Bach

            Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was unlike most other composers of his time. He wrote music for the glory of God, and to satisfy his own burning curiosity, not for future fame.? During the 1700s, people knew him as a talented musician, not as a composer, as we do today. He never left his country to pursue bigger and better things. Bach was content as long as he could play music. Traditions were very important to him. He wanted to carry on the musical tradition of his family, and never opted to change the traditional ways of composing, as did most composers. Bach's work is vast and unique.
             Bach received his first big job at the age of 23. He was a court musician, and wrote many wonderful organ pieces, most of which are still played today. It is unbelievable that these works survived, because during this time written pieces were not meant to be kept once they were played. He was one of the most highly skilled organists that ever lived. He was so fast with his hands and feet, people came from all over to see Bach play. Bach was also a very good improviser, making up new tunes as he played the pieces. He created so much music, that it would be impossible for anyone to write down all of it, so there are many of his created works that no one knows about. .
             Around 1630, a new artistic movement, known as Baroque, was quickly spreading throughout Europe. Bach and Handel are the two most famous composers of the Baroque era. The drama in their music, the contrasts between soft and strong, chorus and solo, voices and instruments, are all typical of the Baroque style.? In 1708, Duke Wilhelm Ernst of Saxe-Weimer appointed Bach as the court organist and chamber musician. Bach did most of his composing while he was at Weimer. In 1717, Bach was appointed Kapellmeister to Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cothen. Here he wrote several sonatas and concertos for the violin and the flute. Around the year 1721, Bach wrote a book of music called the Well-Tempered Clavier, which was composed of 24 exercises.