2. Table of Contents
Who was “Bach?”
Childhood
Family
Professional Life
A Devout Christian
Musical Compositions
Death
Contributions
3. Who was “Bach?”
Bach was a prominent German composer
and multi-instrumentalist in the Baroque
period
His works laid down the foundation of
the Baroque musical period and
ultimately brought it to its maturity
4. Childhood
Bach was born on March 31st, 1685 in Eisenach, Germany.
He was born into a family of musicians.
His father taught him to play the violin and harpsichord.
Bach’s parents died when he was 10 years old.
After his parents died, he moved in with his older brother,
Johann Christian.
Johann Christian taught Bach to copy, study, and perform
music.
Bach also studied singing at school.
5. Family
In 1707, Bach married his second cousin,
Maria Barbara, and had 7 children.
In 1721, after his wife passed, he married
Anna Magdalena and had 13 children.
6. Professional Life
Bach worked at various churches as a
composer, performer, and musical
director
His final and most important position
was as the Cantor of the Thomasschule
at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig,
Germany.
7. A Devout Christian
Bach was a German Lutheran.
Much of his music was influenced by his
Christian faith.
He wrote majority of his works primarily
for the church.
8. Musical Compositions
Bach wrote an estimated 280 sacred cantatas and 30
secular cantatas.
His orchestral works include the “Brandenburg
Concertos” and many concerto grossi.
Bach was known for his keyboard music such as his
fugues, two- and three-part inventions, and his
infamous book the Well-Tempered Clavier.
10. Death
Bach died on July 28th, 1750 and was buried in Leipzig,
Germany.
He suffered from a stroke and severe fever.
He was 65 years old.
11. Contributions
He is considered the “Father” of the baroque musical
era.
Although he did not introduce new forms of music, he
enriched the German style with his contrapuntal
technique.
His works are still being played, heard, and appreciated
by people all over the world.
