Composer - JS Bach - p. 24-26

Question 1

The years Bach lived

Answer 1

1685-1750

Question 2

How old was JS Bach when he died?

Answer 2

65 years old

Question 3

Which city and country was JS Bach in?

Answer 3

Eisenbach, Germany

Question 4

Choose the correct answer.
What kind of family was Bach born into?

• Blacksmith family
• Law family
• Farming family
• Music family

Answer 4

JS Bach was born into a music family. For 5 generations, music was the family profession. JS Bach father was a court trumpeter.

Question 5

Describe JS Bach’s education - what school subjects did he learn and what did he do when he was in school.

Answer 5

He studied Latin, Greek, theology and learned how to build and repair instruments. He sang in choirs and became a very good violinist and virtuoso organist

Question 6

Name the four locations JS Bach spent his career in chronologically.

Answer 6

1. Arnstadt, Muhlhausen (1703-1708 - 5 years)
2. Weimar (1707-1717 - 9 years)
3. Cothen (1717-1723 - 6 years
4. Leipzig (1723-1741 - 18 years)

Question 7

What musical roles did JS Bach have when he was in Arnstadt, Muhlhausen?

Answer 7

JS Bach was a court violinist, chamber musician, and organist.

Question 8

JS Bach studied organ early in his career. Describe this.

Answer 8

When JS Bach was in Arnstadt, he took time off his work to meet organist Dietrich Buxtehude in Lubeck. JS Bach had to walk over 200 miles each way. He was so inspired by Buxtehude that he stayed for another three months without authorization.

Question 9

Who was JS Bach’s first wife? Name two of their children.

Answer 9

JS Bach married Maria Barbara Bach (distant cousin) after he arrived in Mulhausen. Two of their children CPE (Carl Philipp Emanuel) Bach and Wilhelm Friedmann Bach became famous musicians.

Question 10

Who did JS Bach work for in Weimar?

Answer 10

JS Bach worked for Duke of Weimar.

Question 11

What was JS Bach job when he was in Weimar?

Answer 11

He was a court organist and chambers musician.

Question 12

What did JS Bach do when he was in Weimar that he was thrown in jail for a month?

Answer 12

JS Bach accepted a salary advance (so he accepted a new job) at Cothen when he was still working for Duke of Weimar.

Question 13

JS Bach became famous for being an _________ (an instrument ) during the Weimar period.

Answer 13

JS Bach became more famous as an organist and composed many works, including the Little Organ Book of chorale prelude during the Weimar period.

(chorale prelude is a short organ piece based on hymns)

Question 14

What was JS Bach job when he was in Cothen and who was his patron?

Answer 14

JS Bach was a Kapellmeister (music director) to Prince Leopold of Cothen.

Question 15

What types (genres) of music did JS Bach compose a lot of when he was in Weimar? Give one example.

Answer 15

During the Weimar period, JS Bach composed many solo and chamber works - suites, concertos, sonatas, solo keyboards works, including The Well-Tempered Claiver, Book 1.

Question 16

Describe JS Bach’s marriage during the Weimar period. Give names of two children.

Answer 16

JS Bach’s first wife, Maria Barbara Bach, died suddenly in 1720. About a year later, JS Bach married Anna Magdalna Wilcke, a court singer. Their sons Johann Christian and Johann Christopher became successful musicians.

Question 17

What was the title of JS Bach’s last job?

Where was the last job at?

Describe the responsibilites.

Answer 17

JS Bach’s last job was a Cantor at St. Thomas School.( Cantor is a music director)

St. Thomas School is in Leipzig, Germany.

Many responsibilities: teaching, composing, directing choirs, and supervising musical activities in several churches.

Question 18

JS Bach visited a famous person a few years before he died.

Who did he visit and where? Which son worked there?

What kind of music activity did JS Bach do there?

Answer 18

JS Bach visited Frederick the Great at Potsdam. in 1747 (JS Bach died in 1750).

Carl Philipp Emanuel worked for the king.

The king gave JS Bach a theme and Bach wrote a The Musical offering based on that theme.

(Frederick the Great was a king in Prussia (old Germany.) Potsdam is where the king’s summer palace was).

Question 19

What years did JS Bach work in Leipzig?

Answer 19

1723-1741

Question 20

What years did JS Bach work in Cothen?

Answer 20

1717-1723

Question 21

What years did JS Bach work in Weimar?

Answer 21

1708-1717

Question 22

What years was JS Bach in Arnstadt and Muhlausen for?

Answer 22

1703-1708

Question 23

What year did JS Bach die and what was the likely cause?

Answer 23

July 28, 1750; likely cause was a stroke.

Question 24

Did Bach write/create new forms (structures?)

Answer 24

JS Bach did not define new forms but he perfected existing forms, simply by the sheer number of his works.

Question 25

What genres did JS Bach compose?

Answer 25

JS Bach composed every genre except opera.

Question 26

What was JS Bach's source of inspiration for his music?

Answer 26

Personal faith was the source of inspiration for his creative work.

Question 27

What did JS Bach dedicate his works to?

Answer 27

JS Bach dedicated all of his works "To the glory of God"

Question 28

JS Bach may not have travelled to other countries but his music absorbed _________ styles. (this word means of different nations) Which country was know for Lutheran chorale tradition and counterpoint? Which country was know for dance rhythms, ornamentation? Which country was know for operatic lyricism, ritornello* form, idiomatic string writing?

Answer 28

JS Bach may not have travelled to other countries but his music absorbed _international s_tyles. German was know for Lutheran chorale tradition, counterpoint. French was know for dance rhythms, ornamentation Italy was know for operatic lyricism, ritornello form, idiomatic string writing.

Question 29

JS Bach was most well known as an __________ and this can be seen in his organ and keyboard works.

Answer 29

JS Bach was most well known as an _organist_ and this can be seen in his organ and keyboard works.

Question 30

Name 5 major genres JS Bach composed.

Answer 30

Orchestral, Chamber, Keyboard, Organ and Vocal.

Question 31

Give one title/example of orchestral work by JS Bach

Answer 31

6 Brandenburg Concertos

Question 32

Give one example of keyboard music JS Bach composed

Answer 32

*The Well-Tempered Clavier* 6 French suites 6 English Suites Italian Concerto Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue

Question 33

Give one title of vocal work

Answer 33

St. Matthew Passion St. John Passion Mass in B minor (JS Bach composed approx 200 cantatas!) (Passion is a specific type of sacred vocal work).