Denton Bach Society
 |
|
Johann Sebastian BachGerman composer Johann Sebastian Bach traveled throughout Europe during the 18th century, working as an organist and composer in service to both churches and royalty. Though Bach wrote a number of masterful works during his travels, he did not receive full recognition from his contemporaries for his compositional ideas. Instead he gained his reputation principally through his musicianship as an organist. Since the mid-19th century, however, Bach's works have been celebrated for their remarkable use of counterpoint, a technique in which two or more melodies are simultaneously combined. |
|
| Johann Sebastian Bach
was born in 1685 in Germany. The most famed member of a notable musical family, Bach was the foremost baroque composer. He is especially known for his religious music, including The Passion of St. John and The Passion of St. Matthew. Bach fathered 20 children, several of whom became accomplished musicians in their own rights. |
|
Bach's Passion of St. MatthewThe culmination of Johann Sebastian Bach's sacred works came with his oratorio Passion of St. Matthew, first performed in 1724 in Leipzig, Germany. The piece was written for double chorus, soloists, and orchestra. Although the chorus sometimes participated in the action, as in a Greek drama, Bach also used it to reflect upon an event or series of actions. This excerpt, from the passage Wahrlich, dieser ist Gottes Sohn gewesen (Truly this was the Son of God), is an example of this technique. Bach — over the yearsBach —professional history in short Bach—his story in brief |
|