About JS Bach: A Classical Music Composer
by Sophia Zheng
Johann Sebastian Bach was a talented composer during the Baroque period from the mid 1700s. However, he was the last child in a family of other musicians. After he was left alone, he went to live with his brother Johann Christoph. There, he continued his musical education at Luneburg. He first began with organ and chamber music, before composing his own pieces. He was a composer for several Lutheran churches as well. He then moved on to creating several cantatas and compositions of fuller length, which lasted until the end of his life.
His works are inspired from the full biblical verse of Lutheranism. His sacred works show a dedication to Jesus, but also a dedication to innovating his music. He used four-part harmony, which was contrasted with the popular tonal system. Baroque instruments were largely limited to keyboards, yet Bach tested the limits of modulation by adding unique sounds. His Ortementation is notably precise and complex. The counterpoint is two musical lines that have different rhythm and melody, but are dependent harmonically. His canons are an example of the extensive counterpoint usage, which is an unique attribute.
He influenced German style music for the latter 18th century, and his adapting rhythm was used in France and other European countries. Religious and instrumental pieces are some of his most popular works. His choral-based cantatas are some of the greatest ever considered, and are still heard to this day.