Date/Place of Birth:

21 March, 1685 in Eisenach, Germany

Personality:

A severe, modest composer with strong, 'self-defensive' appearance. As a young lad, Bach did well in studies and learned some instruments: clavier, organ and violin. Since his father's death when he was only 10, his fine, penetrating voice enabled him to join a choir at church and even earn good money by singing at weddings and funerals. Bach was very hardworking and ardent in absorbing knowledge. He took every opportunity to extend his musical experience by travelling on foot(!) to several places: the 200-mile-away Lüneberg from Ohrdruf: to extend his academic studies and get exposed to musical life at church; the 30-mile-away Hamburg from Lüneberg: to hear an accomplished organist, J.A. Reincken's playing at organ; the city of Celle from Hamburg: to to acquaint with French organ, keyboard and orchestral music, particularly those of Francois Couperin. Bach always fulfilled his responsibilities as organist/Court musician very well, however, he was very determined in doing whatever he wished. He dared to stand up to protest his rights if anyone complained about his 'complex' music. His tenacity and stubbornness made him a tough man to get along with. Bach was an excellent conductor. He was a dominating figure of the orchestra where he could detect the slightest error played by the orchestra and bring everyone together playing musically in steady rhythm. Besides that, he was a patient and great teacher. He gave rigirous exercises to his students in practising clavier and organ and encouraged them to compose with their mind freely without any instrument. Hence, it is not surprising that most of his students were successful musicians, including his sons like C.P.E Bach and J.C. Bach.

Piano-Playing Style:

Bach was unquestionably a well-rounded musician. His strong zealousness to master the organ and clavier by travelling around to hear various accomplished players enabled him to become a keyboard virtuoso. There was a contemporary description of an organ recital that Bach gave at Cassel for the Crown Prince as following: "His feet flew over the pedal board as if winged, and powerful notes roared like thunder through the church. Frederick, the Crown Prince, was so amazed and admired by Bach's masterful playing that he took a precious ring set from his finger and awarded it to Bach immediately after the recital." According to the contemporary again, Bach was said to have very sharp hearing - he was able to play his music at clavier very distinctly, particularly those extremely difficult fugues, at lively tempos. He used to improvise at keyboard through decorative embellishment, which happened so naturally. In addition, the tone produced was never sounded 'coarse' but beautifully connected and round in a singing style. And yet, Bach played organ so well that there were very few musicians capable to playing both instruments during his time. This was simply because he understood the mechanism of organ very well as the result of his keen interest in learning. Needless to say, Bach's entire command over clavier and organ was undoubtedly flawless.

Music:

Bach's music is phenomenal - it is so unique that no other composer was able to imitate his musical style. The variety of his music, in term of melodies, harmonies, textures and rhythms, is endless. Bach's music is generally contrapuntal, in other words, in polyphonic texture: combination of two or more melodic lines sustained concurrently in different parts. Since Bach treated each melodic line as an indepedent unit, his music was contempted as complex and incomprehensible during his time. Remember, Bach had sharp hearing that he could hear every note so clearly with infallible distinction of simultaneous melodies, as if two or more persons communicating with each other! It is certainly one of the hallmarks in his playing. Besides that, Bach's music is rich of musical expressions. He did not apply 'rubato', dynamic control(colour) or elastic change of tempos in conveying expressions, but his ingenious application of amazing harmonies, suspensions, rhythms, intervals and ornaments. Because of that, each individual work has a single character: solemn, joyful, religious, brilliant, dramatic etc. Only those ardent music connoisseurs and performers derive more pleasure and enjoyment from his music; while for amateurs, his music may sound monotonous. {including me, haha! Perhaps I haven't listened to his music sufficiently, therefore, I'm determined, like Bach? :-), to do long research on Bach, in order to understand him better!} However, one thing for sure, Bach never composed 'bad' music!

Composing Habit:

Bach was such a diligent composer that he never narrowly restricted himself to German music. In his early years, Bach worked extensively at observations of music by other Italien and French composers and used to transcribed their music into keyboard works. Such practice extended his musical knowledge and composing skill. His early works were therefore influenced by those composers where he occasionally imitated and reused the materials from their music in an intelligent way. During Barouqe period, it was common that most composers composed with an instrument - they played music before they wrote it down. However, Bach composed entirely from his mind, away from any instrument. Therefore, it is not surprising that he could compose effortlessly over 200 cantatas, numerous choral works etc. Bach was an experimentalist in compositions. Nothing could stop his compulsive drive from inventing new kind of pure music, daring harmonies and original counterpoints. Undoubtedly, Bach's compositions bring an inexhaustible influence to most composers after him.

Bach's Quote:

"I've not been allowed to do my work without opposition, and at present there is not the least appearance that things will improve... moreover, if I may say respectfully, modest as if my way of life, I've not enough to live on; with payment of rent and the purchase of essential goods" J.S. Bach, whose music was often complained to be too difficult "I was obliged to be industrious; whoever is equally industrious will succeed equally well," Being humble, J.S. Bach never stressed on his natural talents "If you cannot please all by your art or your work, Satisfy the few: to please many is bad" J.S. Bach's opinion on his art of music "There is nothing to it. You only have to hit the right note at the right time, and the instrument plays itself" J.S. Bach

Bach's Death:

Bach's health began to deteriorate since he had sufferred a stroke in mid-1749. His diligence in studying music and composing days and nights had weakened his sight. By 1749, Bach was almost blind. On the 10th day before his death, his sight was unexpectedly restored. He sufferred another stroke and followed by a high fever. This remarkable musical titan finally passed away on 28 July, 1750.