Английский язык. 11 класс (О. В. Афанасьева и др.)

134
Справочный материал
Unit One
1. Bach, Johann Sebastian (March 21, 1685 – July 28, 1750) was 
a German organist, composer, and musical scholar of the Baroque period, 
and is almost universally regarded as one of the greatest composers of all 
time. His works, noted for their intellectual depth, technical command, 
and artistic beauty, have provided inspiration to nearly every musician 
in the European tradition.
J. S. Bach was born in Eisenach, Germany, in 1685. His father, 
Ambrosius Bach, was the town piper in Eisenach, a post that entailed 
organizing all the secular music in town as well as participating in 
church music at the direction of the church organist. In an era when 
sons were expected to assist in their fathers’ work, we can assume 
J. S. Bach began copying music and playing various instruments at an 
early age.
Shortly after graduation from Latin school when he was 18 
(an impressive accomplishment in his day), Bach took a post as an 
organist at Arnstadt, Germany, in 1703. He apparently felt cramped in 
the small town and began to seek his fortune elsewhere.
In 1708, Bach took a position as a court organist and concert master 
at the ducal court in Weimar, Germany. Here he had opportunity to 
not only play the organ but also compose for it and play a more varied 
repertoire of concert music with the duke’s ensemble.
In 1723, J. S. Bach was appointed Cantor and Musical Director of 
St. Thomas church in Leipzig, Germany. This post required him to not 
only instruct the students of the St. Thomas school in singing but also 
to provide weekly music at the two main churches in Leipzig.
On holy days such as Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter, Bach 
produced cantatas of particular brilliance, most notably the Magnificat 
for Christmas and St. Matthew Passion for Good Friday.
Bach had 13 children by two wives, although few survived to 
adulthood.
All of the Bach children seem to have been musically inclined, which 
must have given the aging composer much pride. Most of the music we 
have from Bach was passed on through his children, who preserved much 
of the “Old Bach Archive” after their father’s death.
During his lifetime he composed over 1,000 pieces.

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