Instrumentalist, Composer. The father of Johann Sebastian Bach. Born in Erfurt, Germany, he studied music in Arnstadt and became his hometown's court violinist in 1667. The following year he married Maria Elisabeth Uimmerhirt; they had eight children, five of whom survived. In 1671 he was appointed court trumpeter and secular Kapellmeister at Eisenach, where his duties included providing music for civic festivities and assisting the church musicians. His versatility did not go unnoticed by local authorities. The town chronologer noted in 1672 that "[Bach] made music at Easter with organ, violins, voices, trumpets and kettledrums, something never before known in the history of Eisenach". His services were so highly valued that in 1684 he was forced to refuse the important post as Kapellmeister at Erfurt. Bach gave his youngest child, Johann Sebastian, his first musical instruction, probably in violin and sight reading, though he did not live to see him become one of the greatest composers of all time. He quickly remarried after Maria Bach's death in 1694, but fell ill soon after the wedding and died two days short of his 50th birthday. None of Bach's own compositions survive, but he did preserve an important collection of music manuscripts from the older Bachs. His twin brother, Johann Cristoph Bach (1645 - 1693), took little or no part in the family business.
Instrumentalist, Composer. The father of Johann Sebastian Bach. Born in Erfurt, Germany, he studied music in Arnstadt and became his hometown's court violinist in 1667. The following year he married Maria Elisabeth Uimmerhirt; they had eight children, five of whom survived. In 1671 he was appointed court trumpeter and secular Kapellmeister at Eisenach, where his duties included providing music for civic festivities and assisting the church musicians. His versatility did not go unnoticed by local authorities. The town chronologer noted in 1672 that "[Bach] made music at Easter with organ, violins, voices, trumpets and kettledrums, something never before known in the history of Eisenach". His services were so highly valued that in 1684 he was forced to refuse the important post as Kapellmeister at Erfurt. Bach gave his youngest child, Johann Sebastian, his first musical instruction, probably in violin and sight reading, though he did not live to see him become one of the greatest composers of all time. He quickly remarried after Maria Bach's death in 1694, but fell ill soon after the wedding and died two days short of his 50th birthday. None of Bach's own compositions survive, but he did preserve an important collection of music manuscripts from the older Bachs. His twin brother, Johann Cristoph Bach (1645 - 1693), took little or no part in the family business.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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