A giant among composers and musicians of Europe's pre-classical era, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) is today considered the greatest composer in the dominant music style of his day—the Baroque. This volume explains the characteristics of Baroque music and points out how Bach's music stands among the great artistic accomplishments of all time. Readers will also learn about the most important musical instrument of Bach's time, the Baroque pipe organ. A detailed cut-away drawing of that instrument shows how it operates. There is discussion of Bach's eventful life, and of some of his important compositions, including the Brandenburg Concertos, The Art of Fugue, and his many oratorios. In passing, readers will learn about the accomplishments of Bach's important contemporary composers, including Telemann, Vivaldi, Händel, and Scarlatti.
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Born in the town of Eisenbach, Germany, in 1685, Johann Sebastian Bach was the most renowned member of an illustrious family of musicians and composers. He spent much of his life as organist and Kapellmeister (music director) at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig. Bach composed great amounts of music both for religious and secular performance, and his work has influenced nearly every important composer from his time to the present day. He died in Leipzig in 1750.
Bach and Baroque Music
This book explains the musical style of which Bach was the great master, and which dominated the time during which he lived and worked. Readers also learn about Bach's important contemporary composers, including Telemann, Vivaldi, Händel, and Scarlatti. Details relating to Bach's music that are explained include the well-tempered musical scale, contrapuntal harmony, the oratorio, and the concerto grosso. Here in words and handsome illustrations is a fascinating introduction to some of the greatest music ever written.
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