The Greatest Lutheran Composer
© James Sucha
This is the bio on Bach for The Service Hymnal: A Lutheran Homecoming with over 38 pieces of his hymn tunes. Included is "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" in it's full chorale! For the first time in a Lutheran hymnal!
Of all the composers in the world through the ages, one stands out as the best of all time: Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach is considered to be the greatest Lutheran composer ever. He once said, "Any devout man could do as much as I have done, if he worked as hard." Bach had been raised a Lutheran, in the tradition of hard work, love of God, strong faith, and respect for the music and traditions of the Lutheran church.
Bach was born in 1685 in Einsach, Germany. Einsach is in distant view of Wartburg Castle, the place where Martin Luther hid, and translated the bible from Latin to German. His family was a musical one; his father was a good violinist and trumpeter - having the post of court trumpeter and director of town music in Einsach. As a child, he attended Eisenach's Lateinschule, the same school where Martin Luther studied two centuries earlier. At school he studied Lutheranism, Latin, arithmetic, history and geography.
By the time Bach was ten, both his parents had died, and he was looked after by his eldest brother, Christoph, organist of the Michaeliskirche in Ohdruf, a small town near Einsach. His brother Christoph had large influence on young Sebastian. He taught him how to play keyboard instruments and introduced him to the technique needed in music copying. Young Sebastian even learned how to build a pipe organ, since the organ at Michaeliskirche was repaired under his brother's supervision.
By the time Bach was 16, went out on his own and obtained a scholarship at the Michaelisschule, in Luneberg. At Luneberg, Bach became a member of the Meatins Choir. Bach sang in the choir until his voice changed with puberty, so he switched to become an instrumentalist instead. In March 1703, after a few unsuccessful attempts to find work, he was employed at a minor Weimar court as a musician, but was paid as an assistant.
In August 1703, officials at the Lutheran church in Arnstadt asked Bach to test their new organ. Bach tested the organ by improvising several tunes, which impressed the officials so much, they decided to appoint Bach the organist of this new Church. However, Bach's duties were comparatively light, and this gave rise to disputes. His employers also complained that he had harmonized the hymn tunes so freely that the congregation could not sing to his accompaniment. Bach had a temperament and failed to gain the confidence of the local student musicians. At Arnstadt he married his second cousin, Maria Barbara Bach. In 1705, he took a leave of absence for one month, and walked 200 miles to further extend his musical education by visiting churches, and institutions of music.
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