Johann Sebastian Bach page with free midi's to download

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

21stMarch 1685 --- 28thJuly 1750

Johann Sebastian Bach(1685 - 1750) One of the greatest musicians of the world. He was Born at Eisenach of a
family  of noted  musical  talent the influence  of  several  members  of which upon their  relative  was  in some
degree responsible for the great result, Before Bach was 10 his father, Ambrosius died.

The boy was brought up by his brother Christoph, an organist at Ohrudruf who withheld from him MS. of organ
compositions by  great  masters, perhaps from jealously,  but possibly  only for  some  misguided  disciplinarian
reason. However, Bach obtained  access to  the book, and copied it by  moonlight. But the copy was taken from
him  when  discovered,  although  the work had taken  the boy 6  months to  accomplish. His  beautiful soprano
voice  gained him  a place in the  choir, St Michael's school at  Luneberg,  where he  practice as an accompanist
on the harpsichord and after his voice broke as a violinist.

 

This was in 1700, and 3 years later he obtained a royal appointment at the court of Weimar, where he became
acquainted with Italian music. The same year he became organist at the new church of Arnstadt, and here he
began to compose.  His brother's  enlistment with  the Swedish  Guard, led to  the composition  in 1704 of the
"Capriccio  on  the departure  of  a  Brother", which was followed  and  also preceded  by several  of his church
cantatas.  At this  time Bach obtained  permission to go  to Lubeck in order  to hear the great Danish  organist
Buxtehude,  then 68 years  old. In his  enthusiasm, he  over-stayed his leave and this, with other reasons, led
to a fresh  appointment at  Muhlhausen in 1707. He stayed  here only a year,during which he married a cousin
Maria Barbara Bach. In 1708, aged 23 he returned to Weimar as court organist.

Here he spent 9 years and composed a number of church cantatas, while a close study of Italian masters gave
him a thorough mastery  of their style,the foundations  being thus formed  for his later instrumental work. On
one journey  from Weimar  in 1717 a quarrel  arose between the  supporters of  Bach and  those of the French
organist  Marchand and a contest was arranged at Dresden. On  the day fixed for the trial the French musician
was nowhere to be found,genuine acknowledgment of Bachs superiority rather than jealousy or fear being the
causes  of  his flight.  In 1717 Bach,left Weimar  for  the service of the Duke of  Anhalt-Cothen and in 1720 his
wife died, in the following year he married Anna Magdalena Wilcken, who assisted him by copying his musical
scores.   It  was  then  that  Bach  began  the  composition  of  his  suites,  and  the first half  of the Forty-eight
Preludes and Fugues was also written at Cothen, though many years separated the first from the complemental
portion.

In 1723, after some difficulty, Bach was appointed to the vacant position of canter of the St Thomas School
at  Leipzig.  Here  he  wrote  all his  finest  choral  work  which  includes the  2  settings  of the  story  of  the
Passion  and the Mass B minor. In 1733 he presented 2 movements from the latter composition to Frederick
Augustus,he received the title of Hofcomponist. In 1747 he visited Frederick the Great at Potsdam. The king
himself a musical amateur, received him with the great Stevenard. Years later Bach's eyes became painfully
troublesome, and total blindness resulted from an operation. Apoplexy caused his death, aggravated by the
remedies  used  during  the  operation.  His clavier  and harpsichord  pieces Bach  introduced  improvements
in  fingering, though modern fingering came only with Clementi (1752-1832). Bach was an expert at tuning
keyboard instruments he wrote 2 sets of preludes and fugues in all the major and minor keys.As an organist
he was supreme in his day, his organ compositions include a great many Preludes and Toccatas with Fugues
Fantasies and particularly the 143 Chorale Preludes designed to introduce the hymn of the day in church.

Last Updated on 2022
By Steven Ritchie

And now for the Music

Thanks to Dr.Pitt-Payne & Ian Cousins for the music below.

New (3649)"Aria, Make Thee Clean, My Heart". Sequenced by Dr.Pitt-Payne & Ian Cousins.

Thanks to Joćo Rocha for the music below. Email (joao.rocha@loggo.com.br)

"Cantata No.106,"Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit(Actus tragicus)I.Sonatina". Sequenced by Joćo Rocha

Thanks to Geoff Retallick for the music below. Email (g.retallick@btinternet.com)

(2653)"Siciliano, Arranged for Flute with Guitar accomp". Sequenced by Geoff Retallick

Thanks to Tony Matthews for the music below. Email (TonyM@absolutesolutions.co.uk)

(2438)"The Double Violin Concerto in D minor, BWV 1043". Sequenced by Tony Matthews.

(2439)"The Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565.(Busoni Piano Arr.)". Sequenced by Tony Matthews.

Thanks to Sandy MacDonald for the music below. Email (sandymacdonald@lineone.net).

(2380)"Bradenurg No 6 for three guitars". Sequenced by Sandy MacDonald.

Thanks to J.Byron for the music below. Email (stealth@scotlandmail.com).

(2214)"BWV 974". done for strings & piano a nicely sequenced by J.Byron

Thanks to Emily for the music below. Email (HappyMusician@opendiary.com).

(1893)"Courante from the First suite for solo cello". Sequenced by Emily Gray

Thanks to Bruce W. Leslie for the music below. Email (bruce@wleslie.freeserve.co.uk).

(1838)"Brandenburg No.2, Mov.1". Sequenced by Bruce W. Leslie

(1839)"Brandenburg No.2, Mov.2". Sequenced by Bruce W. Leslie

(1840)"Brandenburg No.2, Mov.3". Sequenced by Bruce W. Leslie

Thanks John Briggs for the music below. Email (jobri@venlig.freeserve.co.uk)

Please check these "texts files or here"german text" on the pieces below.

(1692)"Max Stevener, a Piano version of Bachs two part inventions No.1". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1693)"Max Stevener, a Piano version of Bachs two part inventions No.2". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1694)"Max Stevener, a Piano version of Bachs two part inventions No.3". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1695)"Max Stevener, a Piano version of Bachs two part inventions No.4". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1696)"Max Stevener, a Piano version of Bachs two part inventions No.5". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1697)"Max Stevener, a Piano version of Bachs two part inventions No.6". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1698)"Max Stevener, a Piano version of Bachs two part inventions No.7". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1699)"Max Stevener, a Piano version of Bachs two part inventions No.8". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1700)"Max Stevener, a Piano version of Bachs two part inventions No.9". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1701)"Max Stevener, a Piano version of Bachs two part inventions No.10". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1702)"Max Stevener, a Piano version of Bachs two part inventions No.11". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1703)"Max Stevener, a Piano version of Bachs two part inventions No.12". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1704)"Max Stevener, a Piano version of Bachs two part inventions No.13". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1705)"Max Stevener, a Piano version of Bachs two part inventions No.14". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1706)"Max Stevener, a Piano version of Bachs two part inventions No.15". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1678)"Max Stevener version of Bachs two part inventions No.1". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1679)"Max Stevener version of Bachs two part inventions No.2". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1680)"Max Stevener version of Bachs two part inventions No.3". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1681)"Max Stevener version of Bachs two part inventions No.4". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1682)"Max Stevener version of Bachs two part inventions No.5". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1683)"Max Stevener version of Bachs two part inventions No.6". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1684)"Max Stevener version of Bachs two part inventions No.7". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1685)"Max Stevener version of Bachs two part inventions No.8". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1686)"Max Stevener version of Bachs two part inventions No.9". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1687)"Max Stevener version of Bachs two part inventions No.10". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1688)"Max Stevener version of Bachs two part inventions No.11". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1689)"Max Stevener version of Bachs two part inventions No.12". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1690)"Max Stevener version of Bachs two part inventions No.13". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1717)"Max Stevener version of Bachs two part inventions No.14". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1673)"Max Stevener version of Bachs two part inventions No.15". Sequenced by John Briggs

(1673)"Max Stevener version of Bachs 2 part inventions". Sequenced by John Briggs

Thanks to Michael Figueroa for the music below. Email (MFsharp7@aol.com)

(1666)"Double Violin Concerto, Mov.1". Sequenced by Michael Figueroa

(1667)"Double Violin Concerto, Mov.3". Sequenced by Michael Figueroa

Thanks to Carl Bertram for the music below. Email (Hal486@aol.com).

(1668)"Two Part Invention in F Major, Variations". Sequenced by Carl Bertram

Thanks to George Pollen for the music below. Check out my Bookmarks page for his Website.

(776)"Passaglia and Fugue in C minor". Sequenced by George Pollen

708)"Preludium". Sequenced by George Pollen

(707)"Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring". Sequenced by George Pollen

(559)"Badanerie". Sequenced by George Pollen

(559)"Air on the G string". Sequenced by George Pollen

(40)"Famous Toccata and Fugue in D". Sequenced by Kenneth J Settleayer Jnr

(98)"Badinerie Aus Der 2 Ouvert". Sequenced by Ralph Van Zetten

(150)"3rd English Suite". Sequenced by David Siu

(251)"Minuet in G". Sequenced by Matt Dolmage

(292)"Prelude and Fugue BWV 522". Sequenced by Dean & Alice Lampe

(294)"Clavierubung Part 111, Duet No.2 in F Major BWV 803". Sequenced by David Jao

(296)"Prelude and Fugue in D BWV 850". Sequenced by S.D.Rodrian

(297)"Prelude and Fugue in C Sharp BWV 872". Sequenced by S.D.Rodrian

(298)"Prelude and Fugue in A, BWV 888". Sequenced by S.D.Rodrian

(299)"Tocatto No.1 in F Sharp Minor, BWV 910". Sequenced by David J Grossman

(300)"Partita No.2 in D Minor". Sequenced by David J Grossman

Thanks to "Sir Vocalise" for the music below.

(340)"Lute Suite No.4 in E Major 1.Prelude - BWV 1006". Sequenced by Sir Vocalise

(341)"Lute Suite No.4 in E Major 2.Loure - BWV 1006". Sequenced by Sir Vocalise

Thanks to Welton Barker for the music below.

"Concerto for Two Harpsichords No.11". Sequenced by Welton Barker,

"Concerto for Two Harpsichords No.12". Sequenced by Welton Barker

"Concerto for Two Harpsichords No.13". Sequenced by Welton Barker,

"Sheep may safely graze, from Conatate 208". Sequenced by M.Sai

B Minor Mass, movement 15: Et incarnatus & Crucifixus (Info by Michael Z)". Sequencer Unknown

(782)"Two-Part Invention in B-flat Major,(Info by Virginia Moe & Edward Gold)". Sequencer unknown

(585)"LOBE DEN HERREN" and comes from "Stralsund Gesangbuch," 1665 (info by Harold R. Nichols) Sequencer Unkmown

(559)"Finale of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 4. (Info by Donal Hurley)". Sequencer unknown

(564)"Preludio, from Partita III in E Major BWV 1006 (Info by Natalie Jankowski)". Sequencer unknown

(7)"Suite in E No,833". Sequencer unknown

(69)"First Mov in E Major, Volin Concerto (Info by Ed.) Sequencer unknown

(80)"Gallia". Sequencer Unknown

(106)"The art of fugue Contrapunctus Xl". Sequencer Unknown

(109)"Unknown piece quite nice and lively". Sequencer Unknown

(112)"Praeludium in D moll". Sequencer Unknown

(161)"Prelude No.1". Sequencer Unknown

(162)"Brandenburg Concerto". Sequencer Unknown

(127)"Prelude in F sharp minor BWV 859a Well Tempered Clavier Book 1 (Info by Gary K Allen)". Sequencer Unknown

(348)"Fugue in C BMV 846b Well Tempered Clavier Book 1 (Info by Gary K Allen)". Sequencer Unknown

(25a)"Brandenburg Concerto". Sequencer Unknown

(291)"Aria from the St Matthew Passion BWV244 (Info by Franēois de Dardel)". Sequencer Unknown

(293)"Fugue BWV 577". Sequencer Unknown

(295)"Partita 4 in D BWV 828 (Info by Gary K Allen)". Sequencer Unknown

If you done any Classical pieces of say for example, Delius, mozart, and so on etc,

please email them to the classical music site with details to

"classical   (@)    ntlworld.com" (written this way to stop spammers)

just remove spaces and brackets for email address), thank you.

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