Premium Essay

Johann Sebastian Bach Church Cantata

Submitted By
Words 679
Pages 3
Johann Sebastian Bach composed numerous amounts of church cantatas in his lifetime and is known for several of them. His German background influenced many of his works as he lived in different cities throughout Germany in his lifetime. Although, he composed so many cantatas and other types of work, only fewer than a dozen were published in his lifetime as his music was regarded as old-fashioned. Many have noticed that “the dramatic and emotional force of his music, as evidenced in the Passions, was remarkable in its day and has spoken to succeeding generations with increasing power…. Bach’s music is supreme—to quote Wagner: ‘the most stupendous miracle in all music’.” Bach was born in Eisenach, Thuringia, Germany on March 31, 1685. Coming from a family of musicians definitely aided him to become who he was. He studied religion, Latin, and other subjects in school starting at the young age of seven. Most of his pieces will reflect his strong North German Protestant religion, which was very …show more content…
Many of these works became famous and popular. Almost a decade later, in 1717, Bach was appointed Kapellmeister at court of Anhalt‐Cöthen where he became interested strictly in instrumental compositions. Bach became unhappy with the position, and at first was forced to stay but the duke. As soon as he was able, Bach applied for a cantorship at St. Thomas's, Leipzig in early December of 1722. Unfortunately, he was not selected at first, but in this time he focused on composing instrumental music with different instruments and style. He then was appointed for the cantorship in May of 1723, where he composed more than 250 of his church cantatas pieces. Even though church cantatas were outdated, he managed to make his church cantatas compositions outlive others. In much of his music, he interpreted many parts or chapters of the Bible into his music by using choruses, arias and

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Johann Sebastian Bach

...Kellie Holley MUS 101 / 01402 February 10, 2013 Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach was born March 21, 1685 in Eisenach, Thuringia, Germany. He was the youngest child of Johann Ambrosius Bach and Elisabeth Lämmerhirt. Johann Ambrosius Bach was a string player, employed by the town council and the ducal court of Eisenach. After his parents’ death, he was looked after by his older brother, Johann Christoph, who had been a pupil of Johann Pachelbel. It was from his brother that he received his first formal organ lessons. From 1703 to 1707, Bach was appointed as organist at the Neue Kirche (New Church) in Arnstadt. During this time he composed such works as Capriccio sopra la lontananza del suo fratello dilettissimo (1704; Capriccio on the Departure of His Most Beloved Brother), the chorale prelude on Wie schön leuchtet (c. 1705; How Brightly Shines), and the fragmentary early version of the organ Prelude and Fugue in G Minor (before 1707). In 1707 Bach obtained a post at the Blasiuskirche in Mühlhausen in Thuringia. He moved there soon after and married his cousin Maria Barbara Bach on October 17, 1707. At Mühlhausen he produced several church cantatas, all cast in a conservative mold, based on biblical and chorale texts. The famous organ Toccata and Fugue in D Minor and the Prelude and Fugue in D Major may also have been composed during this time, as well as the organ Passacaglia in C Minor. Cantata No. 71, Gott ist mein König (God Is My King), printed around...

Words: 1203 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Bach a Great Composer

...music. To name one single composer as being the greatest, would be like determining which grain of sand on the beach is the most important. They are all equally important to making the beach look as beautiful as it is. The composer that drew my attention was Johann Sebastian Bach. He was undoubtedly one of the greatest composers of his time. Throughout his lifetime, Bach was an outstanding organ player. Born in 1685 to musical parents, Bach was the youngest of eight children. His family was a musical family, so the young Bach was set off for a career in music from a young age. He learned to play the organ and harpsichord at an early age. His parents died when Bach was only ten years old. Fortunately enough for young Johann, he had a brother that took him in. His older brother, Johann Christoph, was able to further Bach’s musical training. While living in Luneburg, Bach obtained a position in the choir at St. Michael’s School. Bach remained in Germany his entire life, never leaving once. Throughout German, however, Bach held numerous positions during his career at churches, and in the Country’s courts. St. Boniface Church hired Bach in 1703 as the church organist. During this time, Bach took a leave of...

Words: 1427 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Biography of Bach

...Eisenach, Thuringia, Germany, Johann Sebastian Bach had a prestigious musical lineage and took on various organist positions during the early 18th century, creating famous compositions like "Toccata and Fugue in D minor." Some of his best-known compositions are the "Mass in B Minor," the "Brandenburg Concertos" and "The Well-Tempered Clavier." Bach died in Leipzig, Germany, on July 28, 1750. Today, he is considered one of the greatest Western composers of all time. Childhood Born in Eisenach, Thuringia, Germany, on March 31, 1685 (N.S.) / March 21, 1685 (O.S.), Johann Sebastian Bach came from a family of musicians, stretching back several generations. His father, Johann Ambrosius, worked as the town musician in Eisenach, and it is believed that he taught young Johann to play the violin. At the age of 7, Bach went to school where he received religious instruction and studied Latin and other subjects. His Lutheran faith would influence his later musical works. By the time he turned 10, Bach found himself an orphan after the death of both of his parents. His older brother Johann Christoph, a church organist in Ohrdruf, took him in. Johann Christoph provided some further musical instruction for his younger brother and enrolled him in a local school. Bach stayed with his brother's family until he was 15. Bach had a beautiful soprano singing voice, which helped him land a place at a school in Lüneburg. Sometime after his arrival, his voice changed and Bach switched to playing the...

Words: 1462 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

J.S Bach

...Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Eisenach, Saxe-Eisenach, on 21 March 1685 O.S. (31 March 1685 N.S.). He was the son of Johann Ambrosius Bach, the director of the town musicians, and Maria Elisabeth Lämmerhirt.[10] He was the eighth child of Johann Ambrosius, (the eldest son in the family was 14 at the time of Bach's birth)[11] who probably taught him violin and the basics of music theory.[12] His uncles were all professional musicians, whose posts included church organists, court chamber musicians, and composers. One uncle, Johann Christoph Bach(1645–93), introduced him to the organ, and an older second cousin, Johann Ludwig Bach (1677–1731), was a well-known composer and violinist. Bach drafted a genealogy around 1735, titled "Origin of the musical Bach family".[13] Bach's mother died in 1694, and his father died eight months later.[5] Bach, aged 10, moved in with his oldest brother, Johann Christoph Bach(1671–1721), the organist at St. Michael's Church in Ohrdruf, Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.[14] There he studied, performed, and copied music, including his own brother's, despite being forbidden to do so because scores were so valuable and private and blank ledger paper of that type was costly.[15][16] He received valuable teaching from his brother, who instructed him on the clavichord. J.C. Bach exposed him to the works of great composers of the day, including South German composers such as Johann Pachelbel (under whom Johann Christoph had studied)[2] and Johann Jakob Froberger;...

Words: 4104 - Pages: 17

Free Essay

Araling Panlipunan

...Aljohn Louise S. dela Roca Ma’am Rosie R. Goot Grade 9 June 30, 2016 Araling Panlipunan Activity No. 1 “Paglutas ng Suliranin” SULIRANIN: Iba’t-ibang krimen na lumalaganap sa Pilipinas gaya ng panghoholdup, kidnap, panggagahasa, pagpatay, pagnanakaw at iba pa. Ngunit sa ngayon, mas pagtutuunan muna natin ng pansin ang krimeng ukol sa pagpatay. HYPOTHESIS: Ang pagpatay ng lahi o henosidyo (mula sa Kastilang genocidio at Ingles na genocide) ay ang planado at sistematikong pagkitil, sa kabuuhan o parte man lang, ng isang pangkat etniya, lahi, relihiyon, o bansa. Nangangahulugan din itong anihilasyon ng isang grupo ng tao, o sistematiko at sinadyang pagpapapatay, paglipol o pagpuksa sa isang lipi, grupong pampolitika o kultura. Mga Impormasyon: Unang balita: Suspek sa pagpatay sa 2 dalagita sa Caloocan, umamin sa krimen. Lasing umano sa alak at naka-marijuana ang suspek nang patayin nito sa saksak ang dalawang menor de edad na magpinsang babae sa Caloocan City noong Linggo. Iniharap sa media nitong Sabado ni Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, hepe ng National Capitol Regional Police Office (NCRPO), ang suspek na si Gilbert Fulloso, na nadakip sa Albay nitong Biyernes. Inamin sa harap ng media ni Fulloso na siya ang pumatay kina Diana Rose Liza, 15-anyos, at Joanna Marie Coronado, 10-anyos, ayon sa ulat ni John Consulta sa GMA News TV's Balitanghali nitong Sabado. Matatandaan...

Words: 1150 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Johann Sebastian Bach Research Paper

...Johann Sebastian Bach is arguably considered to be the greatest composer in the history of western art music. However, he wasn’t great in his own time. Only a few of his works were published during his lifetime. Most thought he was old fashioned. He did not invent any new genres, but he did perfect current styles. He didn’t become super-famous until his works were revived in the early 1800s. He was a master of counterpoint, improvisation, and in every genre, except for opera. He helped make the organ a solo instrument, and not just part of the basso continuo group. “He is considered to be the best composer of the Baroque era.” Bach was born on March 21, 1685 in Eisenach, Germany. He was born into a family with many musicians. Bach’s...

Words: 323 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Baroque Era

...The cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach are among his most significant and celebrated compositions. "Cantata", literally, "a piece to be sung", was used in the 17th century to mean a variety of vocal compositions, the common feature being the inclusion of at least one piece for solo voice. Bach fused two types of cantatas -- the solo cantata with recitatives and arias and the chorale cantata with two or more movements based on chorale text -- to develop a new prototype for the church cantata. Bach's tremendous musical achievement occupied much of his time during his years at Leipzig where he held his final position as municipal Kapellmeister. In addition to the church cantatas, he composed sacred cantatas for functions like weddings. Typically, his cantatas open with a short orchestral prelude which is followed by an extended chorus, then solo singing interlaced with the chorales, and finally closing with a hymn. Bach composed over 300 cantatas. These intimate works offer a very personal view of his spirituality, of his vision of life and death, and of his lifelong devotion to his Creator. Later vocal music owes much to these cantatas, from the exquisite, delicate miniatures of Romantic period song-cycles to the grandiose choral exaltation of the closing movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. In the 17th and 18th centuries composer wrote the music that their employers demanded of them. Unlike his close contemporary Handel, Bach never worked for an employer who was interested...

Words: 650 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Baroque Era

...Research Paper Done by: Alain Camous Professor Payne March 7, 2012 ENC 1102 Outline Baroque era was where the most important turn in music took place with its unique arts and its controversial styles to music in its time. I. Definition of Baroque Era A. Can mean different things 1. Bizarre 2. Flamboyant 3. Elaborately Ornamented. 4. Historians meaning a. Used to indicate the particular style in all different forms of art. B. Known as “the age of absolutism” 1. Royals abuse power 2. Throws Bach into jail for asking to leave the job C. Shaping of the world 1. Newton 2. Galileo II. Baroque era music and phases A. Famous composers of the time 1. Johann Sebastian Bach 2. George Frideric Handel 3. Monteverdi 4. Purcell 5. Corelli 6. Vivaldi B. Phases in the Baroque era 1. Early 2. Middle 3. Late III. Early Phase A. Homophonic over Polyphonic 1. Two different melodies rather than many IV. Middle Phase A. Spread from Italy to every country in Europe 1. Influenced churches B. Scales gave a new outlook to music in the world V. Late Phase A. Music composed still played today in band rooms all over the world B. Instrumental music more important than vocal music VI. Characteristics of Baroque A. Seven different categories 1. Unity of Mood a. One basic mood b. Emotional states represented 2. Rhythm a. Beat has...

Words: 2752 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Johann Sebastian Bach Research Paper

...Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer and organist born on March 21, 1685, to a very gifted family. Bach was interested in music from childhood, he took music lessons from his Father and later brother Johann Christoph. Bach's education was largely a matter of being self-taught through independent studies. Bach married twice in his life, the first time was to his cousin Maria Barbara Bach who blessed him with 7 children although some of them passed away young. Maria passed away and Bach remarried in 1721 to Anna Magdelena Wulken and she blessed him with 13 children and some of these children passed away as well. Bach is known for being an organist but in 1703 he started off playing the violin in the private orchestra of the Prince at...

Words: 693 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

4-Voice Baroque Fugue Analysis

...dissonant chord 5 notes above the tonic. The first tonic will introduce the subject with voice one. Voices 2-3 are doing nothing. Next the dominant will have a counter subject followed by an answer. Voice 1 will provide the counter subject. Voice 2 will provide the answer. The third part is tonic with free material followed by counter subject and another subject. Voice 1 free material, voice 2 counter subject, voice 3 subject. Last is dominant with free material twice, then counter subject, with answer being the last. What brings the sound back to the tonic is the dissonant sound. The better job of establishing a home base, using proper voice leading, gives the composer more control of the tension. A good example of a 4 part fugue would be Bach, "Little" Fugue (G minor, BWV 578). 2. Discuss Classical Sonata form in detail and give at least one musical example. 15 pts. Sonata form is ternary meaning it has 3 parts. The first part is exposition, the middle is the development, last it the recapitulation. In the exposition Theme 1 is tonic while theme 2 would be dominant. These will be repeated. So, them 1 to theme 2 then repeated. Sonata form is very structured. There has to be contrast between themes. If theme 1 is loud and short then theme 2 would be soft and lyrical. The development is your chance to do whatever you want. They would rehash theme 1 and theme 2, but it gets all mixed up. It’s a rehashing and exploration of the exposition. The last chord has to be dominant, because...

Words: 1598 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Muwic.Pdf

...Tutorial 10 Anita Carolina (1001129588) Both Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel were Baroque composers that were born in Germany at the same year of 1685. Bach was born in Eisenach and came with musical family background over 6 generations which was based on the region of Thuringia in the Central Germany. In contrast, Handel was born in Halle and from a non-musical family. Both of them had different educational progress throughout their lives. Bach, in his early years, attended Latin School, learned violin with his short-lived father, and later on, he would study music with his older brother, Johann Christoph Bach whom was an organist himself. And afterwards, Bach took 2 years to study French Repertoire and local orchestra style in Luneberg School; nonetheless, he never completed his study. In the other hand, Handel was supposedly asked by his father to study law, but out of his interest, he played music without the knowledge of his father and later on, his father would later allowed him studied music education in organ, harpsichord, counterpoint, German and Italian idioms with Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow as his organ playing impressed even the Duke. Other than keyboard instruments, he also learned how to play oboe and violin. In 1702, he entered the University of Halle and chosen as cathedral organist. In the entire life of Bach, he had 4 different positions in different German local cities. His first position was as a church organist at Arnstadt in 1703 while he was...

Words: 861 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Comparison of the Keyboard Suites of Bach and Handel

...21 November 2013 Keyboard Suites of Handel and Bach The period from 1600 to 1750 gave western music some of its most well-known and beloved works. During this time, referred to as the Baroque Period, these pieces were written by some of the most prolific composers of all time. These musicians came from across Europe. Frenchmen, Italians, Englishmen, Germans, and others all made great contributions and advancements toward the development of music as we know it. However two of these men were perhaps the most important of all - George Frideric Handel and Johann Sebastian Bach. While both of these men were born in Germany, the details of each of their employment in the musical profession includes vast differences in both the method by which they acquired their influences and the countries in which they held positions. The purpose of this essay is to use the details of each composer's life, prior to composition of the pieces in question, and musical examples from within the composition written from each man to differentiate and highlight specific writing styles and habits. Furthermore, two pieces will be from a genre that both Bach and Handel wrote in fairly extensively, the keyboard suite, will be used as these musical examples. Bach's English Suite No. 4 in F major (BWV 809) and Handel's Keyboard Suite No. 1 in A major (HWV 426) are the works that will be used. From Bach's Birth to His Time in Cothen Johann Sebastian Bach was born in 1685 to a family of musicians in Eisenach...

Words: 2945 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Mus125 Study Guide

...received it directly from God. * C., 800 Charlemagne mandated the standardization of chant repertoire in his kingdom. * Given the long tradition, including chant in new sacred music legitimized the new composition. 2. Why is Paris an important site for the notation of polyphonic music? * Paris was home to a preeminent university * University members were smart and innovative * Acoustical reverberation in gothic architecture necessitated the rhythmic organization of music. * Rhythmic notation was devised to help coordinate singers. 3. How did Notre organum say something new and old at the same time? * N.D organum used official sanctioned melodies as the basis for new compositions, thus paying respect to God, church, authority , and musical tradition.(OLD) * N.D organum added voices to preexisting chants. * N.D organum composers rhythmicized these added voices. Renaissance 4. How does the sound of Renaissance music differ medieval music? * Sacred Music: * Imitative polyphony is used * sacred music and secular music is sung in vernacular * Rhythms are more uniform 5. What is Mass ordinary and what makes it special? * MO is text that remains the same in every mass * It is the part of mass that does not change * Same chants, chorus, hymns, and reading, no matter date and occasion * Polyphonic masses were often written in response to special occasions 6. What were the social circumstances...

Words: 1738 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Composers

...Hildegard von Bingen Hildegard von Bingen was known for her many works in history. She is also known as Saint Hildegard. I am researching her as a composer but she was not just a composer, she was very multitalented. Hildegard von Bingen was a scientist, philosopher, and a theologian. She was a very smart woman that really wanted to experience many things to expand her mind. Hildegard von Bingen was a German woman born in 1098 in Bermersheim, Germany. As tradition in those parts of Germany when a family has their tenth child, that child will be given to God. So this meant that Hildegard was the tenth child and she will be brought up into the church. So Hildegard von Bingen manly experienced the working of the Christian lifestyle. Hildegard von Bingen was a woman whose musical work sparked minds of others. She was so remarkably different than any other female composer in the medieval era. She gained much experience while being part of the Divine office which she sang. She had many music forms that she used as a composer. Hildegard von Bingen used antiphons, responsories, sequences, and hymns. Hildegard von Bidgen was well known and will never be forgotten as a musical composer. She was laid to rest in 1179 but she still lives on in her musical work. Fierro, N. HILDEGARD OF BINGEN: SYMOHONY OF THE HARMONY OF HEAVEN. 1997. 05 Novmeber 2012 <http://www.hildegard.org/music/music.html>. "Hildegard of Bingen." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2012. Encyclopedia...

Words: 2573 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Baroque Period

...Baroque Period Baroque music describes a period or style of European classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1750. This era is said to begin in music after the Renaissance and was followed by the Classical music era. The word "baroque" came from the Portuguese word barroco, meaning "misshapen pearl", a strikingly fitting characterization of the architecture of this period; later, the name came to be applied also to its music. Baroque music forms a major portion of the classical music canon, being widely studied, performed, and listened to. It is associated with composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Jean-Baptiste Lully, George Frideric Handel, Arcangelo Corelli, Claudio Monteverdi, and Henry Purcell. The baroque period saw the development of functional tonality. During the period, composers and performers used more elaborate musical ornamentation; made changes in musical notation, and developed new instrumental playing techniques. Baroque music expanded the size, range, and complexity of instrumental performance, and also established opera as a musical genre. Many musical terms and concepts from this era are still in use today. History of the name Music described as Baroque is a broad range of styles from a wide geographic region, mostly in Europe, composed during a period of approximately 160 years. The systematic application of the term "baroque" to music of this period is a relatively recent development. It was in 1919 that...

Words: 5479 - Pages: 22