having heard Bach play at a preliminary audition, secretly, without warning, left Dresden. In 1717, the Weimar period in Bach's life came to an end. Johann Sebastian dreamed of getting the place of bandmaster, but when this place became vacant, the duke offered him to another, very young and inexperienced musician. Bach, considering this an insult, asked for his immediate resignation, and for this he was arrested for four weeks.

Köthen

According to Bach's biography, in 1717 he left Weimar to get a job in Köthen as a court bandmaster to Prince Anhalt of Köthen. In Köthen, Bach had to write secular music, because, as a result of the reforms, no music was performed in the church, except for the singing of psalms. Here Bach occupied an exceptional position: as a court conductor he was well paid, the prince treated him like a friend, and the composer repaid this excellent writings. In Köthen, the musician had many students, and for their education he compiled “ Well-Tempered Clavier". These are 48 preludes and fugues that made Bach famous as a master of clavier music. When the prince married, the young princess showed dislike for both Bach and his music. Johann Sebastian had to look for another job.

Leipzig

In Leipzig, where Bach moved in 1723, he reached the pinnacle of his career ladder: he was appointed cantor in the church of St. Thomas and musical director of all churches in the city. Bach was engaged in the education and preparation of church choir performers, the selection of music, the organization and holding of concerts in the main temples of the city. Heading the Music College since 1729, Bach began to arrange 8 two-hour concerts secular music a month in a Zimmerman's coffee shop, adapted for orchestral performances. Having received an appointment as court composer, Bach handed over the leadership of the College of Music to his former student Karl Gerlach in 1737. In recent years, Bach often reworked his early works. In 1749 he graduated from the High Mass in B minor, some parts of which were written by him 25 years ago. The composer died in 1750 while working on The Art of Fugue.

Interesting facts about Bach

• Bach was a recognized organ specialist. He was invited to check and tune instruments in various temples in Weimar, where he lived for quite some time. Each time impressing clients with the amazing improvisations he played to hear what the instrument in need of his work sounded like.
• Johann was bored during the service to perform monotonous chorales, and without restraining his creative impulse, he impromptu inserted into the established church music their small decorating variations, which caused great dissatisfaction with the authorities.
• Better known for his religious works, Bach also excelled in composing secular music, as evidenced by his Coffee Cantata. Bach presented this work full of humor as a small comic opera. Originally titled "Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht" ("Shut up, stop talking"), she describes an addiction lyrical hero to coffee, and, not coincidentally, this cantata was first performed in the Leipzig coffee house.
• At the age of 18, Bach really wanted to get a place as an organist in Lübeck, which at that time belonged to the famous Dietrich Buxtehude. Another contender for this position was G. Handel. The main condition for taking this position was marriage to one of Buxtehude's daughters, but neither Bach nor Handel dared to sacrifice themselves like that.
• Johann Sebastian Bach really liked to dress up as a poor teacher and in this form visit small churches, where he asked the local organist to play the organ a little. Some parishioners, hearing an unusually beautiful performance for them, frightenedly left the service, thinking that they had in the temple in the form strange person the devil himself appeared.

• The Russian envoy in Saxony, Hermann von Keyserling, asked Bach to write a piece to which he could quickly fall into a deep sleep. This is how the Goldberg Variations appeared, for which the composer received a golden cube filled with a hundred louis. These variations are still one of the best "sleeping pills" to this day.
• Johann Sebastian was known to his contemporaries not only as an outstanding composer and virtuoso performer, but also as a man with a very difficult character, intolerant of the mistakes of others. There is a case when a bassoonist, publicly insulted by Bach for an imperfect performance, attacked Johann. A real duel took place, as both were armed with daggers.
• Bach, who was fond of numerology, liked to weave the numbers 14 and 41 into his musical works, because these numbers corresponded to the first letters of the composer's name. By the way, Bach also liked to play with his surname in his compositions: the musical decoding of the word “Bach” forms a drawing of a cross. It is this symbol that is the most important for Bach, who considers non-random similar coincidences.

• Thanks to Johann Sebastian Bach, not only men sing in church choirs today. The first woman who sang in the temple was the wife of the composer Anna Magdalena, who has a beautiful voice.
• In the middle of the 19th century, German musicologists founded the first Bach Society, whose main task was to publish the composer's works. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the society dissolved itself and the complete works of Bach were published only in the second half of the twentieth century at the initiative of the Bach Institute, established in 1950. In the world today there are a total of two hundred and twenty-two Bach societies, Bach orchestras and Bach choirs.
• Researchers of Bach's work suggest that the great maestro composed 11,200 works, although the legacy known to posterity includes only 1,200 compositions.
• To date, there are more than fifty-three thousand books and various publications about Bach on different languages, published about seven thousand complete biographies composer.
• In 1950, W. Schmider compiled a numbered catalog of Bach's works (BWV– Bach Werke Verzeichnis). This catalog has been updated several times as the data on the authorship of certain works has been clarified, and, in contrast to the traditional chronological principles for classifying works by other famous composers, this catalog is built on the thematic principle. Works with close numbers belong to the same genre, and were not written at all in the same years.
• Bach's works: "Brandenburg Concerto No. 2", "Gavotte in the form of a rondo" and "HTK" were recorded on the Golden Record and launched from Earth in 1977, attached to the Voyager spacecraft.

• Everyone knows that Beethoven suffered from hearing loss, but few people know that Bach went blind in his later years. Actually, unsuccessful operation in front of our eyes, performed by the charlatan surgeon John Taylor, and caused the death of the composer in 1750.
• Johann Sebastian Bach was buried near the Church of St. Thomas. After some time, a road was laid through the territory of the cemetery and the grave was lost. At the end of the 19th century, during the reconstruction of the church, the remains of the composer were found and reburied. After World War II, in 1949, Bach's relics were transferred to the church building. However, due to the fact that the grave changed its place several times, skeptics doubt that the ashes of Johann Sebastian are in the burial.
• To date, 150 postage stamps dedicated to Johann Sebastian Bach, 90 of them were published in Germany.
• To Johann Sebastian Bach - the great musical genius, are treated with great reverence all over the world, monuments to him are erected in many countries, only in Germany there are 12 monuments. One of them is located in Dornheim near Arnstadt and is dedicated to the wedding of Johann Sebastian and Maria Barbara.

Family of Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian belonged to the largest German musical dynasty, whose pedigree is usually counted from Veit Bach, a simple baker, but very fond of music and perfectly performing folk melodies on his favorite instrument - the zither. This passion from the founder of the family was passed on to his descendants, many of them became professional musicians: composers, cantors, bandmasters, as well as a variety of instrumentalists. They settled not only in Germany, some even went abroad. Within two hundred years, there were so many Bach musicians that any person whose occupation was connected with music began to be named after them. by the most famous ancestors Johann Sebastian whose works have come down to us were: Johannes, Heinrich, Johann Christoph, Johann Bernhard, Johann Michael and Johann Nikolaus. Johann Sebastian's father, Johann Ambrosius Bach, was also a musician and served as organist in Eisenach, the city where Bach was born.

Johann Sebastian himself was the father big family He had twenty children by two wives. He first married his beloved cousin Maria Barbara, daughter of Johann Michael Bach, in 1707. Maria bore Johann Sebastian seven children, three of whom died in infancy. Maria herself also lived not long life, she died at the age of 36, leaving Bach four young children. Bach was very upset by the loss of his wife, but a year later he again fell in love with the young girl Anna Magdalena Wilken, whom he met at the court of the Duke of Anhalt-Keten and proposed to her. Despite the big difference in age, the girl agreed and it is obvious that this marriage was very successful, since Anna Magdalena gave Bach thirteen children. The girl did an excellent job with the housework, cared for the children, sincerely rejoiced at the success of her husband and provided great assistance in the work, rewriting his scores. The family for Bach was a great joy, he devoted a lot of time to raising children, making music with them and composing special exercises. In the evenings, the family very often arranged impromptu concerts, which brought joy to everyone. Bach's children had excellent natural gifts, but four of them had exceptional musical talent - these are Johann Christoph Friedrich, Carl Philipp Emanuel, Wilhelm Friedemann and Johann Christian. They also became composers and left their mark on the history of music, but none of them could surpass their father either in writing or in the art of performing.

Works of Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach was one of the most prolific composers, his legacy in the treasury of the world musical culture has about 1200 immortal masterpieces. There was only one inspirer in Bach's work - this is the Creator. Johann Sebastian dedicated almost all his works to him and at the end of the scores he always signed letters that were an abbreviation of the words: “In the name of Jesus”, “Jesus help”, “Glory to God alone”. To create for God was the main goal in the life of the composer, and therefore his musical works absorbed all the wisdom of the "Holy Scripture". Bach was very faithful to his religious outlook and never betrayed it. According to the composer, even the smallest instrumental piece should indicate the wisdom of the Creator.

Johann Sebastian Bach wrote his works in virtually all, except opera, known at that time musical genres. The compiled catalog of his compositions includes: 247 works for organ, 526 vocal works, 271 works for harpsichord, 19 solo works for various instruments, 31 concertos and suites for orchestra, 24 duets for harpsichord with any other instrument, 7 canons and other works.

Musicians around the world perform Bach's music and begin to get acquainted with many of his works from childhood. For example, every little pianist studying in music school, necessarily has in its repertoire pieces from « Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach » . Then little preludes and fugues are studied, followed by inventions, and finally « Well-Tempered Clavier » but this is high school.

To famous works Johann Sebastian also include " Matthew Passion”, “Mass in B Minor”, ​​“Christmas Oratorio”, “John Passion” and, undoubtedly, “ Toccata and Fugue in D Minor". And the cantata "The Lord is my King" and at the present time sounds on holiday services in temples in different corners peace.

Despite the vicissitudes, Johann Sebastian Bach wrote great amount amazing essays. The composer's work continued famous sons, but none of them could surpass his father either in writing or in performing music. The name of the author of passionate and pure, incredibly talented and unforgettable works stands at the top of the world of music, and his recognition as a great composer continues to this day.

Video: watch a film about Johann Sebastian Bach